Educational IT Forum of New Zealand.

Chromebooks in Education

2011-11-25T17:01:00.000+13:00

Schools are continually seeking to upgrade their old Windows XP and Windows Vista computers. but what would happen if you were offered a laptop that wouldn't need updating every 2 or 3 years simply because it would never be out-of-date?
Enter the Chromebook. A small wifi-enabled laptop at a fraction of the price of other laptops. They are so compelling that a reporter in for The Daily Telegraph expects 10 percent of all laptops to be sold next year will be Chromebooks.

I believe that will be an astounding boost after only one year on the market. But it is the uptake from education that will certainly be worth more of a mention. Schools are stuck with old computers that run of different OS and CPU speeds. On the other hand, the Chromebook has a web-based desktop, taking you straight to your photos or videos you have stored online. If you want to add photos, simply insert the USB Flash Drive, and instantly the photos will be uploaded to Google Picasa Web Albums for the world to see. It is this innovation that doesn't stop when you buy the Chromebook. Updates are a thing of the past with webware: you simply receive the update by clicking onto your webpage and begin to use. I think Google is positioning itself perfectly as a leading provider for education in terms of both webware (Google Docs) and hardware. I just wish I had a Chromebook I could fit in my pocket. Oh wait! I do, and it's called my android phone.

Collaborative Classrooms

2009-12-23T13:14:00.001+13:00

Education has reached a milestone within a short space of time and now it is about to reach another. But are we ready for this change? Can teachers keep up with the pace of technological change?

Recently I have dabbled in using web2.0 tools such has wallwisher, voicethread, gcast, google docs and apps, worldTV, ispring and glogster...wait! I am speaking english still! These tools are simply good websites I recommend you visit and let your students simply explore. Why? Well it is a simple answer and a complicated one at the same time. Answer 1: They're paving the way for a revolution beyond the classroom walls. Answer 2: These web2.0 tools (I'll just called them websites from now one) are connected to others all over the world and can be used to learn, communicate, debate, collaborate and infuse knowledge between one class and culture together.
An example of this is the website 'collaborative classroom' which has been set up to allow other classes to explore and understand other classrooms; either within the same neighbourhood, of further away in other planets.
Examples here:
http://collaborativeclassroom.blogspot.com/

Smart Kids

2009-12-14T23:32:00.001+13:00

Assess all in 6 minutes.

2009-10-06T12:23:00.004+13:00

Testing students can take a relatively long time from the delivery of the test, marking and analysis of the results. With e-asTTle making inroads, how can we best shape tests for ourselves and create them across the curriculum areas? Is is really possible to get significant data and analyse it within 10 minutes? The answer is yes: read on.

A website that enables the teacher to create a test, set parameters like the amount of time allowed to complete the test and initiate it to the children has been created and is guaranteed to be 100% free in the future.

This web 2.0 site is called that thatquiz.org. This website markets itself as 'The most accessible math test resource on the web today with over 6 million graded exams to date and over 300,000 participating students.' Certainly a large number of test papers to mark by any account!

Upon deeper investigation into the web-based application is appeared to be written by Andrew Lyczak. This man's credentials include designing web-based applications using Java, Perl, HTML, AJAX, and Javascript.

The websites belief is simple and straight to the point: 'What we don't believe in: Games, advertising, fees, spam or gimmicks.'

So, how does it work? Firstly you can begin with two options. Create your own test from scratch or load up a test someone else has written, change it around a bit and then give it to your class. Each child has a login and can set their own password. Since you are the administrator, you can reset these or set your own password for the children.

Once the quiz has been accepted, the student can then go through it and complete the questions. Finally, a summary mark is given and you have the opportunity to see which questions they got wrong also. This can be conveniently emailed to anyone and the results can be exported to Excel for closer analysis.

To truly see the simplicity of the tests, Hadleigh Benson administered a number of tests within mathematics. Each quiz was 20 questions and had a time limit of 6 minutes. The quizzes were on: time (analogue), multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, fractions, graphing, place value, measurement, decimals, and inequality.

Once the entire class had completed the tests which occurred over the two week test period. The results were clear to see. Each student was conferenced on their area of weakness and strength, and what they needed to do in order to learn new mathematical skills.

The results were extraordinary, the data provided by these tests were exactly what a teacher needs. They are short tests in length and provide the next steps for the student in their learning. Along with individual results, the graphs provide in-depth analysis of the class or group learning needs and what areas need to be taught more than others.

