An article in the May 2016 issue of TCEA’s TechEdge magazine focused on how Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District in Texas uses both Gizmos and Reflex to engage their students with technology and help them learn science and math.
With Gizmos math and science online simulations, “students are empowered to ask questions, make predictions, collect data, graph out results, and make conclusions. As a science teacher, I love the fact that all students or student groups in my class can test different variables and report back to the class to discuss and collaborate,” explains Alejandra Guzman, the secondary science strategist for Los Fresnos CISD. Gizmos are both flexible and versatile, and they can be used in any classroom, and with a variety of teaching styles. Gizmos are also great when schools are constrained by “lab equipment, budget, and time.”
“I love that Gizmos provide hands-on applications which allow students to understand concepts that are typically difficult or too abstract. Gizmos help to create real world examples that make it easier for students to relate to and help them make connections,” adds Annice Garza, district science curriculum coordinator.
Many of the elementary schools in the district open their computer labs before and after school to allow students to work on Reflex, a game-based math fact fluency system. Reflex “motivates students to enjoy learning math in a fun and engaging way while allowing teachers and administrators to track and monitor the progress of individual students or student groups.” Since they began using Reflex, students have show “significant growth in math fact fluency.”
“Reflex is fun, exciting, and challenging. It even increases student self-esteem,” says Laura Trevino, the assistant principal at Dora Romero Elementary School. “Before Reflex, I spent lots of time and paper creating games and trying to make math fun and exciting for the students. Now, Reflex does all the work for me,” adds Tina Burnias, a fourth grade teacher at Dora Romero. To find out more about how Dora Romero uses Reflex to help their students be successful, watch their video.
Find out more about how Gizmos and Reflex are helping Los Fresnos CISD meet their science and math goals and help meet state standards in the full article.
This story originally appeared in the May 2016 issue of TCEA’s TechEdge magazine. Learn more about TCEA at www.tcea.org.