Its over. The last blog. I can't believe I'm going to say this...I'm gonna miss it a little.
On the very first day of this class I thought this day would never come. It seemed so far, we had so much to do between then and now. How would I ever manage? Well, I don't know if I have that answer yet, but nonetheless here we are, done with a very challenging class, and I loved every minute.
The information from this class has helped me a great deal. Though I like to think of my self as "computer savvy" I realize now that I am not. I felt like a 90-year-old using a cell phone for the first time. Creating blogs and websites seemed like such a difficult task, but once you know how to use it, it's not so intimidating! Just like an old lady, I didn't want to like it, but I couldn't help but realize how useful it is for me in teaching.
Now if I only had internet in my room!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Social Bookmarking
I love You Tube.
I was not able to be there for the class on social bookmarking, so I googled it (of course). After a few failed attempts of reading articles on wikipedia about the idea, I gave in and cliked on the link for the You Tube Video "Social Bookmarking in Plain English." Thus the first sentence of this blog.
Social bookmarking as the video explained seems to be like a great tool. I say this for a few reasons. One, it is a great way for me to organize all my bookmarks. I have so many of them, and the bookmark tool on my browser isn't the best. Second, it allows me to share my bookmarks with other teachers, and vice-versa. So, instead of my searching for a great idea on Pythagorean Theorem, maybe one of the teachers has a great site socially bookmarked, and I can cut out a lot of time I don't have!
If all teachers were to use this, it could be very useful. We all get a lot of our ideas and lesson planning help from the internet, and what I may find my help another teacher. As the demands of our job increase, it would be great to alleviate some work for each other, and work more collaboratively towards our common goal. We should help each other, and this is just one way to make that happen.
I was not able to be there for the class on social bookmarking, so I googled it (of course). After a few failed attempts of reading articles on wikipedia about the idea, I gave in and cliked on the link for the You Tube Video "Social Bookmarking in Plain English." Thus the first sentence of this blog.
Social bookmarking as the video explained seems to be like a great tool. I say this for a few reasons. One, it is a great way for me to organize all my bookmarks. I have so many of them, and the bookmark tool on my browser isn't the best. Second, it allows me to share my bookmarks with other teachers, and vice-versa. So, instead of my searching for a great idea on Pythagorean Theorem, maybe one of the teachers has a great site socially bookmarked, and I can cut out a lot of time I don't have!
If all teachers were to use this, it could be very useful. We all get a lot of our ideas and lesson planning help from the internet, and what I may find my help another teacher. As the demands of our job increase, it would be great to alleviate some work for each other, and work more collaboratively towards our common goal. We should help each other, and this is just one way to make that happen.
NCTM Conference
Wow, what an experience. That's really a good description of the week.
I have truly been blessed by my school to have the opportunity to go to the NCTM National Conference in Washington DC. It was an amazing opportunity and I made the most of every single minute. Here are some highlights of the week:
Teacher bonding. I am so lucky to have a talented, fun, supportive math department. Our coach is phenomenal, and the teachers are young, excited and eager. All of us are self-proclaimed nerds who love what we do even on our worst days. We talked about math the whole week and how we can improve the department. We collaborated on what sessions we were going to attend, and how they would impact our classroom. We got extra handouts or freebies for each other, and discussed the days events at our dinners together. We already have new ideas for next year and can't wait to share them with the rest of the staff. We are already planning the PD we are going to put together for Brooklyn-Queens Day.
New Ideas. During the entire week, no matter where you turned, there was a new book, manipulative, foldable, worksheet on math. You couldn't help but be inspired. Here are some of my favorites:
- "Faceing Math." This activity was developed by a middle school math teacher who wanted to find a new way to motivate her students to practice math problems. For every question there are 2 possible answers given. Depending on your answer, you draw a feature on a blank face you are given. For example, a crooked nose or a straight nose. Curly hair or straight hair. Big eyes or small eyes. Then, the next set of problems tells you what colors to use for each feature. The end results will tell you if the student got the answers right, but they are given some artistic freedom, so though all pictures will be similar, they will not be exactly the same. Here is the web site for more info: http://web.mac.com/dewit2/FACEing_MATH/FACEing_MATH.html
- Singing your Math. This workshop was amazing. The presenter, a Washington, DC area middle school math teacher, uses songs in her room to reinforce critical skills such as decimals, fractions, solving equations, etc. Now, these are your run-of-the-mill songs to the tune of row, row, row your boat. No, these are made to the beat of Soulja Boy, Ciara and Fergie. "D to the I to the V I D E, Divide Fractions!" Here is the site for here school and samples of her songs: www.paulcharter.org
There is so much more but only so much space in this blog! Ask me in class I'll share some of my new knowledge.
Oh, and start begging your principals now for next year's conference. Not only will you learn a lot, but you will also be in San Diego!
