Part B-Application of TPACK

PART B: Application of TPACK: Basic description of each of these areas and important characteristics of these areas as related to this project

1.      What is the TP knowledge for the solution?  (i.e., how does the technology you have chosen support the teaching strategies and methods you have chosen?)

Within technological pedagogical knowledge is described as the “knowledge of the existence, components and capabilities of various technologies as they are used in teaching and learning settings, and conversely, knowing how teaching might change as a result of using particular technologies.” The iPad has a wide range of tools that can be used for multiple tasks, whether it be delivering a lesson or submitting an assignment, but within this project I hope to find a useful classroom/lesson application and a useful student application.  With the iPad, being that it is portable, I will be able to circulate the room and reach many of my students not only by the one-to-one technology, but also by the one-to-one communication within the classroom.  This will allow me to actively engage my student both in their educational use with the iPad and within the discussions inside and outside of the classroom.  There are many resources to use with the iPad, however, one of the main ones that I am researching and will be ‘Reflections.’  This is the way that I will be able to connect my Mac Book to my iPad to allow me to control my computer to give notes, show examples, etc. while circulating the room. Another on that will be useful for my students both within the classroom and out, is ‘ShowMe.’ ‘ShowMe’ will allow me to show students video examples of how to solve a problem, or have them show me how they have solved the problem.  This will be useful for group projects, allowing the students to share their work with each other, having them create videos/lessons, and allowing them to present problems they may be having within a particular assignment. This will help with the one-to-one correspondence by seeing student’s works, questions, and confusions in an emailed or presented short video.  This will also allow for easy communication outside of school for the students.  A useful resource that I hope to get my students to reference within my math class is called ‘iFormula’s.’  This is a resource that the students can use to reference specific formulas, theorems, laws, properties, definitions, etc. allowing them to ‘discover’ learning on their own and further their education if they are interested on a topic we are reviewing.  This could be an easy resource for the students to reference as review, or may be a way the students prefer to discover and understand such math topics.  This technology is going to open a new pedagogical way of a classroom dealing with how we interact with our students, both inside and outside the classroom, along with how classes may be managed, conducted, and executed.

2.     What is the TC knowledge for the solution? (i.e., how specifically does this technology make the content in your problem more intellectually accessible?  Be sure to think about representation.)

This technology with iPads of one-to-one student access is going to allow for all students to have technology at their fingertips on a daily basis.  This will allow for lesson plans to be presented as videos (allowing for students to pace at their own speed) and have access to specific technologies and applications for the type of work being addressed.  The students and teachers will have more resources to use, share, and explore on a daily basis to allow for further growth in specific areas of weakness. This wide open access will allow teachers to ‘teach’ in a different manner than before, by using more technology and individualizing students needs more readily.  Students will be allowed to access capabilities to learn math in a new light and grasp a better understanding of how and why with technological enhancements and visual representations. This technology will also allow for teachers to go about their daily lives in a different matter.  Things for teachers, such as attendance, lesson plans, etc. will be easily accessible from anywhere and at a moments notice with the use of iPad technologies.

3.     What is the PC knowledge for the solution? (i.e., how specifically do your pedagogical choices make the content in your problem more intellectually accessible? Be sure to think about how the student will experience the content given these instructional strategies.

One of the instructional strategies that I will focus on within my classes is a ‘flipped’ classroom.  This will allow for the students to view the lesson outside of the classroom, from a video, on their iPads, allowing for more activities and math practice in the classroom.  The iPads will allow every student to have access to these videos and able to advance at their pace that they need. Another thing is that students can use these iPads for further ‘instruction’ or additional help with the applications available, the internet access, and the accessibility to many resources at the students fingertips.