Further research needs to include the same tests administered over time, from the beginning of the year, to a mid year and end of year test. These results should then be analysed in order to see how the shift in student knowledge has progressed.

Article.

gOS

2009-04-09T17:10:00.002+12:00

The posts are lining up and falling gradually into place. The juggernaut of the computing industry is positioning itself to supersede any other operating system and computer we have seen to date. Google's ambitious move to create a 'cloud computer' that is cut price web based computer will shake computing to its core.

According to industry writer and former executive editor of the Harvard Business Review Nicholas G. Carr in his new book "The Big Switch: Rewiring the World, from Edison to Google." He hypothesised applications and files would be stored on a large, centralised supercomputer whereby users log in and save their files to this supercomputer.

Imagine a computer with no hard drive, no CD drive and therefore no major moving parts. Now imagine a computer that simply connects to the internet, is never required to be turned off (in fact there is no off button) and will never need updated because the Operating System is non existent. How could it be used? Has this been done already? The answers are "yes" and "yes!". Take the idea from Live Kiosk which has created a computer that doesn't require a hard drive and instead uses the CD Drive to create an Operating System that simply loads up one fundamental piece of software: Internet Explorer (it will actually be Google Chrome).

Now you have the makings of an extremely cheap 'computer' that is always connected to the internet. By using the plethora of Google applications that are web based you can then have a computer for less than NZ$300. The most incredible thing is that is won't need updating, repairing or any maintainance, just a screen, small box, keyboard and mouse. With this function Google will win the race and illiminate all other opponence by simply not allowing any other viable option.

Google has created the initial Operating System set to rock computing to the core. It is in the form of the Google Andriod OS. Although initially it will be for mobile phones. It makes a great platform for launching a computer that will be (if you want) as small as a mobile phone. Development is in its early stages but the refining is continuing on the gOS.

Although this will take time, the writing is on the wall as discussed by the Google President in this interview. This phenomenom has been discussed for years now, but it has taken Google time to complete all the chapters in the book. Each chapter represents a replacement for Hard Drive software applications, for example: Word, Powerpoint is now Google Docs. Has this started? The posts are in place, just the cement has not set.

"Google Apps, set... go!"

2008-12-10T16:38:00.003+13:00

Google applications set to revolutionise teaching and learning for students from early primary school through to high school. The additions they have made and continue to make will hold this suite in high esteem with students and teachers alike.

Put simply Google applications allow many pieces of the Office Suite to ‘talk’ to each other. What is meant by that is the fact that a student can have on his/her own blog within Google apps a plethora of learning throughout the year. Sounds like an e-portfolio of learning? Precisely what it is and now the ability is there for the learning to follow the student throughout their education.

Google applications consist of Powerpoint (simply titled presentations), Excel (spreadsheet), Word (write) and now Forms. The Forms have been added as an extension of the spreadsheet. Forms enables a student to create a questionnaire online for other people to answer. It can be closed of open questions and the results it provides are enormous.

Forms have the ability to collate, analyse, graph and comment on the data enabling a student to quickly see responses to questions and generate some generalisations about the data.

Simple forms can be created during statistical investigations like “What is your favourite colour?” to more in-depth questions asking the students to reflect on their home-learning this week or review the latest book they have read.

Google Applications is more than a traditional suite. It is freeware, web2.0 (web based and no need to upgrade any software) collaborative and more importantly offers a package that can ‘talk’ to all the other applications as well.

Further research into the Google applications should be made into the effectiveness of statistical teaching and learning for students to conclude if the data and results the application produces can enhance students’ minds and understandings.

Hadleigh Benson

Teaching music in 2010

2008-11-20T22:23:00.003+13:00

Games have constantly developed in terms of graphical capabilities, but a regression has occurred within the new emerging market of interactive (educational) games.

The latest games to hit the games’ market include Rock Band and Guitar Hero World Tour. These two similar games have the ability to create a revolutionised classroom.

These two games enable the user (student) to hold a guitar, drum kit, microphone or bass guitar and play the notes as they roll down the screen. This links directly to the New Zealand Curriculum Level 2 objectives to share sound making using basic music performance skills and techniques.

These techniques include using this system of performance in a competitive nature between classmates, inter class competition and inter school competition. What is missing in today’s learning environment? In order to create this form of competition and involve as many students as possible the only thing lacking is a second set of instruments and a second projector.

With this enabled you would have a total of eight participants, and within only 4 rotations the entire class would have participated.

Recent observations in the classroom of only one guitar and projection resulted in a total of 24 out of 27 students actively observing the projection and acquiring an understanding of the game’s task.

