In my prior post, I highlighted the use of electronics by students. Frequently, students are distracted in the classroom with their smartphones, iPods, iPads, and other devices. In the article, "Students explain everything using iPads", a more productive approach is shown for students and educators by using screencast apps on their devices. The screencast app that is explored in this article is ExplainEverything. The screencast app proves to be valuable on both sides of the classroom, teachers and students. For educators, ExplainEverything shows the steps a student will take solving a problem. It will show slide by slide the written process by students to solve the equation and it will also capture the students voice explaining what they are discovering as they write out the problem and solve it. These are critical steps to see where there could be misconceptions and for teachers to redirect their lesson. These screencast apps are also proving to engage students and promote their understanding of class material.
I see the use of ExplainEverything and other screencast apps as valuable tools for educators. The process alone for the student: (1) To analyze the problem, (2) Speak aloud the problem and all of their thought processes and steps, (3) To be able to visually create models with the graphics and tools provided by the app, (4) All to find a solution, (5)And teachers get to witness this whole process through the app. This is gold. From my experience volunteering at my daughter's school, I am given worksheets with errors by students. I am then instructed to work one on one with students to help them with misconceptions or lack of understanding with lessons. These worksheets could have been completed yesterday or last week. And it takes effort to reengage the student with the worksheet and then go through the entire process of the problem to find where there was a lack of understanding. I definitely can see where ExplainEverything can be valuable in every classroom for students, volunteers, and teachers.
This article about screencast apps directly links to ISTE standards for students and teachers. This technology gives students a tool to use critical thinking for problem solving (ISTE, 2007). It also helps educators facilitate learning and promotes self-reflection using the app to clarify their insight and thought process. Overall, I find this to be a step in the right direction. There are schools in certain districts assigning iPads to students for the school year and this is a great app to see how the students are solving problems. I also, recently read another article "The Secret to Raising Smart Kids" and this article stresses the importance of children's problem solving abilities. This article informs us about how important the process of problem solving is and how it encourages effective strategies and consistent personal effort. The article claims this process is what truly helps students become high achievers not the ingrained belief they're talented or smart.
Soto, M., & Hargis, J.(2014). Students explain everything using iPads. Learning & Leading with Technology, 41(7), 32-33.
ISTE. (2007). ISTE standards: students. International Society for Technology in Education.
ISTE. (2008). ISTE standards: teachers. International Society for Technology in Education.
Dweck, C. (2015). The secret to raising smart kids. Scientific American.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids1/
1 comment:
Hi! I agree that the use of certain apps in the classroom can cause students to become more interested in the material being taught through the use of the an app. I recently posted an article about how certain schools are using webcams to help students strengthen their reading skills while being taught how to use the technology. The problem with using webcams in the classroom is that they offered a lot of distraction and the some students became completely depended on the technology to read by themselves or do simple arthritmatic. My concern with using such apps is that the students might become heavily depended on the apps and not be able to use crtical thinking skills or maths skills that dont require apps or technology, just the mind.
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