Didáctica de la medida: abril 2019

lunes, 29 de abril de 2019

GeoGebra for Primary Education

Something I have learned in this subject is about the usefulness of a computer program called 'Geogebra', but what is Geogebra?

"GeoGebra is an interactive mathematics software that dynamically combines geometry, algebra and calculus, developed by Markus Hohenwarter together with an international team of developers, for the teaching of school mathematics.

GeoGebra offers three different perspectives of each mathematical object: a Graphical View, a Numerical View, Algebraic View and, in addition, a Spreadsheet View. This multiplicity allows us to appreciate the mathematical objects in three different representations: graph (as in the case of points, graphs of functions), algebraic (as point coordinates, equations), and in cells of a spreadsheet. Each representation of the same object is dynamically linked to the others in an automatic and reciprocal adaptation that assimilates the changes produced in any of them, regardless of the one that originally created it.

In my opinion, I consider it to be a very useful and favorable resource for students' learning, since through this application we can work with different contents of mathematics, and more specifically with the topic of measurement, providing complementary activities. In addition, the work with the TICs and with this tool is quite creative and motivating for the students.

But the use of digital material in class has some drawbacks as well, such as:

-The students do not manipulate objects with their own hands.

-Sometimes, it requires Internet connectivity, which can fail.

-That the teacher needs prior knowledge of the tool.

-The interaction with the group is lost.

-It can be done repetitive, therefore, it is convenient to alternate the type of activities.

Contribution of information and communication technologies to measure

At school, traditional resources have always been used, such as notebooks and textbooks, without giving rise to any type of innovative material.

With the passage of time, technologies have become hollow in the world of education, since it is present in most of the classrooms. There are professors who are in favor of technological resources, such as digital whiteboards, Internet, specific software, mobile devices, etc., but others do not.

But what are the advantages and disadvantages of using these resources in class?

Advantages

-It favors the motivation and autonomy of the students.

-It is faster and more agile when looking for information.

-Increase the manipulation of information, since they have to investigate and investigate to work the contents.

-There is a wide variety of activities and applications with which students can have fun while they are learning.

-The large number of colors behind these resources keeps the attention of the students.

Disadvantages

-Useful but expensive mechanism.

-It can create dependency and be used for other issues that are not educational.
-Insufficient teacher training for the use of technologies in an adequate manner.
-It can break down frequently and impede its process.

If we are going to incorporate these resources in class, it is important that we remember what are the rules of use and security, so that there are no problems with the students and the classes function with total normality and everyone has fun and learns without any type of setback.

The technologies in class should not be the most important tool in class, but should be a complementary tool to others. It must be borne in mind that the most important tool of the class is the teacher, since it is the fundamental guide of the teaching - learning process of the students.

The graphics in Primary Education

Apart of measure, in class we are also seeing the statistics and with it the graphics, so it seems a good idea to reflect on it.

I think that graphics in Primary Education are something important and it is not given due importance since teachers tend to stick to textbooks, which often do not work the graphics in too much depth, always leaving them as the last topic to be discussed.

On the other hand, I think that one of the most important things when teaching graphics is that they learn to design them themselves, since, in most books, they completely forget that the students are the ones that, according to the data we give, design the graphic using the model that they think is convenient, so that they realize that depending on the situation and the data that is presented, one type of graphic or another can be used.

Therefore, I put in this entry some simple types of graphics that can be carried out with primary school children:

Simple bar graphs:

All the bars are of the same thickness and the separation between them is uniform. The height reached by each bar represents the frequency of the data. This type of graphics allows you to compare quantities with each other and is used, mainly, for easy understanding. In one of the axes (almost always X) the classification is located and in the other the frequency.

Line graphics:

Each point corresponds to a value in the data table.

Pictograms:

Also called graphic images or pictographs. It is a diagram that uses images or symbols to show data for a quick understanding. In a pictogram, an image or symbol is used to represent a specific quantity.

Graphs of circular sectors:

You can also use "THE CIRCULAR SECTORS DIAGRAM" to represent the frequencies (absolute or relative). A circle divided into sectors is used; Each piece represents a fraction of the total.

