Part D: Findings and Implications

1. Formative: Did the project get implemented as planned?

I implemented the Mobi with a 7^th grade math class, but being a substitute teacher right now, I was only able to implement it once as opposed to the 3 days I had planned. I was also able to use the Mobi with an 8^th grade science class to go through a PowerPoint review. It was interesting to see the varied responses from the students in each environment as the students’ responses were very different.

2. Summative: Evidence of success in addressing the problem of practice

In both occasions where the Mobi was implemented, I was able to move around the classroom to teach instead of being stuck at the front of the class which was the main focus of the implementation. Students seemed to really enjoy using the Mobi and were more engaged because of it. I gave my math class a survey to see their response to the use of the Mobi in the classroom and all but one student said that they felt they were more engaged in the lesson and paid more attention due to the teacher circulating. Students were a little leery to use the Mobi, but once a couple of students tested it out, they really enjoyed it. On the contrary, students in my science class were begging to have a chance to use it.

3. How would you approach another project of this type differently given what you’ve learned here?

I would use the Mobi to increase student collaboration. More than one Mobi can be used simultaneously and I would give each group of students a Mobi to use to work out a math problem. Each student would take a turn answering for their group using the Mobi. Then they could compare their answers with other groups and discuss different ways they arrived at a solution. This would give students an opportunity to use the Mobi which would help them become more confident in using it.

4. What are the lessons learned that others might benefit from knowing about?

Learning how to use a new piece of technology can take some time and practice. I feel it is very important to practice before you use new technology to make sure that it is going to work how you expect it to and so that you feel comfortable. Handheld devices, such as the Mobi, take some getting used to and take some practice so you feel comfortable before implementing it. For example, the Mobi can be difficult to write on and as a result handwriting can appear very sloppy. With a little bit of practice ahead of time, you can get used to the device and become better at writing on it.

5. In what ways will you endeavor to do the same project again, and what will you change or not do?

I want students to have an opportunity to use the Mobi more so they become confident in using it. Instead of just using the Mobi for notes, I will also use it to do the warm-up questions at the beginning of class. This will allow more students to participate and again will allow for teacher circulation around the classroom. The Mobi can also be used with programs such as ExamView and the classroom performance system (CPS). I will use the Mobi with the CPS and ExamView to help prepare students for a test/quiz/exam. The Mobi has a feature where the teacher can tell what students are struggling and what questions the class is struggling with.