Further research should include the link between this type of game play and the ability to cross-over into playing traditional instruments to see if the cross-over makes learning the new instrument more straightforward and simpler.

Hadleigh Benson

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2008-10-24T21:42:00.001+13:00

Hadleigh Benson is a progressive educationalist and teacher utilising the latest technology and providing in depth analysis and critique on these innovations.

Digital Classrooms or Digital Storage rooms?

2008-10-17T19:12:00.003+13:00

Technology has the ability to ferment itself upon society and learning cultures, how we use this technology provides the gateway to the future prospects for the students we teach. Are we equipping them with these skills or are we using the technology as a piece of artwork for the classroom left to gather dust in the fabric of time?

Teachers should remain aware that technology is not just about having computers in the classroom but in fact having a myriad of other technologies at hand. Old technologies have there place too, including the analogue clock, tape deck stereo system, VHS video player, and typewriter.

In order for students to understand the world they are currently living in, it is vital they understand the world that once was and these aged technologies have a place in educating students about the changes in technology.

Although some classes have these dated technologies, they aren’t fully being utilised and realised for their true potential. Stereo decks are fantastic learning tools for use during independent reading. Students can use pre-recorded School Journal articles and use them in order to enhance their listening comprehension.

VHS video players offer a plethora of videos relating to current topics and provide back catalogue videos not yet converted to DVD or Blu-ray. The typewriter can be used as a publishing tool and provide insight into its use before the advent of the modern computer- guiding students toward an understanding of the purpose of the QWERTY keyboard layout.

Technology is continuously being updated and refined; it is up to the educationalists to provide hands-on pieces of equipment that offer insights into the period of time when that certain piece of equipment was in main stream use. Instead of letting these gather dust, we should be upskilling our students on how we once used these technologies.

Hadleigh Benson

Using Sketchup as a powerful learning tool

2008-10-16T17:49:00.006+13:00

Sketchup offers a 3 dimensional learning environment that can aide students within integrated learning areas. Sketchup has been trialled within the classroom for a number lessons and it has become evident that this teaching tool fits within Inquiry Learning, English, mathematics, and Social Studies.

Further trials of Sketchup revealed an enhanced interest and motivation towards the areas of Mathematics and Social Studies. During the Inquiry Learning process Sketchup has been used to enhance and consolidate childrens’ learning about cultures.

The children were asked to consider the enduring question throughout the entire Inquiry Process: ‘ By looking at what other countries and cultures do, how are they different and similar to ours?’

The trial of utilising Sketchup with the students included five 12 year olds and two 9 year olds. Data collected after the activity was complete during discussions included student comments that ‘learning was fun, motivating and interesting’. Students wanted to learn more because they were using a tool that looked like they were ‘making a movie’.

Students were taught about foreign countries in a whole class teaching method, namely South Korea, China and New Zealand kiwiana. In order to promote learning within the classroom students were then directed to select a culture of choice for study.

The application has been used widely by classroom students to recreate the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Wall of China. Information was then inserted into the project and after using research processes.

Sketchup has been promoted by Google as a tool essential to learning in classrooms; however the promotion is more directed towards purchasing the Pro version.

Further trials should look towards using the Google Pro version for education and compare and contrast the differences between the freeware programme and the Pro package.

Hadleigh Benson

All computers are equal

2008-10-09T17:21:00.003+13:00

Web 2.0 and its ability to challenge the way we install and hold software on our computers is turning computers on their heads. Traditionally a Mac was a Mac and a PC was a PC but all that is changing.

If you have a computer you will be well aware of whether it is operating on Windows or Mac Operating Systems. But they can both access the internet and the advent of Web2.0 has very quietly challenged our understanding and blurred the lines between what computer you have and use.

This synergy has been grasped by companies such as Google and Yahoo to name a few, who offer documents, presentations, photos and videos to be stored on their servers. This has now enabled students to simply click on a website, upload their learning and view it both at home and at school.

Simple online programmes coined webware like scrbl, tutpup, mind42, Google Apps, voicethread, grogster, and blogging have removed the need to install and continually upgrade this software at a nominal fee.

For marketing companies, this is the perfect weapon when faced with a David and Goliath battle. The need for creating DVDs and placing your software in shops to be purchased by consumers has been reduced because they can market their product simply by word of mouth.

The quiet unfolding revolution that is occurring at the exact same time is the fact that because of these webware tools being created more and more every single day the notion of asking which OS you use is becoming more and more redundant. The difference is simply a click of a button and the rest is equivalent.

