The Benefits of using 'Matific' app
 |
| A screenshot of a Matific game |
The integration of technology in learning has
been my concern if this can absolutely provide positive effects in students
learning especially in Mathematics that has been perceived as a difficult
subject for young students. There are many apps that market themselves being a high-quality
educational app. However, two research being conducted by Catherine Attard
(2016) and Edith Manny-Ikan and colleagues (2016) proved the benefits of using
this app called Matific. Their findings are that Matific provides assistance in
learning Mathematics, makes students be focused on the concepts and skills of
mathematics because of the number of questions and its structure of each game,
uses scaffolding approach that is built for each game when problems are answered
incorrectly, has an immediate reward for students’ continuous engagement, is
interactive, user-friendly and shows that learning Mathematics is fun. Also, it
is noteworthy to highlight that the app is greatly beneficial to teachers for
its relevance to their instruction and alignment to Australian Curriculum.
After trying to play some Matific games, the above-mentioned benefits are undeniably true. Overwhelmed, I even suggested my brother back in my home country to introduce it to his Kindergarten son.
The Australian Curriculum and Reporting
Authority (ACARA) pointed out that the use of Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) is part of the general capabilities of students stated in the Australian
Curriculum and teachers need to incorporate this to their class (ACARA, 2012;
Attard, 2017). If this is the case, there should be Internet-accessed computers
and portable technologies such as iPads in every classroom and school across Australia, so that
teachers are able to provide the benefits of using technology like this
educational app, Matific. Even though Matific is a commendable app, teachers
must not limit themselves in using subscription based learning resource package
like Matific as it may be like the traditional way – following the prescribed
book.
References
Attard, C. (6
September 2017). Technology in the classroom can improve primary mathematics.
Attard, C. (September 2016). Research evaluation
of Matific mathematics learning resources: project report. https://doi.org/10.4225/35/57f2f391015a4
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and
Reporting Authority [ACARA]. (2012). Australian curriculum: information and
communication technology. [online document] Retrieved on 13/05/ 2020 from https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/general-capabilities/information-and-communication-technology-ict-capability/
Manny-Ikan, E., Berger-Tikochinski, T.,
& Marmor, A. (2016). Research evaluation of ‘Matific’. Henrietta Szold
Institute: The National Institue for Research in Behavioural Sciences.
Retrieved on 12/05/2020 from https://www.matific.com/home/resources/media/documents/HS-matific-study.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment