ECISD Learner's Reflections: Make Thinking Visible

This information, App-Mazing Math through Visible Thinking, by Meghan Zigmond (@zigzagstech)--http://zigzagstech.com--was shared at iPadpalooza 2015 conference. You can find resources online athttp://bit.ly/AppyMath. Be sure to check out Meghan's ThingLink page.

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Meghan (@zigzagstech) getting going about 20 minutes before her 8:15am session. What a wonderful personality!

MyNotes - PreSession

MyNotes - Session

I'm all about visible thinking.
Lot of first grade, second grade teachers in the classroom. A few middle school students. You'll be seeing a lot of first grade examples. A lot of these things are applicable to all grade levels.
"When thinking is made visible as educators we are better able to see and/or hear our students thinking, often we aren't even around when its created." @klirenman
With visible thinking, you can see where students get stuck...and this means you can reteach.
You have an amazing portfolio of their work when you blog and share their visible thinking.
Mathematical thinking...explain, show, justify, apply, record, analyze, organize, choose tools. You can't do all those things in a worksheet. Visible thinking and creating projects...it does all of these things.
"One more preach..." before I show you some examples.
"Tool is one thing but the way we look at it is much more important." -George Couros.
I want to challenge your thinking...are you handing them a game or are you handing them an iPad that is going to help them share their thinking?
App demonstrations...virtual manipulatives. Using these on an iPad is just as good as using them in "real life," however some students may prefer the real ones to the virtual. Students will also take pictures of real manipulatives, just like you can take a picture of the virtual manipulatives.

white is on the right and that means zero
on the left, that's where you do your addition and subtraction
you can cover up the right side with a blue box with question mark
take a screenshot then drop it into another app (e.g. Skitch [or how about 30HandsLearning?)

If you give students time to play, they can figure out the apps. Students share with each other how to use the tools during group share. Meghan allows them play time.
Counting coins...Thinking with Hands On Math
Graphs & App-tivities - one class chose to use HaikuDeck, and another chose NumberDeck
Students were then able to have conversations about the different graphs.
Flipagram
AppSmash Ideas for Math...check the slideshow above for links.

Number Pieces Basic + Popplet Lite: Build numbers and show understanding in Popplet
Geoboard & Popplet (via Tech with Kelly)
NumberLine & Explain Everything
Pattern Shapes & Skitch
Check out Task Cards and App Menus...very nice!!
Collect Projects: Padlet Wall & QR Code
Show It with Scene Makers...awesome story problems!
Lisa Carnazzo had students make Multiplication Bugs
Feltboard and Book Creator
Recipe for Visible Thinking

Two apps you must have on your iPads are ExplainEverything and Book Creator (Amen!!)
I encourage you to use blogging/Kidblog to create individual portfolios! It works great to share with families and creates a record of growth and visible thinking all year long. I just think it's a powerful tool. Tweet me if you're interested in becoming a blogging buddy.
Grading: I keep extensive Google Drive notes. We're doing a developmental report card. I keep anecdotal notes. Watching these creations, you can understand whether they get it or don't. I'm glad I don't give grades.