Hadleigh Benson

CompuTVe

2008-10-09T17:19:00.005+13:00

An alliance has been formed and the battle lines are drawn, computers and televisions are becoming obsolete due to the fact that they do the same thing and their isn’t enough room for the both of us.

Televisions provide media that are interactive, play movies, music, deliver news, contain millions of colours, have sound and video, inform, entertain, communicate and motivate we as educationalists. Sounds familiar? Computers do the exact same function.

So the two are facing each other and have reached a crossroads, but on this road there isn’t enough room for one to pass the other. Like a cataclysmic event similar to the LHC the synergy is prophesised and the light is beaming on a CompuTVe, also known as a TV and Computer in one.

People will not be concerned about where the television is beaming in from, but it will continually be evident it will be streamed in on the copper wires instead of SKY or digital satellite.

When you sit down stare at your TV and relish the idea that although it may be the latest HD flat widescreen TV, its days were numbered the moment you purchased it without internet access. The CompuTVe will pause movies when someone is ringing you on Skype, play music and do everything you wanted from your computer and TV.

What does this mean for education? Much of a muchness really, the added fact will be that teachers will truly be able to watch streamed events as they happen without looking very far for it.

Hadleigh Benson

Infrastucture

2008-10-09T17:02:00.006+13:00

Schools have a dilemma. When they purchase a piece of electrical equipment it is already outdated and superseded by the same product that does it twice and fast and twice as better.

Take for instance cabling a school. The Ministry standard is Cat5e which can obtain speeds of up to 155 Mbit/s, Cat6a cabling is capable of 10 Gbit/s and Fibre Optics can achieve an amazing 111 Gb/s speed. The dilemma for Principals and Board of Trustees is when to make the jump and purchase these expensive infrastructural requirements.

Likewise, the purchasing of computers is also another dilemma with the same root cause: planned obsolescence. What should we do in order to maintain the highest quality products that will enhance our students’ abilities with ICT?

There are two main options on the table, leasing and purchasing computers. By leasing the computers it takes away the need for a ‘repairperson’ when the computer hardware fails, but it can be costly to lease them also.

Purchasing computers give opportunity to the school to maintain and hold these computers well after their use by date when they seem to morph into a relic from an Ancient Egyptian tomb.

Either options are win situations for companies that provide the computers, but there are new emerging technologies that can enable schools to have their cake and eat it also.

Macedonia is the first country in the world to have 1 computer for every child. They have used the ncomputing's technology to essentially transform 1 computer into 4 with minimal cost and extended its ability to the limits.

Although it may sound like a fat or thin client, the technology behind it is similar but different also. Upon installing the circuit board into the computer and plugging in the cables and box the computer is then sent and instruction to share itself a little more.

If you have ever seen two screen on one computer, this uses the same technology and ‘fools’ the computer into thinking it has 4 screens, the only difference is that these four screens allow different logins, different programmes to load and stream videos simultaneously.

How could school maximise their returns? In order to understand this expenditure it should be understood that in the best interests of the children and school these ideas will benefit stakeholders now and well into the future.

The key is that the xtendas do not have any moving parts thus making them highly unlikely to break down, use far less power compared to having 4 computers, require no upgrading, no power socket and no internet cable.

If schools were to lease the main computer and purchase the xtendas then the school would continually have the latest computers and best technology in the country instead of being left with relics from Ancient Egypt gathering dust.

For Principals and Board of Trustee members alike the moral decision needs to be made, purchase computers and place them into the school until they are archaic or lease computers and purchase the xtendas so when we upgrade the leased computers the xtendas will automatically follow suit and be upgraded to the latest OS and highly specified computer. If we can do this our teaching of technology could be twice as fast and certainly twice as better.

Hadleigh Benson

New Zealand Classrooms in 2020 AD

2008-10-09T11:22:00.007+13:00

As you approach your classroom tomorrow morning, the outside structure has possibly looked the same for the last 50 years, some classes were designed even before that time, but in the year 2020 AD the human race would have reached a pinnacle moment in our history.

According to Moore's Law a computer will double its circuitry roughly every two years. History has shown that since 1965 we have continued down this path of doubling the computers 'speed' every 18 months to 2 years. With this Law fundamental to envisaging the image on the 'crystal ball' we can imagine a classroom very different to that of today.