I'm going to leave here also an explanatory video on how to make graphics, I thought it was an interesting and very illustrative video that we can easily put the children to understand well how to make a graph without complicating much.

http://educacion.practicopedia.lainformacion.com/educacion-primaria-y-secundaria/como-elaborar-una-grafica-partiendo-de-los-datos-de-una-tabla-2352

lunes, 22 de abril de 2019

Teach to measure: some ideas.

The concept of measuring is derived from the word measures, the measures of length of any object, or place have always been necessary from the ancient civilizations to the present day, in a person's life there is almost no day when the units of measurements are not used, so their teaching and learning in numerical skills are established by the need to understand them as part of the daily life of the child. It is very likely that the units of measurement or length are simpler for children than for adults.

Educational method to measure:

Measuring is an easy concept to learn if within the activities of the child they are complemented with basic tools and demonstrations that will help them to make small measurements, classroom demonstrations may be based on the measurements of the board, the height of the classmates, the teacher's height or the measurements of a notebook.

I think that the most effective method is to make measurement and demonstration games with strips or metric tapes inside the classroom or in the garden, this method is called demonstration of units of measure and it is a practical work.

Measurement tools for children:

The demonstrations and examples of units of measurement in the classroom are multiple and you can start with a simple tool that could be a rule of at least 30 cm.

The rule or ruler is a daily tool of the little one who will use it in his/her notebook so that his/her lines are shown straight on paper. The teacher can add tools such as a tape measure to the classroom and children can practice by measuring some objects in the classroom. If the demonstrations are numerous, more length measurements and others can be taught. Another basic tool is a scale that can be found in the science classroom and that serves to take the weight of some objects, so the child will learn quantity measures.

The child will understand that measuring is comparing one magnitude with another and that the measure is the number of times the magnitude contains the unit.

Magnitudes that can be measured:

-Length: the length of an object or person.

-Mass: amount of matter that has an object.

-Capacity: amount of matter that enters a body.

-Surface: measure that has an object superficially.

-Volume: amount of space occupied by the subject.

lunes, 15 de abril de 2019

Educational aplications (Apps) for measurements

In this new post, I propose some applications that can be used to teach and practice the measure with the students:

1. Distance measure: app that allows you to measure the distance from point to point between two or more points of a route on a map. You can also measure the surface area defined by a polygon that has three or more points as its corners. It is necessary to be connected to the Internet, because the maps are online.

2. Tool box: app that contains various tools such as compass, leveler, length measurement tool, protractor, calculator, chronometer, metronome. It can serve both adults and seniors.

3. Planner 5D: This application serves to create detailed plans, as well as interior design. You can create offices, flats or houses in both 2D and 3D mode. Children will be used to calculate the perimeter, area, length and surface.

4. Smart Measure: You can measure the distance, height and width of an object by trigonometry with the telephone. For example, to measure someone's distance you have to point to their shoes.

5. Ruler app + photo ruler: app for both Android and IOS. Determine the size of any object and measure things with the same precision as a traditional ruler or tape measure.

6. Planimeter: this app measures the area, distance, perimeter, course, angle, and GPS coordinates on the map. In addition, calculate metrics (kms), and quick estimate.

viernes, 5 de abril de 2019

ICT resources about measure in Primary Education

Of all it is known that Mathematics has traditionally been one of the subjects qualified as difficult by the majority of students ... and it still is. However, with the help of ICT we can ensure that Mathematics can be made closer, more intuitive, more pleasant.

Sometimes it is difficult for children to understand that mathematics is much more than adding and subtracting. The calculation or geometry can be essential tools to better understand the world around us or solve everyday problems. For this reason I believe that the interactive resources in this case can be of great help to motivate children through a much more visual, interactive and entertaining mathematics teaching so that they practice one of the subjects included in the mathematics curriculum that more has to do with our day to day: systems and units of measure

On the Internet there are many and very good examples. On this occasion, I will recommend some of the ICT resources that have been most interesting for me to practice the measure in primary education: