learning about a student's mathematical thinking- with Educreations

The First Grade Butterflies learned how to use the Educreations app to record their thinking and problem solving, as mathematicians!

Previously, the Butterflies had been importing a CGI math problem, from a class shared DropBox account, into the Notability app and "showing" (visually) they solved the problem.  After completing, each Butterfly would then export their work into an individual DropBox folder (titled with the student's name and "math journal")... creating a digital math journal.  This allowed me to "see" how their process for solving the problem.
Parents were invited to their child's individual DropBox folder with access to view the contents.

"Seeing" (visually) how each student approaches a (the) CGI problem (or any math problem) of focus is beneficial in learning about a student's mathematical understanding, thinking, and development.

However, even after attempting to have students record their thinking process in writing, accurately identifying and understanding the student's thinking was subjective and limited (due to stages of writing development).

Observing (visually) and listening (auditorily) to a student as she/he solves a problem is ideal in more accurately understanding their mathematical thinking and problem solving.

However...in a classroom of 26 students and 1 teacher, the ability to observe and listen to each student's individual process for solving a problem is not possible.

But, with the Educreations iPad app... it is possible!

Saving a CGI problem (or any mathematical problem) as a "photo" in the class shared DropBox account, students can import the "problem" into the Educreations app.

After importing the problem, students push "record" and verbally explain their thinking process as they visually "show" their thinking.

The app records the process and can then be viewed similar to a "movie"... allowing the teacher to "see" and "hear" the student's mathematical thinking in it's sequential entirety.

The "lesson" is saved and can be "shared" in multiple ways (including e-mail).  Unfortunately, it does not currently have the capability to export the "lesson" into DropBox.

The use of Educreations provides me with the opportunity to "see" and "hear" individual student's mathematical thinking and problem solving when I am unable to individually observe and listen to the student on a day.  YEAH!

mirroring the Educreations app on the SMARTboard
-introducing the students to the features of and use of the app

a Butterfly Mathematician "showing" and "explaining" his thinking
as he solves a JRU CGI problem

a Butterfly Mathematician recording her process for solving a CGI JRU problem
"visually" and "verbally" on the Educreations iPad app

a Butterfly math partner monitoring
his partners thinking process and solution for a JRU CGI math problem

Butterflies as "shape detectives" on the iPad

Supporting their identification of shapes and understanding of attributes... the First Grade Butterflies cooperatively searched for shapes in the classroom environment as "shape detectives".

With a math partner, the Butterflies imported the "shape detective" recording sheet (from the Butterfly shared "iPad MATH" folder in the class Dropbox account) into the Notability iPad app.

The Butterfly "shape detectives" utilized the capability to "take a photo" within the Notability app to photograph shapes recognized within the classroom environment.  The partners then inserted the photograph into the relevant location on the recording sheet and resized the photograph to fit in the specific area provided on the recording sheet.

The "shape detectives" accessed the pen function (and chose a color that would be visable on the photograph) and traced the corresponding shape in the photograph.

After completion, each "shape detective" exported the completed recording sheet to his/her individual math journal folder within the class Dropbox account and emailed me (the teacher) the completed recording sheet.  ("Shape detectives" wrote their names on the recording sheet prior to beginning their "search".)

"Shape detective" recording sheets were accessed through my (teacher) email and displayed on the SMARTboard during our processing of the learning.  Partners referenced their recording sheet on the SMARTboard while sharing examples of shapes identified in the classroom environment and explaining their identification of the shape- relative to the shape's attributes.

"Shape detectives" taking a photo of a circle
identified in the classroom environment 

Butterfly math partners cooperatively completing
the "shape detectives" recording sheet on the iPad 

"Shape detectives" resizing a photograph
after inserting into the recording sheet through the Notability app on the iPad 

"Shape detectives" utilizing the pen function
to trace the shape identified in the photograph
taken and inserted in the recording sheet on the iPad