I had to search for a few minutes to find a really nice lower elementary resources, many seemed for higher grades. I then went to the advanced search features to help me find what I was looking for, it worked great.
I found a great StAIR project from an MSU student last year. (I could tell it was MSU because when I went to open the files the source was the msu.edu link.)
Addition and Subtraction Fun!
Quality of Content
This StAIR project is wonderful for younger elementary education! It has 4-5 great examples of addition and then 4-5 examples of subtraction. If a student answers correctly, applause is given and a praise. If an incorrect answer is given, it gives them a quick review of how to try again. This resource is a nice example of reviewing addition and subtraction concepts for students to complete individually.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
1. What stages in the learning process/cycle would the material be used?
It is intended as a practice of the concept taught in class. This is a drill of the adding/subtracting skills.
2. What are the learning objectives? What should students be able to do after successfully learning with the materials?
Students should be able to correctly add a number sentence and recognize addition. Students should also be able to correctly identify and answer a subtraction sentence. Each time the student should have a correct answer.
3. What are the characteristics of the target learner?
The type of learner using this material would be a young student, probably first grade. Students at this age would be able to identify numbers and understand that they have a value. Students would have completed several lessons on adding and subtracting before getting to this review module. Students would also have basic computer skills of using a mouse and keyboard.
4. Does the interactive/media-rich presentation of material improve faculty and students' abilities to teach and learn the materials?
It's a great review module for young elementary students. While it may not be advanced, it is enticing to the first grade students who would be using this material. It does help to review concepts that had been previously taught.
5. Can the use of software be readily integrated into curent curriculum and pedagogy within the discipline?
Most schools should have access to PowerPoint. It is packaged with Microsoft Office Software and generally schools have this bundle. It would be easy to use this media for beginner or advanced users. The material being reviewed is a basic concept any elementary teacher would present in their classroom.
6. Can the software be used in a variety of ways to achieve teaching and learning goals?
This media is meant for review, it could possible be used in a later part of teaching the concept, but best for review. It has one purpose, and really can't be used in too many other ways.
7. Are the teaching-learning goals easy to identify?
Yes. At the beginning of the StAIR the creator states that this is a review lesson.
8. Can good learning assignments for using the software application be written easily?
Teachers could have students write their own math problems, teachers could assign students math problems, or students could write math problems and then swap with classmates to solve each others equations. There are several review/follow-up assignments that could stem from this project.
Ease of Use:
There are large buttons that show you exactly where to click. At the beginning the creator also instructs you on how to click the buttons. However, the clicking is not locked out in this media. You are able to click other places on the slide and it advances you, effectively skipping ahead parts of the show. This would not be helpful for students answering an equation incorrectly and skipping ahead. While you can skip ahead, you do not get trapped in material. The content is very easy to follow: great colors, easy to read words and questions. It has large buttons and pictures great for elementary students. If a student answers correctly, they are applauded and given a praise (although the same one is use the entire show). If a student answers incorrectly, they are given a "little pat on the back" for trying and then shown how to find the correct answer. Students are given the same slides to complete, no matter skill level. This is a very user-friendly creation. Students of any skill level would be able to use this. It would not need much instruction on how to use this presentation. Students are told which arrows to click at the beginning. Students would be familiar with these number sentences from being taught in class.
