Augmented Reality & Single Digit Addition in a KG Classroom

This was a math lesson in a KG Classroom at Belmont Elementary (Rockford Public Schools), a Blue Ribbon School in GR Area.

The theme of the lesson was St. Patrick's Day (there was even a small ladder leading up to the false ceiling where a leprechaun had climbed up and was hiding!). The kindergarteners were exploring single digit addition using their iPads in three different ways:

1. Station 1 (run by the teacher): Students were leveraging Augmented Reality using the Aurasma App (now known as HP Reveal) on their iPads to point their iPad camera at several printed images of rainbows to search for the "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" (Aurasma Demo for Teachers). A set of gold coins at each end of the rainbow would pop up on their screen as they pointed at each rainbow. Students would add these coins (single digit addition) and use the answer to crack a code for breaking out/unlocking the pot of gold (a jar of goodies)! This is similar to the BreakoutEDU game idea.
2. Station 2 (run by a parent volunteer): Students were using their ipads to record a video of themselves explaining a single digit addition problem (formative assessment) that they had created using simple manipulatives (with guidance from a parent volunteer).
3. Station 3 (run by the TA): Students competed with each other in a game of single digit addition using Kahoot! (summative assessment?).

You may be wondering, all of this in a kindergarten classroom!!! Yes, 23 kindergarteners and it was phenomenal! Students were completely immersed in this student centered, super gamified, augmented reality driven thematic lesson. They took on the role of "gold coin hunters" enthusiastically and were working desperately to crack the code to "breakout" the pot of gold! Talk about teaching and learning redefined (SAMR Model) and using technology as a cognitive/mindtool!

A common observation made by others who also observed this lesson was the super management skills of the teacher. We were all wondering how the teacher managed to train these kindergarteners to a level where the entire classroom was running like a well oiled machine! It turns out, after speaking with the technology coordinator, that the teacher provides training where students have to earn their "iPad Driver License" and they can get ticketed for inappropriate use of the iPad and may even have their license suspended! What a wonderful idea! This concept can be extended to other technologies as well (think Digital Citizenship).