The document discusses using iPad apps like ShowMe, Algebra Intro, and Easel Algebra to teach algebra manipulation to weaker secondary 1 students, highlighting how the apps allow hands-on practice, self-directed learning, and feedback while also having some limitations. A review found that students adapted well to using the iPad and that it provides a virtual hands-on experience, but the iPad cannot replace traditional teaching methods and should be used as a tool to facilitate learning rather than limit creativity.

1. ShowMe Algebra on iPad
St. Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School

2. Joyce Liu
• Teacher with St. Anthony’s
Canossian Secondary School
• Experience in teaching
– 11 months
• My happy relationship with
iPad starts on 25th April 2011!
• http://joyceliu.posterous.com

4. Agenda
Overview
What is this presentation about?
Hands-on
Time to exercise our fingers!
Review
Was the lesson really good?

5. Overview
• Target audience: Weaker Secondary 1
(Express) students
• Topic: Algebra Manipulation Revision

6. Overview
• What is the problem?
– Weak in arithmetic
– Confused with the different forms
– ‘Dry’ topic
– Phobia!

7. Overview

8. Overview
• Lesson plan:
Application used
Summary of topic Whiteboard
Self-directed learning Interiorising
- Explain Algebra Intro
- Practice
Pair-work activity
ShowMe Condense
- Spot The Mistakes!
Quiz to check
Easel Algebra Reifies
understanding

9. Overview

10. Whiteboard App
Advantages Limitations
• Simple with only two • Cannot have
options: multiple ‘pages’
- Write • No ‘undo’ option
- Erase
• Can be saved as
picture
• Can be shared via
email, Facebook,
Tumblr, Twitter etc.

11. Algebra Intro App
Advantages Limitations
• Short explanations • Limited sub-topics
provided with • Limited practice
practice questions questions
• Allow moving of • The addition sign in
terms virtually front of the term is
• Immediate feedback not moved together
with the term (need
to emphasize to
students)

12. Algebra Intro App

13. ShowMe App
Advantages Limitations
• Allow voice • When clearing away
recording with the annotations
annotations saved as while recording, the
video clip background will be
• Big writing area cleared away too
• Fast upload time
• Can be embedded
on websites
• Allow comments on
video clip

14. ShowMe App
• Language is the way to think!

15. ShowMe App
Alternative Uses
• Record classroom
teaching for students
who missed the
lesson
• Prepare online lesson
• Go through examples

16. ShowMe App

17. ShowMe App

18. Easel Algebra App
Advantages Limitations
• Ample working space • Not all questions
• ShowMe full solutions come with ShowMe
• Immediate feedback solutions
• Limited number of
questions

20. Review

21. Review
• Students adapt to iPad like fishes to
water
• Gives virtual hands-on experience
• Pedagogy drives learning

22. Review
• Cannot replace teaching and
learning/pen and paper YET!
• iPad is just a tool to facilitate
teaching
• It should not be a jail that limits
creativity