Engaging, Enhancing, and Extending Student Learning Through Technology

To remain relevant, 21st Century classrooms demand the addition of technology in everyday assignments and projects. There are an endless amount of ways to integrate technological resources into each subject area, and doing so can help to Engage, Enhance and Extend student learning. But what do those three E's really mean?

Engaging students using technology requires motivation and excitement. Engagement is creating ways for students to become engulfed in their work, completely focused and excited about the outcomes.  Engaging school work should keep students on track, and change the learning style from passive to active (Keren-Kolb, 2013).

Technology has greatly advanced over the past decade, and playing computer games related to scholastic material no longer makes the cut as being 'engaging' for students. Currently, there are two ways to categorize student engagement while using technology. The first is adaptive, and the second transitional. "Defining Student Engagement With Technology" defines adaptive engagement to be demonstrating the same knowledge and skills, just adding a technological component. For example, students who are used to giving presentations and making posters can now do so using PowerPoint, Prezi, Glogster, etc. On the other hand, transitional engagement is transitioning into the digital era, often using higher levels of thinking skills. An example of transitional engagement is using Googledocs to not only write a paper, but to collaborate and evaluate the work with peers. Transitional engagement is ideal when utilizing technology, because it requires more effort, focus, and problem solving skills (Fijor, 2010).

Enhancing student learning increases the level of content knowledge by using tools, such as technological resources. By adding technology into learning, students will be able to comprehend information easier and faster than they would without it. Jenny Wong, in her article about technology, talks about how technology "Allows students to develop editing skills. Encourages critical thinking skills by providing supplementary information," and "Familiarizes students with alternative methods of communication methods of communication needed in the professional world." Integrating technology in the classroom will better prepare students for the types of jobs that will be available when they enter the professional world (Wong, 2010).

The following video is a brief look at some basic ways to begin integrating technological resources into the elementary classroom. It talks mainly about the use of iPads, and how students can use them to explore and collaborate with one another. Having all types of information accessible is extremely helpful, and using iPads for assessment can give students immediate feedback.

Since technology is becoming such a big part of our everyday lives, creating ways to productively use it in the classroom will help merge school learning with real world experiences. Technology is something that is ever-changing and ever-growing, using it in lessons will help students grow as life-long learners. Merging technology with the regular curriculum helps to extend knowledge beyond the school day, and the techniques students develop in the classroom will help them throughout the rest of their school years and beyond.

References

Fijor, M. (2010). Defining student engagement with technology. New School Technology. Retrieved 

from http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2010/04/defining-student-engagement-with-technology/ 

Keren-Kolb, L. (2013). Engage, enhance, and extend student learning. Learning & Leading with Technology.

Roberson, Jaclyn. (2011, August 16). iPads in the classroom. Retrieved on September 4, 2013. From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbcoDIONJaE

Wong, J. (2010). Technology enhanced learning provides students with skills needed in workforce.  

Technorati. Retrieved from http://technorati.com/technology/article/technology-enhancedlearning-

provides-students-with/

iPad APP: 3D Brain

3D Brain is a free application that allows its users to rotate and zoom around 28 interactive structures of the brain. When you open the app, it shows a 3 dimensional photo of the whole brain, with different sections highlighted in different colors.

On the right side of the application, there is a toolbar that has four different options. The first is the structures section, which has a list with corresponding pictures of the different parts of the brain. When you click on one of these sections, for example the Basal Ganglia, the 3D brain switches to a transparent brain highlighting the Basal Ganglia. Each part of the section is shaded in a different color which allows the student to understand what the pieces look like.

The next option is the Info tab, which provides an overview of the structure, a case study related to it, as well as other information such as associated functions, disorders, substructures, etc. The label function points to each of the different pieces that make up the section, and gives its technical name.

Lastly, there is a search button where you can look up terms or key words involved in the different brain sections. Being able to rotate the brain 360 degrees in each direction and see the brain at every angle gives students the opportunity to get a strong grasp on the structure of our brains. It is exciting for students to really get a good look at what their own brains look like, and how different parts are used when they do different activities. This app could be used as a resource in countless lesson plans and projects.

There are multiple ways to utilize this app in a lesson plan. Students could do a brain scavenger hunt where they would have to use the different functions of the app to answer questions about a certain area of the brain. The students could create their own technological models of a specific section of the brain they are assigned to as a project in groups, using Glogster or a virtual field trip. They could also use this app as a reference to create a 3D model of the brain using clay or other art materials. Focusing on one section, students could use this app, along with other sources, to research an area of the brain and see how they use it in their daily life. They could then apply that to a creative writing piece by making a story about a day in the life of that particular brain area.

