Adapted Mind: The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

I recently stumbled across the best thing invented since sliced bread: it's a website called Adapted Mind (adaptedmind.com). Adapted Mind is a program that was created in 2013 by a group of graduate students from Harvard, Stanford, and Berkeley, in an attempt to instill in students a love for reading and math. And I'd say that is exactly what they did, because I'm twenty and even I enjoy it!

This program is basically a tutorial and instructional gaming site all in one. It combines great gaming graphics with a wide range of skill levels to engage students in a fun way of learning. Students can easily get on the website, which is completely ad free, and select a Common Core aligned, specified content lesson (such as money, fractions, vocabulary, fluency, etc.) in either math or reading. It includes easy to follow instructions and it even gives the student the option of listening to directions read aloud. As the student plays, the program branches as the student gets better and learns more. Adapted Mind is easy to navigate, enter, and exit and is appropriate for all ages, and not to mention a great resource for teachers!

This program is great because students can always pick up where they left off. It also provides an ongoing assessment, keeping tabs on what the student has mastered and what they have not. It even motivates students by using incentives. So, for every question the student answers correctly, five virtual coins are given to the player to spend on their avatar, which in this case is the monster pictured above. What I really enjoy about this program is if the student answers the question incorrectly, they can watch a tutorial filmed by a real life teacher explaining the correct answer. And if that's not enough, it also includes free worksheets for students to use offline. It accommodates first through sixth grade reading students and first through eighth grade math students and it allows them to play up to three levels for FREE in each content area! Or, for just $195 per year, teachers can regularly use this program in their classrooms: this price includes a free monthly trial so the teacher can make sure that this program will work for their students and it allows the teacher to add up to 35 students on a single account. By buying into this software, teachers can frequently monitor their students' progress, access their grades, customize a unique learning plan for each student based on pretests and receive unlimited practice! Over 60% of United States School Districts have invested in this software for teachers to use in their classrooms. I plan on using Adapted Mind in my classroom as well, (whether it be 1^st- 6^th/8th) by using it as a remediation service for my reading and math students through a direct model. I also plan on using this program as an assessment strategy to see what my students know and don’t know and help them remedially in subject areas in which they are struggling.

I could not dote on this program enough. It is truly wonderful and I think it has great potential in helping students in reading and math. Make sure to check out Adapted Mind to see how you could use it in your classroom. I was highly impressed, and I hope you are too!

Make sure to leave me any questions, comments or concerns down below! 

I’m Interested in hearing your opinions about Adapted Mind.

You can find more information about Adapted Mind here: Adapted Mind

Addison Foster

In the News: Social Media in the Classroom

A frequently asked question by teachers in today’s world of technology is “Should I use social media in my classroom?” While this question is certainly subject to one’s own personal opinion of social media, the article “U.S. K-12 Teachers Reluctant to Integrate Social Media in Classrooms,” written in August of 2016, briefly addresses the issue.

In the article, “U.S. K-12 Teachers Reluctant to Integrate Social Media in Classrooms,” author Richard Chang discusses teachers’ hesitancy to incorporate social media into their classrooms while also discussing some usage tips if a teacher were to include social media in the classroom. Right off the bat, Chang states that “nearly nine in 10 (86%) of American K-12 teachers have not integrated social media into their classrooms, and the majority (62%) indicate that they do not plan to do so” because of all the uncertainties that come along with the usage of social media. However, Kathy Cook, the dean of educational technologies at the University of Phoenix’s College of Education, says that “while there is understandably some hesitancy to incorporate social media into the classroom, there is a wealth of opportunity for teachers to use social media to enhance the student learning experience.” Cook also stated that “the first step to using social media as an educational tool is acknowledging its impact on the lives of today’s students and teaching them about the importance of digital citizenship… [because] it can help set the tone for their future usage.” She then gives five tips for using social media in the classroom: “start small, create boundaries, be channel agnostic, continue learning, and be social.” Although Cook briefly covers a few tips when using social media, she never fully addresses my personal concern and the main concern of teachers, which is the safety of their students, parents, and themselves.

While this article was an interesting read, I was still left with my initial question: “Should I incorporate social media into my classroom?” However, after reading this article, I know that there are other teachers out there wondering the same thing and are reluctant to integrate social media because it is difficult to find answers to this ever challenging question. Reflecting back to classroom discussions about social media, I also see a concern as to how its usage would be monitored. Not only does social media usage need to be monitored, but also the resources used to access social media. This would include monitoring internet access and digital media, such as iPads, computers, or phones used to access the internet. I do believe that if properly monitored, social media could have a positive impact by connecting the classroom together as a community, as well as connecting the classroom with the outside community. However, if used incorrectly, I can see negative outcomes, such as arising ethical issues, privacy threats, and overall safety. When it comes down to it, I believe I will stick with better, safer methods of uniting my classroom until social media can prove itself to be safe and reliable for my myself, my parents, and most of all, my students.

I’m Interested in hearing your opinions about the article?

What did you think and what’s your opinion about incorporating social media into the classroom?

If you would like to read this article for yourself, you can access it at: T|H|E Journal

Addison Foster

Digital Philosophy

After reading the articles "The Many Faces of You" and "In Search of Digital Philosophy," I have a broader understanding of digital philosophy.

In the article "The Many Faces of You," it was brought to my attention that there is a digital wall dividing our lives through what we call social media. We tend to juggle a personal side and a professional side. In a way, technology has changed human nature. At one point in time, our friends and family, colleagues and bosses all saw the same "you." However, with the evolution of technology, human nature has changed to what the article referenced as "segmented and specialized." People now have a different face/mask/facade that they put on for each person in their lives. For example, you act in a different manner with your boyfriend or girlfriend then you do with your parents. The article provides the example of Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner with your family to hit this theme home: "Your mom and boyfriend are rarely in the same room and that's why Christmas and Thanksgiving are such a stressful time for people, because their world's collapse." We try so hard to keep our worlds separated and social media and technology only help us to do so. And unfortunately, as social norms changes, so do we. We adapt to what is the "normal" even if that means losing our ability to be a "single person." And the world will let us live two separate lives while still being the same person, and to me, that is the sad reality of social media. Instead, we need to stop compartmentalizing our lives, and live as we were created to live- as one unique, individual person. YOU.

The article "In Search of a Digital Philosophy," confirmed what I have suspected for several years: we cannot strike a balance between technology and the here and now. This article explains that at the World Cup in 2010, England lost to Germany because the referees did not see what the rest of the world saw- "a goal as clear as day." Criticized by their lack of replay technology, the FIFA, the host of the World Cup, came to its defenses saying that constant replay takes away from the game itself and "the narrative community that defines the sport would all but disappear." One can understand the FIFA's skepticism about technology, however, one can easily see the frustration of the English soccer fans. So here we are with a dilemma: when is it okay to use technology and when is it not? Today, so many people are consumed by technology that they forget to find that balance and put the technology down to enjoy the here and now! "FIFA was making a point that is becoming hard to dispute: To digitize something is not merely to bring efficiency to it. It is also in many cases to change it in a fundamental way, to give it a new essence." To digitize a book means to lose the enjoyment of flipping the pages and smelling the old book smell. To digitize games means to lose the child-like excitement of moving the game pieces across the board. To digitize sports means to lose the sport itself. So I sympathize with the FIFA- technology does have a tendency to take over, but we simply have to find a balance between the digital world and the real world. We mustn't conform to technology, but instead, we must let technology conform to us!

Feel free to read these articles for yourself and share your opinions.
I'm curious to see what you think about these articles and I would love to hear what you have to say!

Addison Foster