Multimedia
Multimedia is a great way to draw interest to your web site. I will definitely be using images and animations on my web page. Due to restraints on Weebly, Movies will not be posted ON my site, but I will be including links to online multimedia such as lesson on You Tube.
The danger with multimedia is when it becomes a distraction. There can be too much of a good thing. But there is the question...how much is enough? I know my students, and how easy it is for them to get off task, so I want to make it interesting, yet still all about business! After all, I want them to truly learn something about my topic, and not just be looking at cool movies and pictures.
If we were doing an HTML site, we would have much more opportunity to include more sophisticated forms of multimedia into our webquests. The program we are using is somewhat limited in this area, though much more user friendly than learning the HTML language. I am interested in exploring HTML in the future, and really developing quality sites for my students to visit.
With that in mind, I hope my first site is useful, entertaining and appealing to my students.
The danger with multimedia is when it becomes a distraction. There can be too much of a good thing. But there is the question...how much is enough? I know my students, and how easy it is for them to get off task, so I want to make it interesting, yet still all about business! After all, I want them to truly learn something about my topic, and not just be looking at cool movies and pictures.
If we were doing an HTML site, we would have much more opportunity to include more sophisticated forms of multimedia into our webquests. The program we are using is somewhat limited in this area, though much more user friendly than learning the HTML language. I am interested in exploring HTML in the future, and really developing quality sites for my students to visit.
With that in mind, I hope my first site is useful, entertaining and appealing to my students.
Wikis
Wikis...fun word, interesting concept. Wikis are like giant online databases where individuals with the same interests can share thoughts and ideas. Wikis are similar to blogs, but also very different because ANYONE can alter ANY content on the site at ANY time. There is not one author responsible for the content.
In College, we were never allowed to reference wikipedia.com, possibly one of the most popular wikis. Now I see why. With open access, the information may not be credible, but useful none the less. You have to view wikis with some hesitation, and verify information before repeating it! Security is low with wikis, and they are designed with the idea in mind that all interested parties will help to "police" the site and constantly check for accuracy. Wikis are a perpetual "work in progress."
In education, Wikis could be useful. It is a way to engage the students in technology. They are no longer observers, but instead creators of the site. They will have a place to share ideas and struggles and take an ownership over their education. They can correct each other, and the instructor would play more of an observer roll, adding comments when needed.
I would have to explore this technology more before considering using it in the classroom. It is still very unfamiliar, so I will be surfing the web to experience this medium!
In College, we were never allowed to reference wikipedia.com, possibly one of the most popular wikis. Now I see why. With open access, the information may not be credible, but useful none the less. You have to view wikis with some hesitation, and verify information before repeating it! Security is low with wikis, and they are designed with the idea in mind that all interested parties will help to "police" the site and constantly check for accuracy. Wikis are a perpetual "work in progress."
In education, Wikis could be useful. It is a way to engage the students in technology. They are no longer observers, but instead creators of the site. They will have a place to share ideas and struggles and take an ownership over their education. They can correct each other, and the instructor would play more of an observer roll, adding comments when needed.
I would have to explore this technology more before considering using it in the classroom. It is still very unfamiliar, so I will be surfing the web to experience this medium!
Factors that Will Impact Using Curriculum Webs in School
As we learn more about Curriculum Webs and we start to put ours together, there are some "factors" that may hinder the use of these tools in the classroom.
Let's start with something I know I have mentioned before - accessibility. In my experiences, Internet is not a guarantee, it is a luxury! It is finicky in my school at best, and its mood swings could easily ruin a lesson or intentions on using a Curriculum Web. Then, if you can access it in the schools, are the kids computer-savvy enough to use it? I assigned my after school students to look up information about Pi online, and they really struggled. They did not know how to search, what sites to go to, where to find information.
So let's just say your students are internet savvy, you have full access to the internet in your room and everything is going great. What happens when they go home? Do they have a home? I know some of my students have a new one each month. They may not be able to access the web at home, which would again prevent the effective use of a Curriculum Web.
Now, this blog is not to say that there is no positives to Curriculum Webs! They are a great tool and great motivation for students, but its effectiveness will depend on many, many things.
Let's start with something I know I have mentioned before - accessibility. In my experiences, Internet is not a guarantee, it is a luxury! It is finicky in my school at best, and its mood swings could easily ruin a lesson or intentions on using a Curriculum Web. Then, if you can access it in the schools, are the kids computer-savvy enough to use it? I assigned my after school students to look up information about Pi online, and they really struggled. They did not know how to search, what sites to go to, where to find information.
So let's just say your students are internet savvy, you have full access to the internet in your room and everything is going great. What happens when they go home? Do they have a home? I know some of my students have a new one each month. They may not be able to access the web at home, which would again prevent the effective use of a Curriculum Web.