As you approach the school in your water/hydrogen powered car your mo-phone ( once called mobile phone) equipped with blacktooth (a larger range than the outdated and clunky Bluetooth) sends signals to your classroom that would disable the alarm, turn on the lights and heaters and bring your computers to life after remaining in hibernation.

Computers would have no Hard Drive as such, because they are a moving part and subject to breakage, so instead all memory is kept in RAM, making programmes open instantaneously on any powered surface and contain an incredible amount of intuition.

Upon entering the classroom you no longer have the need for a laptop because the latest iphone 2019 release integrated all the essential software that follows you from home to your school. By simply placing it on the dock it would enable access to your own files and preferences. As soon as you leave the classroom, your files are locked automatically.

The internet has been transformed into a 3D environment whereby touch computers and infra-red projections of keyboards are used to communicate through it. The QWERTY keyboard is still used occasionally but voice recognition and eye recognition software reads your blinks as to whether you wish to open or close a file.

The internet has reached critical mass with the prevalence of blogs and other 'diaries' has meant the old traditional internet is used alongside internet 3.0. This environment is similar to watching TV documentaries, live feeds in news and locations are the norm.

The classroom environment is also very different. Individual computers have been replaced with a central server computer located at the Ministry of Education and screens are no longer located in the classroom. Instead similar versions of Active Smartboards have been implemented across the world.

These Smartboards named Smartwalls are interlaced with the entire wall structure of the classroom. Staples and the stapler gun has been outlawed due to Health and Safety Concerns. Published learning is simply placed on a scanner that then enables the teacher to manipulate the copied image of the learning and place it anywhere on the walls.

Groups of children assemble themselves across the class at various stations at the Smartwalls and use similar programmes like phun and frogguts, images can be twisted and turned.

In the centre of the classroom is a projector facing towards the ground. This projector is able to display images similar to R2D2's communication to Princess Leah during Star Wars. Here students can see other students on a programme similar to Skype, interviews can also include the image of students being able to share objects like items through enhanced projection. Recently this holographic projection was successfully tested by CNN during the Barak Obama election.

Fortunately some things never change, children will still write with a pen, now called pen 3.0. This pen is capable of writing not in books but on the tablet embedded into the students’ desks.

Other instruments included on this tablet enable students to share their learning on other students’ tablet screens and the Smartwall anywhere in the class, school and world. Stories are created, shared, edited and refined by peers.

With Moore’s Law reaching a pinnacle moment in 2020AD, computers will be on your mophone meaning no need to carry a laptop because the mophone is the all in one package you carry with you: projected image of a screen onto any surface.

Next time you arrive at school in the morning, breath a sigh of relief that the classroom you see on the outside will look similar to the classes of today, but it is what is inside that will be radically different and we as teachers can equip the students of today for these changes.

Hadleigh Benson

Classrooms in 2020

2008-10-08T12:11:00.004+13:00

As you approach your classroom every morning the outside has looked the same for the last 50 years, some classes were designed even before that time, but in the year 2020 the human race would have reached a pinnacle moment in our history.

According to Moore's Law a computer will double its circuitry roughly every two years. History has shown that since 1965 we have continued down this path of doubling the computers 'speed' every 18 months-2 years. With this Law fundamental to invisiging the image on the 'crystal ball'

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article2489053.ece

Hadleigh Benson

Which Office Suite?

2008-10-08T12:04:00.001+13:00

In the word processing and presentation arena there are three contenders for your choice: Microsoft Office, OpenOffice and Google Apps, which one is the best and why?

Microsoft Office is the only application that has to be purchased by the vendor, whether it comes with the computer as OEM or purchased separately. This is unlike the other two suites that differ with no monetary cost at all.

Openoffice is the complete suite that follows much in the same way as Microsoft Office 2003 does, it also enables you to save your Word document as a .PDF.

Alternatively Google Apps is online and requires a simple sign up to Google and you're ready to begin. For added security all the documents you save are web based so any computer error you have will enable you to retrieve your files again and again and from any computer in the world.

After trialling the three suites it becomes apparent; Microsoft is a suite that I have used for years and am reluctant to leave behind, Google Apps is too new and is in a very simplistic form (but for how long?) and OpenOffice is a clone of Microsoft Office but does not include easy installation of a dictionary and takes approximately 2 seconds longer to load.

The verdict: I think I'll stick to what I am used to for the time being and reassess the situation when it comes to making the leap of faith towards Microsoft Office 2007. Perhaps only more time will tell which one will win in the arena.