The essential science standards that are linked to this app include 3.L.1 which is a third grade standard involving the use of human body systems, and 5.L.1, which is understanding the daily functions our organs carry out. Although at first glance this app may seem advanced, it is important for students to familiarize themselves with the scientific terminology. AIG students would be able to use this app for differentiated assignments, as the rest of the class focused on one area of the brain. There are ways to apply this application to science, ELA, and art. Primarily, this is a phenomenal tool to give students a realistic look at the brain, and with teachers creativity it can be used to support and enhance learning in a variety of subjects.

The above video gives a brief demonstration on this free app, directed towards upper elementary grades.

iPad Productivity App

Technology is a keystone in the 21st Century Classroom. There are multiple technological devices and programs that can help a classroom run more smoothly, and help a teacher stay more organized and focused. The Teacher Kit application can be used on iPhones or iPads to store all of the student data a teacher needs to keep track of. Trouble keeping track of seating charts and students names? This application comes with desks that you can accompany with students names and photographs. Instead of having clipboards and lists, taking attendance can now be done at the click of a button on the students electronic desk and is immediately stored in the database.

Behavioral and academic notes can be made directly on the application and confidentiality will not be an issue with the addition of a passcode on an app. For those who are concerned with the app crashing, it can be integrated with email and dropbox to ensure backup.

This application will allow teachers to free their desks and filing cabinets of attendance, behavior, and grade book clutter, and maintain it all in one organized place that can be transported with them everywhere. I will definitely use this app in my future classroom. Names are not my strong suit, and being able to connect a face with a name and location in the classroom will definitely make my transition into new classes each year much smoother. With apps like Teacher Kit, there's no need for teachers to waste time updating and organizing records, and allows them to spend more quality time helping their students.

The video above gives a brief tutorial on the application and some of the things that it can be used for.

Teaching Science with Technology

Students are accustomed to being engaged in all sorts of technological equipment which is why school systems are providing technological resources for classrooms across all grade levels. Hands-on experiments are one of the most memorable and useful ways to help students learn science concepts, as well understand the world around them. It is a teachers job to promote curiosity and exploration in science, and to help students make sense of what they observe in the world around them.

The subject of science is crucial in elementary school to help students learn how to understand problem solving skills that will help them in all subjects of their academic and personal lives. The National Science Teachers Association says that students learn science best when other subject areas are integrated into it, such as technology, and when they are involved in first-hand, hands on investigation and exploration. Using technology will help foster these needs, providing experiences for meeting the curricular content with technological hands-on activities (National Science Teachers Association, 2002).

Full Option Science System (FOSS), was adopted in 2002 by one of the largest school districts in New York State. FOSS is a science program that coincides with state standards, while allowing teachers to integrate technology into science instruction. The program equips the schools with several computers in each room, cordless microscopes, flex cam cameras, and a special station for teachers (Lyon & Buckshaw, 2011).

With the new equipment and support from the FOSS program, teachers in this district found creative and effective ways to integrate technology into their science lessons. When observing insects, students used flex cameras to get an up close look at the critters. The flex cam allowed the students to project the bugs onto a large monitor, and it made their insects come to life with great detail. This allowed the students to compare and contrast the different types of bugs, and made it possible to analyze progression in the creatures' life cycles (Lyon & Buckshaw, 2011).

The results of this new emphasis on technology in science showed increases in student achievement in the areas of science as well as reading. In the 2004-2005 school year, 96% of the school district's students met or exceeded the state standard on the NY state science test for 4th grade, which was a 13% increase, thought to be linked to the science/technology integration program (Lyon & Buckshaw, 2011).

Vernier products provide software and curriculum that engage students in science through hands-on exploration. The company, being made up mainly of former teachers, understands the needs of educators and students, and has science technology appropriate for every grade level (Vernier, 2011).

Probeware is a type of Venier technology that helps students grasp complex concepts and become excited about the topic that they are learning. Probeware supports STEM education and inquiry-based lab activities, is recommended by national education organizations, and is linked to increased science test scores. An example of an elementary school friendly probe is the Go!Temp temperature probe, which can connected to a computer program that easily measures the temperature of liquids, gases, and solids (Vernier, 2011).

There are multiple interactive activities that correlate with the Go!Temp temperature probe and allow students to interacte first hand with both science and technology. The probe is easy to use and enables them to explore the concept of temperature without a lot of assistance from the teacher, creating independence and an increase in science and technology knowledge. Not only is it fun to use all of the probes, but each experiment correlates to state standards from every state and every grade (Vernier, 2011).

The video on the right shows students in a science   lab working with the Vernier temperature probes for the first time. In the beginning, the teacher gives the students simple directions about what they need to write about the experiment on their online Blogger accounts, and then allows them to complete the lab on their own. You can see how engaged the students are throughout the video, and how there are no behavioral problems because they are so enthralled with the activity. They all work together to analyze graphs and data, and seem to really be enjoying themselves along the way (Tarwater, 2009).