Now, this blog is not to say that there is no positives to Curriculum Webs! They are a great tool and great motivation for students, but its effectiveness will depend on many, many things.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Podcasting
Last week we learned about podcasting, and how that can be used in the classroom. I love the idea of using podcasts, and was completely unfamiliar with the technology until class! There are many great uses for it. It's a great way to teach kids a new form of technology. If I am unaware they may be as well, and it is a technology that they will most likely have to be familiar with or at least aware of in this technological age. Podcasts are also a great way to break up monotony of every day class, giving the kids a chance to hear a voice other than mine! It is also a great remediation tool. If a child is struggling, they can seperately listen to a podcast explaining the topic, allowing them the extra instruction time they need that I do not have!
I would probably not be comfortable though having the students create their own podcasts. The equipment available is limited, and the examples shown to us proved that kids may not take it seriously or be able to stay on task. For now I will be exploring how I can use podcasts in my instruction, and down the road incorporate the creation of podcasts into the curriculum.
I would probably not be comfortable though having the students create their own podcasts. The equipment available is limited, and the examples shown to us proved that kids may not take it seriously or be able to stay on task. For now I will be exploring how I can use podcasts in my instruction, and down the road incorporate the creation of podcasts into the curriculum.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
What makes an effective web site??
To me, an effective web site starts with the appearance. Whenever I find a site, if there are a ton of ads, I immediately question the site's credibility. Also, if it does not look well kept, I will also skip over it. The first thing I look at is definitely the site's appearance and if it looks easy to navigate or not.
Next I will look at content. Where is the content coming from? Who is the author of the site? These are important things. When creating my own web site, it will be clear who I am and why I started the site. This helps visitors know how to view the material. A good web site should also have a clear purpose. What information can you get from the site? This should be clear and present as well, with helpful links and navigation bars. If you have to search for the information it is probably not well organized!
Next I will look at content. Where is the content coming from? Who is the author of the site? These are important things. When creating my own web site, it will be clear who I am and why I started the site. This helps visitors know how to view the material. A good web site should also have a clear purpose. What information can you get from the site? This should be clear and present as well, with helpful links and navigation bars. If you have to search for the information it is probably not well organized!
Webquests
Last week we learned about Webquests, an online teaching resource where students can use the web to explore math topics and relate math to real life. The benefit for this is that it teaches the students to use the web to find information they need to problem solve, a skill that they will need as they get oloder and enter the work force. These webquests are also very flexible, and can last as long as one period, one week or one month. It is versatile and engaging for students, and will last year after year!
I love the idea and would want to further explore how I can use them and how you make them. Technology limitations in the classroom may be an issue, and would require careful planning!
I love the idea and would want to further explore how I can use them and how you make them. Technology limitations in the classroom may be an issue, and would require careful planning!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Instruction and Assessment
Instruction and assessment go hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other. Assessments guide your instruction, and instruction will change based on formal and informal assessments. I have changed my instruction mid-lesson based on informal assessments of my students. Without assessment you cannot properly instruct. It is vital to know what your students understand, so you can challenge them or adjust for lack of understanding.
I assess my students in many ways including:
I assess my students in many ways including:
- Formal assessements such as pre and post tests, unit tests and quizzes.
- Conferencing
- Round Robin questioning
- Exit Slips
- Questioning mid-lesson
These assessments help me plan more effectively, and the data I collect gives me an insight into each individual student's strengths and weaknesses.
Friday, February 27, 2009
What Makes a Good Activity
What makes a good activity? This is something I ask myself every day! I try to make my activities fun, effective, and challenging. With some topics, this is easier than others!
For my curriculum web, I have chosen to focus on 7th grade pre-march geometry standards. This topic is ideal for hands-on and internet activities. The following are some internet activities and the standards they would be reinforcing:
6.G.11 Calculate the area of basic polygons drawn on a coordinate plane (rectangles and shapes composed of rectangles having sides with integer lengths)
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/ShapeBuilder/
7.G.1. Calculate the radius or diameter, given the circumference or area of a circle
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=116
7.G.2 Calculate the volume of prisms and cylinders, using a given formula and a calculator
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=6
7.G.4 Determine the surface area of prisms and cylinders, using a calculator and a variety of methods
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/surfaceareaandvolume/
7.G.3 Identify the two-dimensional shapes that make up the faces and bases of three-dimensional shapes (prisms, cylinders, cones, and pyramids)
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=70
For my curriculum web, I have chosen to focus on 7th grade pre-march geometry standards. This topic is ideal for hands-on and internet activities. The following are some internet activities and the standards they would be reinforcing:
6.G.11 Calculate the area of basic polygons drawn on a coordinate plane (rectangles and shapes composed of rectangles having sides with integer lengths)
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/ShapeBuilder/
7.G.1. Calculate the radius or diameter, given the circumference or area of a circle
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=116
7.G.2 Calculate the volume of prisms and cylinders, using a given formula and a calculator
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=6
7.G.4 Determine the surface area of prisms and cylinders, using a calculator and a variety of methods
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/surfaceareaandvolume/
7.G.3 Identify the two-dimensional shapes that make up the faces and bases of three-dimensional shapes (prisms, cylinders, cones, and pyramids)
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=70
Friday, February 20, 2009
Curriculum Web
Technology. Such a catch 22. I love it, I know my kids love using it as much as possible (they even get excited to write on my low-tech overhead!), but I don't really have access to it.
