Math, Technology, iPads and @Socrative

I absolutely love technology in the classroom and have been blessed to have a Promethean Board, ActivExpressions, ActivEngage, a MimioPad and 1:1 iPads.  I have been able to implement so many engaging math lessons using technology.

My favorite math lessons using technology are the lessons I create using Socrative. "Socrative is a smart student response system that empowers teachers to engage their classrooms through a series of educational exercises via smartphones, laptops and tablets".  

I utilize Socrative in a unique way.  I create quizzes on Socrative that are actually self-paced activities.  I use the Socrative app on the student iPads.  I like to use my Socrative self-paced activities with teams and individually.

When I utilize Socrative as a "Team Task", each team is given an iPad and a team whiteboard.  I also utilize my Team Roles throughout the Socrative activity.  Each Team Member is Team Mathematician throughout the self-paced review.

Team Mathematician has the iPad and responsible for guided the question.  Team Mathematician draws the diagram on the whiteboard and reads the question to the team. Here is an example of what Team Mathematician would see on the ipad.

Team Mathematician would then read the questions to the team and the team focuses on the problem on the whiteboard and discusses the problem.  The team is supposed to focus on the problem and the question and not the iPad.  The key is the discussion and problem solving  as a team.

After the team determines the answer, the Team Mathematician inputs the answer into the iPad.  They get immediate feedback if they got the question right or wrong.  If they got the question wrong they have to figure out their mistake as a team and check with me before they move on.  If they get the question right they move on to the next question.  Team Mathematician rotates and each Team Member is responsible for reading the questions, drawing the diagrams and guiding the team discussion.

I also like to utilize my self-paced activities individually in my Math Support classes where each student has an iPad.  I do various types of self-paced activities on Socrative in my Math Support class.

I create review questions where the students use a whiteboard to do the work and input the answers to get immediate feed back.

I create tasks where my questions on Socrative guide the students through the task.  As they complete the steps of the task, they input their answers.

This is an example of a Oops, I Lost My iPod Transformations task.  The students set up their graph paper and then through the Socrative activity they are walked through multiple Transformations.

My students love the self-paced lessons I do on Socrative. Socrative is also great because it gives you the data on the students answers.  Socrative gives immediate feedback which I display so the students can see their progress.  I can also download the results which helps me see where they are still struggling.

I have a lot of activities that I will be doing with Socrative next year.  I will be blogging about the activities, posting pictures and giving the Socrative codes for you to try.  If you have never used Socrative, you definitely should check it out... Socrative Rocks!!!!