Hadleigh Benson

Education in New Zealand 2012

2008-10-08T12:03:00.001+13:00

Foresight is a creative idea that enables a person to never be wrong when thinking about a world that is yet to be created, it is this notion that provides technicians at Apple, Google and Microsoft the ability to think of the unthinkable.

So what will education in New Zealand be like in 2012, will it be the same as now or will it be a different world? One thing is certain, fibre optic wiring should have been laid throughout the major cities linking consumers at home and at school together with the rest of the world.

Now that this has been achieved we can finally begin to enjoy the richness of the internet and its true capabilities, streamed conferences with multiple people in opposite parts of the globe, classrooms engaged in discussion and debate about the latest topics and sharing their ideas not only to the classroom peers but a streaming feed to selected classes throughout the country and world.

Infrastructure within schools will be wired with fibre optics with a direct linkage to the Ministry of Education's server located in a secure basement in Wellington. On this massive server information once kept within a school is migrated to here, that is: information on students' grades, teachers' files and students' learning.

With this massive cost exported to the Ministry of Education, cash strapped schools are now able to promote IT usage within their schools. But what about the aging computers in the ICT laboratories?

These computers would be virtual, similar to the thin client principle, thus meaning no moving parts on the computer = no need to upgrade or replace the computer- ever, even if a new operating system is released.

This transition is occurring as we speak, Tertiary Institutions have made the first jump into this new world and the contract was given to Datacom.

Who knows, perhaps with this new world ahead we could have students from our schools finding their foresight ideas are needed in companies such as Google, Apple and Microsoft.

Hadleigh Benson

Google Applications in Education

2008-10-08T12:02:00.002+13:00

With Google's unofficial corporate motto being 'don't be evil' it is hard to imagine a time before the advent of Google; bulletin boards, 33kbps narrowband, telephone lines engaged due to internet usage and more recently 'Google Apps'.

It is becoming clear that Google is positioning itself in the forefront of creativity and becoming the preferred application for institutions throughout the world.

After signing up to an email address using Google gmail you now have at your fingers an abundance of applications ready to enhance and promote learning not only in your classroom but also with the parents of students, community and even globe of interested citizens.

By utilising Google's Calendar you can now promote the school calendar for all to see, and users can sign up to receive SMS text messages of important events so the parents have no need to circle the wall calendar slightly leaning crooked on the refrigerator door.

Another package available recently from Google is Google Docs which replaces the traditional Microsoft Office Suite of Excel, PowerPoint and Word. The application is web based so the need for updating the software is now a thing of the past and collaboration is now completely intertwined with the application.

With these new products continually being refined and upgraded by Google the need for downloading the new patch or upgrade is now redundant. There is however a growing uncertainty as to the reasoning behind Google's motivation to provide free products such as these. I hope Google is still holding themselves true to their motto.

Hadleigh Benson

A comparision of Mathematical Applications using Web 2.0

2008-10-08T11:58:00.001+13:00

With the advent of the Information Age, ideas and applications relating to Web 2.0 and its usage are able to be communicated almost instantaneously. Such applications include the popular mathletics whereby students of all ages are able to test their knowledge of mathematical basic facts amongst that of other students from around the world.

This real-time application has its limitations however, it does not enable students to compete against fellow peers; instead it selects who you will compete against.

Another obstacle that limits the usage is the inability for students to change their level of questioning. The levels are controlled by the adult (parent or teacher).

The assessment data it provides is somewhat limited. In comparison to the other free application tutpup, the data provides accurate and interesting data.

In all, the mathletics package provides motivation and encouragement for students to exercise their knowledge of mathematical basic facts. Coupled with teachers’ usage of the Numeracy Project pedagogy in order to teach effective strategies when using basic facts it certainly would enhance students’ learning.

Alternatively the tutpup application allows students to choose whom they wish to compete against (class member or other member) and allows competition between only one other member.

The tutpup application focuses mainly on the product of competition whilst mathletics does this and also focuses on other non educational areas such as providing reward for purchasing virtual clothing, hats and other ornaments.

Give them a try and see which one you prefer, the Information Age provides users choice and new dimensions in which to keep students motivated when it comes to mathematics, further research could focus on the shift through stages before during and after the usage of this application/s.

Hadleigh Benson

Which Office Suite?

2008-10-06T22:51:00.006+13:00

Education in New Zealand 2012

2008-10-06T21:22:00.009+13:00

Google Applications in Education

2008-10-06T20:53:00.006+13:00

A comparision of Mathematical Applications using Web 2.0

2008-10-06T19:22:00.006+13:00