The previous post introduced the concept of using educational apps in the classroom to support mathematics instruction. This post addresses a number of other questions to consider when using educational apps.
What key questions should be considered when
selecting educational applications to meet students’ goals and objectives?
- What is the goal or purpose of computer use?
- Does the content of the educational application match the goal or objective?
- Does the educational application match the student’s needs?
- Can the visual display be customized for student’s needs?
- Can sound or music be turned off?
- Can levels be selected or modified?
- Can specific content be selected?
- Can speed and reaction time be modified?
What kinds of educational applications can be
used to address automaticity/ math fact fluency?
·
FASTT Math (Fluency and Automaticity through
Systematic Teaching with Technology) is a math intervention educational
application that helps students gain math fact fluency by assessing students’
command of the basic facts by measuring response time and generating customized
activities based on the results. Through FASTT Math, students’ progress through
customized series of activities to strengthen memorization of facts. Teachers
can monitor students’ progress via generated progress reports
·
Timez Attack (Big Brains) focuses solely on
multiplication facts: the 2 to 12 times table, to be exact. This program
engages students in a high-tech video game-like manner with high-quality
graphics.
·
ArithmAttack can be played online or can be
downloaded for free and played off-line. With this program, students can
practice basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts.
Customized problem sets are easily generated by setting the highest and lowest
numbers to use so student’s practice can be targeted to their particular areas
of need.
o MathPad
(Cambium Learning) is a talking math worksheet program that allows students to
perform arithmetic computations with whole numbers on the computer in much the
same way they would using pencil and paper. Students with fine motor
difficulties can demonstrate their skills by using the keyboard or clicking the
mouse. Students with severe disabilities can utilize the scanning feature or customizable speech output.
o MathPad
Plus (Cambium Learning) extends all of the features of MathPad to arithmetic
computations with fractions and decimals.
o Virtual
Pencil (VP) Arithmetic (Henter Math) is an educational application designed for
students who are unable to operate a pencil effectively. VP Arithmetic allows
students to solve problems in a similar way they would using pencil and paper,
including performing and showing immediate steps.
What kinds of educational applications can be
used to teach math concepts, math skills, and problem solving?
o Math
Playground provides many resources to support learning math concepts, skills,
and problem solving. Free, online math activities are provided in the
categories of Math Games, Word Problems, and Logic Puzzles.
o Conceptua
Math focuses on fractions and offers a variety of tools for teachers to use to
enhance their whole class instruction.
o Destination
Math (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Learning Technology) targets the development of
skills in math reasoning, conceptual understanding, and problem solving. The
use of animation and audio output helps keep students engaged.
What kinds of low-tech and mid-tech adaptations
can assist students with disabilities in completing math assignments?
o Mid-tech:
o Talking
calculators
o See’n’solve
calculators which allow students to see entire problem on screen at once
o Calculators
with oversized buttons
o Low-tech:
o math manipulatives
o fraction
rubber stamps
o manipulative
number line
o laminated
addition and multiplication tables
o ruler
with transparent overlays to help students understand the relationship between
the different units of measurement
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