As with any good teacher, I consider myself to be a life long learner. To be the best I can be and to give my students the teacher they deserve, it is a part of my career to learn ahead of or with my students so that I can help facilitate and prepare them for their futures.
As a learner relating to technology in education, there are a few specific topics I want to stay on top of in order to achieve my best. The first is the idea of specifically integrating technology with mathematics, since that is the subject I teach. I found the website http://lpsl.coe.uga.edu/mile3/tim/index.html to help me with that, as well as all the other technology education blogs.
The second idea I want to continue to research and use is technology for assessment, both formal and informal. I really like the idea of testing each student when he or she is ready, not when a majority of the class is ready. Electronic testing would help me with this. I also absolutely LOVE the idea of formal assessments being graded for me on the spot. With ever-increasing class sizes, taking the time to grade paper and pencil tests over and over again is time consuming and often does not allow me to assess the data for remediation or enrichment as well as I would like. One particular electronic assessment I am going to fight for next school year is the Senteo Smart Response System. Two teachers have been using the two systems our school owns for the entire school year and I never could get a few days at a time to play with them before letting the students use them. I will amend that this summer.
The third topic of interest I would like to continue learning about is difficult to put in to words. I would like to present myself as a resource and instigator of change for the teachers at my school. I have really enjoyed mentoring and working with the two teachers at my school who are helping me with my practicum experience. I want to stay current in technology education and put forth more ideas to the school administration to truly begin integrating technology into every classroom in my school.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Personal Learning Network - Pro Subject Matters
Who will I learn from?
Author Chris Clementi has written a book entitled Great Ways to Integrate Technology in the Classroom. As an educator, I am always looking for ways to integrate technology in my middle school mathematics classroom. He will be someone that I will be watching for more great ideas.
In addition to Mr. Clementi, I will also be following several blog authors whose blogs were mentioned in the previous post. They include Vicki Davis, Danny Maas, Kelly Tenkely, and Scott Walker.
Author Chris Clementi has written a book entitled Great Ways to Integrate Technology in the Classroom. As an educator, I am always looking for ways to integrate technology in my middle school mathematics classroom. He will be someone that I will be watching for more great ideas.
In addition to Mr. Clementi, I will also be following several blog authors whose blogs were mentioned in the previous post. They include Vicki Davis, Danny Maas, Kelly Tenkely, and Scott Walker.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Personal Learning Network - Resources
As I continue with developing my plans for continuous learning, another aspect I will consider is what and how I would like to study and continue learning about.
Resources
Although probably not financially feasible for schools to use, I will want to learn about using iPads in the classroom. I feel like a small item that students could carry around with them wherever they go would be an amazing tool both in the classroom and for homework or distance learning. The website http://www.apple.com/education/why-apple/ even gives ideas of how to use apple products in the classroom.
An online journal I will be checking in on is the Journal, found at http://thejournal.com/home.aspx. This online journal has news specific to the use of technology in K-12 schools and how technology is being used around the country. Another online journal, though not as current online as it is if you subscribe, but the Journal of Technology Education has online links to its articles at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/.
There are a few blogs I have found that I am now subscribing to. The first is found at http://www.whiteboardblog.co.uk/ because it is a clean blog and very easy to read - not to mention the information is good. The second is http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/. I like that she doesn't just believe in technology, but that she loves the actual career of teaching. There may be other blogs that had even better information, but I cannot stand blogs that have too much text on them, especially when a lot of that text is advertising. If it bothers me when I first look at it, I just close the page and do not even read the information. Another blog is found at http://tilttv.blogspot.com/.
A couple of blogs that are not necessarily personal, but more professionally run are iLearnTechnology found at http://ilearntechnology.com/ and Teacher Tech Blog found at http://teachertechblog.com/.
Resources
Although probably not financially feasible for schools to use, I will want to learn about using iPads in the classroom. I feel like a small item that students could carry around with them wherever they go would be an amazing tool both in the classroom and for homework or distance learning. The website http://www.apple.com/education/why-apple/ even gives ideas of how to use apple products in the classroom.
An online journal I will be checking in on is the Journal, found at http://thejournal.com/home.aspx. This online journal has news specific to the use of technology in K-12 schools and how technology is being used around the country. Another online journal, though not as current online as it is if you subscribe, but the Journal of Technology Education has online links to its articles at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/.
There are a few blogs I have found that I am now subscribing to. The first is found at http://www.whiteboardblog.co.uk/ because it is a clean blog and very easy to read - not to mention the information is good. The second is http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/. I like that she doesn't just believe in technology, but that she loves the actual career of teaching. There may be other blogs that had even better information, but I cannot stand blogs that have too much text on them, especially when a lot of that text is advertising. If it bothers me when I first look at it, I just close the page and do not even read the information. Another blog is found at http://tilttv.blogspot.com/.
