iPads and Family Math Night
October 5, 2011
At AES I am constantly amazed at the creativity and quality of our Math department in the Middle School. A few weeks ago, the Middle School hosted a Family Math Night. Students arrived with their parents and explored the world of math in our Hall of Peace. The evening began with a group math lesson for all family members to participate in; the room was complete with math activities, Bamboo tablets, and interactive games for the whole family. Oh yeah, and then there were the iPads.
This year we are piloting a small iPad pilot in the Middle School. When I first heard the idea that we were going to do this, I was ready to run the other way. We already have an Assigned Laptop Program (a 1:1 at school) going which only began a few weeks ago. I wasn't ready for iPads on top of everything else. And do you know what? The Math department has pushed me ever so gently to roll those iPads out and they are working so well. This year the iPad use in the Math department has been extraordinary. So where else should we showcase the iPads than Family Math night? As a parent of a middle school student, I know that I occasionally need refreshers on some of my rusty math skills. Our goal was to put the iPads in the hands of parents and give them the opportunity to see that they were not toys, but devices that can help make learning fun.
It worked. The night hadn't even started yet when every iPad was in the hands of a family. They were gone before I had a chance to introduce myself and mention that the iPads needed to be kept at the table. The iPads literally ran away with the spoon. After a minor panic attack, I realized that the parents weren't going to run away with my precious new iPads, . . .they wanted to learn. The iPads were just a small piece of that wonderful evening. It was amazing to see so many parents and students learning together. It was standing room only, with families curled up in corners out in the hall learning together. It was a success. It had nothing to do with the iPads, and everything to do with the hard work of our Math department, but the iPads were definitely well received. Here are a few math apps if you are looking for ways to get started:
This year we are piloting a small iPad pilot in the Middle School. When I first heard the idea that we were going to do this, I was ready to run the other way. We already have an Assigned Laptop Program (a 1:1 at school) going which only began a few weeks ago. I wasn't ready for iPads on top of everything else. And do you know what? The Math department has pushed me ever so gently to roll those iPads out and they are working so well. This year the iPad use in the Math department has been extraordinary. So where else should we showcase the iPads than Family Math night? As a parent of a middle school student, I know that I occasionally need refreshers on some of my rusty math skills. Our goal was to put the iPads in the hands of parents and give them the opportunity to see that they were not toys, but devices that can help make learning fun.
It worked. The night hadn't even started yet when every iPad was in the hands of a family. They were gone before I had a chance to introduce myself and mention that the iPads needed to be kept at the table. The iPads literally ran away with the spoon. After a minor panic attack, I realized that the parents weren't going to run away with my precious new iPads, . . .they wanted to learn. The iPads were just a small piece of that wonderful evening. It was amazing to see so many parents and students learning together. It was standing room only, with families curled up in corners out in the hall learning together. It was a success. It had nothing to do with the iPads, and everything to do with the hard work of our Math department, but the iPads were definitely well received. Here are a few math apps if you are looking for ways to get started:
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