Reflection 6: "Everyone is on a mission when using MATIFIC"

There is now a new innovative app, where technology plays a part in learning Mathematics and where children are engaged in their learning. This latest known app is called ‘Matific’. It encourages children to develop their own strategies and reasoning, using not only their ICT device but also their cognitive device (Kupferman & Schocken, 2013, p.7).

Matific invites young learners to engage in their interactive and immersive activities and games, motivating them to learn (Kupferman & Schocken, 2013, p.5). Thus, as a teacher I am able to use to explore different concepts and construct their own way of thinking. Matific “Introduces children to think scientifically” (Cienhanouver, 2013) and when it is used purposefully it can be powerful (Kupferman & Schocken, 2013, p.5). Matific aims to address the curriculum mathematical concepts and skills (Kupferman & Schocken, 2013, p.9). Matific encourages hands on learning and is designed to provide support me and other teachers to enhance children’s understandings of mathematical concepts in an effective manner (Kupferman & Schocken, 2013, p.5). Matific can be used to encourage children to ‘have a go’ fostering their understanding by applying their knowledge in challenging innovative games to enhance and further their learning and understanding (Kupferman, Schocken. & Abrahamson, 2013).

ICT is now an integral part of Australian classrooms curriculum (Attard, 2016, p.1). In some learning areas it has clear expectations in the syllabus descriptors that ICT is integrated into the teaching and learning of Mathematics. Thus, this will empower a problem solving approach that has purpose within my classroom. Matific makes Math’s “real for children” (Kupferman & Schocken, 2013, p.6). It is used on the I-pad, hence, able to be used through rotation groups. I also agree that it can be used to transform homework and create an enjoyable learning environment at home for children, guiding their discoveries (Sherman, Tauber & Bates, 2013, p.1). Matific is excellent for teachers, by using the provided dashboard to track and monitor student’s performance & observe their progress and identify areas of improvement (Sherman, Tauber & Bates, 2013, p.1). This will assist me and teachers to scaffold children’s skills to become achievable in their learning. This may become a solution to the con I personally have with the use of technology, which is not having an awareness of what children certainly understand and what their skills are.

However, I do believe the effective way of teaching Math’s to children is through exploring and experimentation. I still think though, that it is not suitable for teachers to steer away from manipulative resources (Attard, 2016, p.28). Whereas, use ‘Matific’ to empower yourself to teach it (Attard, 2016, p.2).