A couple of blogs that are not necessarily personal, but more professionally run are iLearnTechnology found at http://ilearntechnology.com/ and Teacher Tech Blog found at http://teachertechblog.com/.
Personal Learning Network - People
As I am about to finish my Master's degree in Instructional Technology, it is time for me to begin looking ahead to how I will continue with my education even though I am not formally in school.
Who will help me learn?
I believe that the people I surround myself with every day in my working environment play a huge role in how I will grow as an educator. There are two colleagues that I have worked with to help complete my practicum and even though I designed the lessons to bring technology into their classrooms and got the ball rolling, they have been creative and taught me things about technology in return. So, as I develop lessons that integrate technology into my classroom, Ms. Pace and Ms. Kirk will be two teachers that I will brainstorm with and bounce ideas off of.
Also in my school are three additional colleagues that I will seek guidance from are my mentor and school librarian, Ms. Maxwell; the technology contact, Ms. Wandell; and a former technology instructor, Ms. Gage. They all work with technology on a regular basis and they are the people that receive training from our district on all the technology available to teachers, so they are great resources for both ideas and help when things are not working the way they are supposed to.
The final person I will work with as I grow in the use of technology is my husband. Although he does not work in education, he works with technology for his job, which gives me a great idea of what future employers are looking for so I can use that in my classroom as well as the fact that he understands technology lingo and helps me in many ways when I struggle to understand what I am reading. He is also one of the most creative people I have ever met, which complements my left-brained thinking. His help has already gotten me through many classes.
Who will help me learn?
I believe that the people I surround myself with every day in my working environment play a huge role in how I will grow as an educator. There are two colleagues that I have worked with to help complete my practicum and even though I designed the lessons to bring technology into their classrooms and got the ball rolling, they have been creative and taught me things about technology in return. So, as I develop lessons that integrate technology into my classroom, Ms. Pace and Ms. Kirk will be two teachers that I will brainstorm with and bounce ideas off of.
Also in my school are three additional colleagues that I will seek guidance from are my mentor and school librarian, Ms. Maxwell; the technology contact, Ms. Wandell; and a former technology instructor, Ms. Gage. They all work with technology on a regular basis and they are the people that receive training from our district on all the technology available to teachers, so they are great resources for both ideas and help when things are not working the way they are supposed to.
The final person I will work with as I grow in the use of technology is my husband. Although he does not work in education, he works with technology for his job, which gives me a great idea of what future employers are looking for so I can use that in my classroom as well as the fact that he understands technology lingo and helps me in many ways when I struggle to understand what I am reading. He is also one of the most creative people I have ever met, which complements my left-brained thinking. His help has already gotten me through many classes.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Student Assessment
Are tests the only objective assessment of student learning?
This is the questions that has been posed to me this week. My answer? Tests are one of the LEAST objective ways to assess student learning. I believe this to be true for many reasons. First, knowing how to do something and knowing about something may not mean that you have every little detail about that subject memorized. For example, in college I took math all the way up through calculus. Since that course, I have been teaching basic math (sixth grade) and have not taken any other math courses since. Does this mean that given a test in calculus I would pass since I learned it? Probably not, because I have not used this information recently. My students, even though in a shorter amount of time, showcase this exact situation. We learn about fractions for several weeks in the fall. However, they are tested on it in April. Many who can do fractions if they have a refresher do not do well on the test because they haven't had as much time to practice using them while studying all the topics that are covered in a year's worth of math. However, by eighth grade many more students pass because they have now been practicing using fractions for about four years.
In education, teachers and researchers go on and on about different learning styles, different personalities, IEPs, etc. If we truly believe that all humans learn differently, then why would they all be able to show their knowledge in the exact same way? One students might be able to talk about what he has learned in a presentation, but forget which things to mark on a test. Another student might be terrified to speak in front of his peers, but study for a test at home and pass with flying colors.
Tests are not the only way to assess student learning. Teachers should include many forms, including informal daily assessments and other scheduled formal assessments.
This is the questions that has been posed to me this week. My answer? Tests are one of the LEAST objective ways to assess student learning. I believe this to be true for many reasons. First, knowing how to do something and knowing about something may not mean that you have every little detail about that subject memorized. For example, in college I took math all the way up through calculus. Since that course, I have been teaching basic math (sixth grade) and have not taken any other math courses since. Does this mean that given a test in calculus I would pass since I learned it? Probably not, because I have not used this information recently. My students, even though in a shorter amount of time, showcase this exact situation. We learn about fractions for several weeks in the fall. However, they are tested on it in April. Many who can do fractions if they have a refresher do not do well on the test because they haven't had as much time to practice using them while studying all the topics that are covered in a year's worth of math. However, by eighth grade many more students pass because they have now been practicing using fractions for about four years.