My curriculum web sounds great, and I am really excited to put it together, and in a perfect world use it. But knowing that many of my kids do not have internet or a computer at home (I asked each of my classes informallly last week), and knowing that I do not have internet or wireless in my classroom is a little discouraging. I just hope that my school catches up to my use of technology.
The topic I chose, geometry, is the perfect unit for a curriculum web. Using online manipulatives and activities, students will really be able to do some exploratory learning, my favorite and theirs! I am looking forward to the end product....and internet in my room.
My curriculum web sounds great, and I am really excited to put it together, and in a perfect world use it. But knowing that many of my kids do not have internet or a computer at home (I asked each of my classes informallly last week), and knowing that I do not have internet or wireless in my classroom is a little discouraging. I just hope that my school catches up to my use of technology.
The topic I chose, geometry, is the perfect unit for a curriculum web. Using online manipulatives and activities, students will really be able to do some exploratory learning, my favorite and theirs! I am looking forward to the end product....and internet in my room.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Day 3 - Evaluating Websites
Part of today's discussion was on the importance of evaluating web sites. I never really thought about investigating who wrote the web site, if they have a biography, when the site was last updated, etc. I will definitely be more aware now of who is providing the information I am reading.
I think this topic is also important for the kids to understand. They are online a lot, and are less critical of the sites they visit. I am more aware and more suspicious of the internet as it has not always been a part of my life. When I did research elementary through middle school, I used encylopedias, not the internet. They have grown up with this technology and are much more trusting than I am.
If I were to do a web-based lesson or research project, my first step would be to teach them how to evaluate a web site for validity, and would require them to prove this validity if the site is used.
With this in mind...I better put up my biography - or else why should you believe what I say?!
I think this topic is also important for the kids to understand. They are online a lot, and are less critical of the sites they visit. I am more aware and more suspicious of the internet as it has not always been a part of my life. When I did research elementary through middle school, I used encylopedias, not the internet. They have grown up with this technology and are much more trusting than I am.
If I were to do a web-based lesson or research project, my first step would be to teach them how to evaluate a web site for validity, and would require them to prove this validity if the site is used.
With this in mind...I better put up my biography - or else why should you believe what I say?!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Day 2 - Copyright
Today we talked about copyright infringement...and I think most teachers would be surprised at what they can and cannot do. Actually, many of them would probably realize they have already broken the law!
I personally do not think I have broken any copyright laws this year, but when I was a substitute teacher I remember covering a science class, and they watched whole episodes of a forensics TV series taped off TV what appeared to be about 15 years ago. Every student watched it that day, as they have for the past 15 years I am sure! My question is, should that teacher be fined? What would that actually accomplish?
After today I will definitely be more aware and alert to any possible copyright infringements in the future. I guess this means no movies in June!
Stay tuned next week for Website Evaluation!
I personally do not think I have broken any copyright laws this year, but when I was a substitute teacher I remember covering a science class, and they watched whole episodes of a forensics TV series taped off TV what appeared to be about 15 years ago. Every student watched it that day, as they have for the past 15 years I am sure! My question is, should that teacher be fined? What would that actually accomplish?
After today I will definitely be more aware and alert to any possible copyright infringements in the future. I guess this means no movies in June!
Stay tuned next week for Website Evaluation!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Day One
Well, the honeymoon is over. Back to school. Long nights, and long days have begun again. Going from teacher to student in a matter of minutes....now I know how my kids feel.
This class is based around the internet and technology in the classroom. Seems ironic considering I haven't had internet in my classroom since November! Even so, I am excited about the potential impact of the knowledge I gain from this class, but I am nervous about the coming weeks. Can I really get all this done? Between teaching after school 3 nights a week and Saturdays, taking two graduate classes and the looming Math exam in March, I am confident in one thing....these next few months will fly by.
This is day one of many...stay tuned!
This class is based around the internet and technology in the classroom. Seems ironic considering I haven't had internet in my classroom since November! Even so, I am excited about the potential impact of the knowledge I gain from this class, but I am nervous about the coming weeks. Can I really get all this done? Between teaching after school 3 nights a week and Saturdays, taking two graduate classes and the looming Math exam in March, I am confident in one thing....these next few months will fly by.
This is day one of many...stay tuned!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)