Five APPS to Redefine your Math Class (Tip: these work for other subjects, too!)
BY BRYAN DROST, NEATODAY.ORG “These kids hate math.” As I was working with a struggling teacher this past week, this jarring phrase came out. It is this type of comment that made last Tuesday a two-shower day: I always take one in the morning and then, every so often, I need a second to get rid of the (emotional as well as physical) filth. In a follow-up conversation, I learned that this particular teacher was having difficulty moving from a sage-on-the-stage mentality (where teachers focus primarily on lecturing and imparting knowledge) to a facilitator of learning. It is this facilitation that not only motivates but also helps all students master challenging standards. Although I knew that, in the short time I had to work with this educator, I would not be able to solve all of the mathematical woes with which she was struggling, I did know that she was capable and that she could use APPS to help design, develop, and assess learning experiences to redefine her classroom to become a student-centered one focused on the expectations of the Standards. Before I shared some of my favorite APPS with her, I explained to her that it wasn’t enough for me to just teach her these: she had to learn to fish as well so that she could find her own resources in the future. As we worked together, I shared with her my version of the acronym APPS for technology integration within the classroom: how will an application help students Acquire meaningful content standards; how will an application help students Progress through meaningful feedback; how will an application measure Proficiency of student learning, and how will an application Support the student in learning content. 22
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Using APPS, the five digital tools that I shared with her and will outline below, can redefine a classroom as they can be used to facilitate higher order learning activities that encourage selfdirected learning and ongoing assessment. Although this post is tied to math, many of these tools are applicable for usage in all kinds of different content areas. Whether you are tech-savvy or not, all of these free tools are simple to use and require limited know-how. Just in case you want some additional guidance, however, you can find instructions in both written and video form for each of these tech resources at the following link: https://goo. gl/UVv3Ta.
EDpuzzle EDpuzzle is a great tool that allows you to help students process content through video. Simply find a Youtube video on a topic of your choice; copy and paste the link into the system, and then embed questions on the video that students answer. The teacher receives responses and then knows where to plan activities to help students improve their mathematical understandings. Students can complete the video task independently or it can be done simultaneously as a whole class. Here’s one activity you can try with EDpuzzle: Give students a link to an EDpuzzle you have created and have them complete the video activity for homework. Then, in class the next day, create several areas where students can work based on the data you have received. One area might be teacher-based direct instruction for students who are really struggling with the concept; another area might be an opportunity to work collaboratively with peers