In education, teachers and researchers go on and on about different learning styles, different personalities, IEPs, etc. If we truly believe that all humans learn differently, then why would they all be able to show their knowledge in the exact same way? One students might be able to talk about what he has learned in a presentation, but forget which things to mark on a test. Another student might be terrified to speak in front of his peers, but study for a test at home and pass with flying colors.
Tests are not the only way to assess student learning. Teachers should include many forms, including informal daily assessments and other scheduled formal assessments.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Running Tab
I have found so many website and ideas to use over the course of the last few months, that I wanted to keep a running tab of locations and ideas.
Search the web for data to be used for graphing.
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/topic_t_5.html (create graphs)
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph (create graphs)
Geometer's Sketchpad
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
http://www.digitalcitizenship.net (rules and guidelines to using technology)
www.brainpop.com
Blogs
MangaHigh
Microsoft PowerPoint
YouTube
Digital Cameras
Virtual Field Trips
Social Networking/Twitter
Podcasts
www.phatmath.com
ePals
Safari Montage
TPS Cybrary
Senteo clickers
Elmos
Genius slim tablets
Safari live
Aver keys
DVDs
Search the web for data to be used for graphing.
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/topic_t_5.html (create graphs)
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph (create graphs)
Geometer's Sketchpad
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
http://www.digitalcitizenship.net (rules and guidelines to using technology)
www.brainpop.com
Blogs
MangaHigh
Microsoft PowerPoint
YouTube
Digital Cameras
Virtual Field Trips
Social Networking/Twitter
Podcasts
www.phatmath.com
ePals
Safari Montage
TPS Cybrary
Senteo clickers
Elmos
Genius slim tablets
Safari live
Aver keys
DVDs
A Technology-Infused Classroom
What would a technology-infused classroom look like? How do I plan to have a technology-infused classroom?
Before technology can even be addressed, a teacher must have an idea of the objectives to be taught and how to infuse HOTS (higher order thinking skills) into the lessons. Without these two items, technology in a classroom will have no relevance or impact.
So, with objectives and goals in mind, what does a 21st century classroom look like? To begin with, there are computers available for the students to access any information they might need in order to research, create, or practice the objectives. A SMART Board is available for whole-class instruction, along with videos and presentations - made by either the students or the teacher. Students should also have access to audio and video recording devices to enhance presentations and learning. For my math classroom, hand-held electronic math games and activities would be beneficial for exciting practice of the basic skills that all mathematicians will need. A printer would be available for students to create visuals for the classroom and projects.
My current classroom is filled with all of the above stated technology. However, I have not been prepared to use the technology to its fullest advantage over the last 5 years because I had little training on how to integrate it into a math classroom. Since January, when I began my Master's course, I have already used more technology in my classroom than I did the last four and a half years combined! Why? Because I have now done the research required for ideas on how and why to use technology. I have the summer off now to come up with more ideas and lessons so that the 2010-2011 school year will look completely different in my classroom! Students will engage in PowerPoint lessons, research projects, digital creations, and best of all, they will be thinking and creating ideas for themselves!
Before technology can even be addressed, a teacher must have an idea of the objectives to be taught and how to infuse HOTS (higher order thinking skills) into the lessons. Without these two items, technology in a classroom will have no relevance or impact.
So, with objectives and goals in mind, what does a 21st century classroom look like? To begin with, there are computers available for the students to access any information they might need in order to research, create, or practice the objectives. A SMART Board is available for whole-class instruction, along with videos and presentations - made by either the students or the teacher. Students should also have access to audio and video recording devices to enhance presentations and learning. For my math classroom, hand-held electronic math games and activities would be beneficial for exciting practice of the basic skills that all mathematicians will need. A printer would be available for students to create visuals for the classroom and projects.
My current classroom is filled with all of the above stated technology. However, I have not been prepared to use the technology to its fullest advantage over the last 5 years because I had little training on how to integrate it into a math classroom. Since January, when I began my Master's course, I have already used more technology in my classroom than I did the last four and a half years combined! Why? Because I have now done the research required for ideas on how and why to use technology. I have the summer off now to come up with more ideas and lessons so that the 2010-2011 school year will look completely different in my classroom! Students will engage in PowerPoint lessons, research projects, digital creations, and best of all, they will be thinking and creating ideas for themselves!
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