In my classroom, I will use Vernier probes for temperature labs and activities. They are very easy to use and can be adapted to fit the curriculum and needs of every student and grade level. I will also use things like electronic polls to gather data about student knowledge. For example, in my fourth grade class, when we are learning about energy transfer, I will use the polls as a pre-assessment for a lab. I will provide four choices, and ask the students which substance, when added to water, do they hypothesize will make the water become the coldest. They would use their clickers or cell phones to vote for the answer they predict to be correct and at the end of the lab, after they have tested the four substances, we would return to our polled data and talk about how valid our hypotheses were.

No matter the age, from kindergarten to college, students enjoy learning and retain information much more when they are personally engaged in the content. Labs and hands-on activities help students understand first hand the subjects that they are learning. In this age of technology, there are so many opportunities to expand learning far beyond the paper and pen, and the use of technology can help immensely with accuracy and creativity of experiments.

It is important for students to become accustomed to using technology, both familiar and unfamiliar pieces, because it is only going to become  a larger part of their lives as they get older. Integrating multiple subjects, in this case science and technology, allows students to multi-task in learning, and develop simultaneously in multiple subjects. Using technology in science promotes student interactions, excitement, and engagement. Science lesson and labs become much more memorable when students use hands on technology.

References

Lyon, A., & Buckshaw, L. (2011, August 23). Education world. Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech233.shtml

National Science Teachers Association. (2002, July).National science teachers association. Retrieved from http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/elementary.aspx

Tarwater, Dave. (2009, November 6). Vernier Temperature Probe Lab Take 1. Retrieved March 13, 2013. from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohn6N1W67y0

Vernier. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.vernier.com/company/about-us/

Using iPads in the Classroom

Using technology in the classroom can help students become engaged and excited about lesson plans and learning. Interactive activities that utilize technological resources help appeal to the different learning styles of students. It is important that students become acclimated with different aspects of technology that they will use throughout their education and in their future professions. The pen-to-paper and chalkboard techniques of teaching in the past are no longer relevant or successful, and adding iPads to elementary classes is a positive way to update and refresh lessons in the 21st century classroom.

Infiltrating iPads into education helps teachers enable students development of skills, knowledge and behaviors they will need to live, learn and work in the 21st century. iPads will help students stay up to date on the globalized and interconnected world. An article in the New York Times talks about this fairly new phenomenon of bringing iPads into schools and how it allows teachers to expand learning beyond the classroom walls. A principal at a New York elementary school was even quoted saying, “I think this could very well be the biggest thing to hit school technology since the overhead projector.”

Teachers who are less familiar with what the iPad has to offer, educationally speaking, can check out websites such as this one that illustrates 55 ways to use iPads in the classroom. A free app called iDraw is a great suggestion for teachers, who can set up a math equation, and then allow students to create images to help them work through the problem. When it comes to literacy, teachers can record themselves reading along to books on the iPad, or have children record their own voice to play back for themselves, their peers, or their teacher for feedback. For teachers or students in higher grades, an iPad can also be utilized to create interactive presentations!

Only one iPad in your classroom? Not a problem! There are many ways to make one iPad go a long way. This website focuses on making a single iPad count in the classroom, and has helpful information on setup and projection, as well as finding relevant apps. There are suggested apps for each subject area, in addition to a section strictly on apps for teachers creative use. These include making videos, animations, book trailers, etc.

The following video is a great representation of how using iPads in the classroom can help motivate students to learn math concepts, while incorporating interactive games. The teacher in the video talks about how hard it can be to capture a student's attention with worksheets or flashcards. He then lets the students tell their own stories about how they've used iPads in school. Not only through their words, but by the excitement they have in talking about their experiences with the iPad, you can see how much they enjoy learning with the assistance of this technological resource.

In our society, with the infinite amount of online resources at our fingertips, it is important to get creative and bring technology into the classroom. 21st century learners are used to multi-tasking and being engaged in the virtual world. It is vital to our students that they become comfortable with using technology. iPads are a great way for teachers to educate students not only on proper use of technology, but on a wide variety of subjects, with the help of educational apps!

Hu, W. (2011, January 04). The new york times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Interaction Education (2012, March 27). Math evolve: the best math game app for the ipad, iphone, and ipod. Retrieved January 30, 2013. from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mAw4H0Izrzw&noredirect=1

Lynch, L. (2013, January 30). iPads in the classroom. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=0AclS3lrlFkCIZGhuMnZjdjVfNzIxZ2RrNWp0ZDg&hl=en&pli=1

Sky-Micilvain, E. (2012, February 6). Only 1 iPad in the classroom? Retrieved from http://eskymaclj.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/only-1-ipad-in-classroom.html

Teaching Math with Technology

Utilizing technology in the classroom while teaching mathematics helps to bring the numbers alive, off the paper and chalkboard, and into the 3D and interactive world. Different types of technology appeal to the varying learning styles that suit individuals best, whether they are visual, verbal, physical, social or logical learners. Using different approaches to teach one topic gives students multiple opportunities to understand the content, and keeps them engaged along the way.

