An ‘Appitude’ For Learning
Signal Knob Middle School Teacher Creates A New Tool
Posted: February 20, 2013
After purchasing an iPad last year, Jeff Wile, an eighth-grade math teacher in Shenandoah County, started looking for ways to use it in the classroom.
Wile, in his second year of teaching at Signal Knob Middle School in Strasburg, said he first synched it with his computer so he and his students could use it to interact with the whiteboard.
“I found [when they use it] the students are definitely more motivated [to participate],” he said. “I think it’s a great tool to use.”
With a background in computer science, Wile soon got an itch to create his own app. He started learning computer programming language in September, and started developing the app the following month.
The program, called WileDMath, mixes problems and games to help students learn math concepts. It’s divided into different categories for each concept and was designed in line with the SOLs.
Wile launched his app just a few weeks ago and it already has been downloaded 750 times.
Wile said the app is geared toward concepts his eighth-graders are learning in class. But he already has plans for several upgrades that will integrate additional grade levels.
Wile already released one upgrade on Sunday that includes a variety of user tips. Although he said some of his students already used the app off and on, all his classes began using it collectively for the first time last week.
The “Discovery Zone” room at Signal Knob has about 25 to 30 iPads available for student use.
Wile said many of his students have been just as excited about the app as he’s been.
“They knew I was working on it. I always had some updated [prototype] of it on the iPad, and they were always asking if they could see it,” he said. “It’s been kind of cool to see their excitement.”
WileDMath can be downloaded free on iTunes.
Contact Kaitlin Mayhew at 574-6290 or kmayhew@dnronline.com
Wile, in his second year of teaching at Signal Knob Middle School in Strasburg, said he first synched it with his computer so he and his students could use it to interact with the whiteboard.
“I found [when they use it] the students are definitely more motivated [to participate],” he said. “I think it’s a great tool to use.”
With a background in computer science, Wile soon got an itch to create his own app. He started learning computer programming language in September, and started developing the app the following month.
The program, called WileDMath, mixes problems and games to help students learn math concepts. It’s divided into different categories for each concept and was designed in line with the SOLs.
Wile launched his app just a few weeks ago and it already has been downloaded 750 times.
Wile said the app is geared toward concepts his eighth-graders are learning in class. But he already has plans for several upgrades that will integrate additional grade levels.
Wile already released one upgrade on Sunday that includes a variety of user tips. Although he said some of his students already used the app off and on, all his classes began using it collectively for the first time last week.
The “Discovery Zone” room at Signal Knob has about 25 to 30 iPads available for student use.
Wile said many of his students have been just as excited about the app as he’s been.
“They knew I was working on it. I always had some updated [prototype] of it on the iPad, and they were always asking if they could see it,” he said. “It’s been kind of cool to see their excitement.”
WileDMath can be downloaded free on iTunes.
Contact Kaitlin Mayhew at 574-6290 or kmayhew@dnronline.com