Intercontinental studies illustrated in this article, Technology Adds to Student Math Comprehension, proved that educational technology can helping students grasp abstract math concepts that are fundamental to the content area. A study in the UK followed the progress of students and teachers in twenty seven schools over three years. They used different resources for interactive whiteboards in the classroom to teach math topics (Prabhu 2010).

Results highlighted that "80 percent of the 426 students surveyed said they believed they could learn new things in mathematics more easily than at the start..." and seventy one percent expressed that they found it easier to remember information that they learned using the interactive whiteboard (Prabhu 2010). Teachers agreed that the assistance of technology had greatly impacted their students, as well as their own way of teaching. Describing how technology made mathematics come alive, the head of mathematics at a High School in England said, "The students have better and sounder knowledge of the concepts of mathematics. The animations are so powerful; bisecting an angle becomes a really visual experience," (Prabhu 2010).

In our society, with the infinite amount of online resources at our fingertips, it is important to get creative and bring technology into the classroom. 21st century learners are used to multi-tasking and being engaged in the virtual world. It is vital to our students that they become comfortable with using technology. iPads are a great way for teachers to educate students not only on proper use of technology, but on a wide variety of subjects, with the help of educational apps!

Infiltrating iPads into education helps teachers enable students development of skills, knowledge and behaviors they will need to live, learn and work in the 21st century. iPads help students stay up to date on the globalized and interconnected world. An article in the New York Times talks about this new phenomenon of bringing iPads into schools, and how it allows teachers to expand learning beyond the classroom walls. A principal at a NY elementary school was even quoted saying, “I think this could very well be the biggest thing to hit school technology since the overhead projector,” (Hu 2011).

Located from Pinterest, this website has links to, and brief descriptions of, the Top 17 Math apps for the iPad. This site is very useful for classroom teachers, even teachers who have access to just one iPad in their classroom. The apps advertised on the page have teaching tools and interactive games for a large variety of math concepts and topics. Bringing an iPad into math time will help students get engaged in the lesson by utilizing the tablet's interactive features (Kharbach 2011).

The video on the right is a great representation of how using iPads in the classroom can help motivate students to learn math concepts, by incorporating interactive games. The teacher in the video talks about how hard it can be to capture a student's attention with worksheets or flashcards. He then lets the students tell their own stories about how they've used iPads in school. Not only through their words, but by the excitement they have in talking about their experiences with the iPad, you can see how much they enjoy learning with the assistance of this technological resource (Interaction 2012).

I am very excited to have the opportunity to be an educator in this great technological era. I think that math is a tricky subject for a lot of students, and there are so many wonderful resources I look forward to using to help them master the concepts. Depending on the availability of certain resources and funds, I understand that the amount of technology I am able to access in my future classroom may be limited. However, I am confident that even with one piece of technological equipment, it will be able to greatly benefit my mini mathematicians.

SMART Boards are often not used to their potential in classrooms because teachers are not aware of all the great ways they can be incorporated. I will encourage students to become familiar with the SMART Board by having them interact with it on a daily basis. My lessons will be adaptable for the different levels of student learning on personalized tablets or computers, and each student will have the chance to come up to the communal SMART board and work through mathematical problems.

With Glogster and SMART Notebook lesson plans, I will use videos, pictures, music, and interactive activities so that the students can be enthralled in every math topic. Students will no longer count on their fingers, or on a one dimensional number line. They will learn quantity in the virtual world by physically clicking on whatever they are counting and assigning it to the appropriate number. They will show that they understand the symbolic representation of 1/4th by dragging the fraction next to the image of a four slice pizza with one slice remaining. Knowledge and understanding of math vocabulary and concepts will reach an entirely new level with the help of technology.

Using technology in the classroom can help students become engaged and excited about lesson plans and learning. Interactive activities that utilize technological resources help appeal to the different learning styles of students. It is important that students become acclimated with different aspects of technology that they will use throughout their education and in their future professions. The pen-to-paper and chalkboard techniques of teaching in the past are no longer relevant or successful, and adding iPads to elementary classes is a positive way to update and refresh lessons in the 21st century classroom.

Hu, W. (2011, January 04). The new york times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Interaction Education (2012, March 27). Math evolve: the best math game app for the ipad, iphone, and ipod. Retrieved January 30, 2013. from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mAw4H0Izrzw&noredirect=1

Kharbach, M. (2011). The top 17 math apps for iPad. Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. Retrieved from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/12/the-top-17-math-apps-for-ipad.html?m=1

Prabhu, M. (2010, March 17). Technology adds to students' math comprehension. Retrieved from http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/03/17/technology-adds-to-students-math-comprehension/