Weblog for May 31

During class today we discussed using the podomatic and a new site www.tappedin.org. After I signed up for tappedin.org, I immediately began to search for Math groups and activities for students. After searching through a few groups, I found a math game site called www.cut-the-knot.org/games/shtml. It had more than ten useful games to help with calculation and problem solving.

During the class presentations, I was very impressed by the use of the iMovies to tell stories about each individual, and I believe that next year on the first day of school, I will present an iMovie about myself and why I got into teaching to my students. I believe that my students need not only to hear about who I really am, but they need to see it too. The ideas were wonderful and I plan to use them in my own class next year.

I also learned that lessons can be easily taught using the flickr web site and iMovies. The ideas of using flickr across disciplines in the Art/Spanish presentation was excellent. I do a Algebra/Geometry project in my class and I think that it would be an excellent idea to use flickr to show pictures on how Algebra can connect to Geometry.

Weblog for May 30

Ode to Joy! After much turmoil, I have figured out how to successfully use the www.pbwiki.com website. It was not as frustrating trying to learn this as it was other programs but it still kind of rose the old blood pressure. I placed my Excel lesson plan on the site, and commented on each of the high school members' plans. During the class discussion about the wiki's, I found it interesting how wiki's can be used in real life as more of a tool of communication than an on-line encyclopedia. I would like to eventually have a class newspaper on a wiki, containing happenings in class, good grades, and upcoming assignments, so that parents can also be involved with their childrens' education.

I have decided to use www.pbwiki.com as a form of on-line collaboration for a Cafe' Conversation activity for my class. I will have the students in groups and have them answer different problems while posting their methods and solutions on-line. I think it is a added value to place technology into a Cafe' Conversation activity, as the students can learn to collaborate about solutions to a problem in a technological way.

Weblog for May 29

During class today, the group and I completed the task on flickr.com. The project came together nicely as we had plenty of pics and a good lesson plan that connected to the assignment. Our project was over math uses in the real world, which we chose to do driving and math. We had about 25 pics, some good, some funny, but all important to driving in the real world. The plan was to use that as an icebreaker for the students, then have the students come up with ideas on pictures to take and present on math in the real world.

The podcast project was very confusing at first since the website would not let me record any sound bites. So the suggestion was made by Leah that I just use the sound recorder on the drop down menu and import the files. This proved to be about a thousand times easier than fighting with podomatic.com - THANKS LEAH!! I hope to start and complete my podcast on a portion of a lesson tommorrow, and move on to the next assignment from there.

Web Log for May 24

Today in class we discussed the use of flickr.com and how to use digital camera pictures to teach or enhance a lesson. The website was a little difficult to follow, but most sites are when a person is just learning it. There were several long processes to invite friends to a created site. When I went to the contacts tab and hit "Invite your friends", it took me to a screen where I had to email the friends on another site to join. Then I went through another process with four or five steps to add friends. I am confident though that the process will become more simple as I get to know the site.

Myself, Justin, and Tiffany decided to make a lesson having to do with math and uses in the real world with driving. Such ideas that came out were odometers, gas prices, new car prices, and tire gauges. I think it should be a very interesting project.

Web Log for May 23

For today's class, we had lab time to complete our Web projects. My partner and I work on narrating the story and placing the frames in proper placement with the music. All in all I think that the movie went extremely well: we have an intro, pictures, a description, examples, and credits. To hook the students into the activity, a good, and sometimes unexpected intro is necessary; that is where the "Incredible Hulk" came into play. It immediately creates a high interest in the project and goes quickly enough into the definition and examples to remain effective. Along with the lesson plan, this is a great activity for students that can maintain their interest throughout the lesson.

Web Log for May 22

In Tuesday's class, we began with a review of searching topics on the internet. Some of the things discussed were using search engines such as Google to do a general topic search on items such as "planets". We also discussed the uses of Deep Web searches for areas like academic or technical indexes and articles. We then began to talk about the Web Iquiry projects and how it puts students in charge of placing the research questions. We were also shown how the JCPS website has sections for homework assistance, ways to cite sources, and practicing skills with games. Being a math teacher, I can fully see the use of having interesting ways for students to be taught and practice their skills on-line.

For our web inquiry project, Justin and I have switched our topic to teaching scale factor. We felt that it would be a more interesting topic to use on iMovies and that students could be excited about researching different objects, their heights, and how they compare to the objects that they researched. We have included an activity sheet for an internet scavenger hunt, and a lesson plan for the assignment, so the lesson will have structure and the activities will be balanced. We are starting the iMovie with a clip from the movie "The Incredible Hulk" to give an example of scale factor, which leads into a description of what scale factor is. Then the students go to work, researching different objects and their comparison to the student as a scale factor. All in all, it is a fun activity for the students to learn about.

Weblog for May 21

During the class on Monday, we watched several selections of student made iMovies. It is interesting to me, how technology can communicate a students' understanding of a concept that does not require testing. I have always thought that if a student can find a way to remember a topic in their own unique way, then they will have a better opportunity to retain it. Making web casts of the different topics helps to not only to assess a students retention on a topic, but teaches them how to use technology in different aspects of life.

Strong messages portrayed by students can be a useful tool in a students' growth in society. To make a web cast of issues that effect students, is a fantastic idea to connect learning in school to real-life situations. I particularly enjoyed the iMovie on drug usage. I believe that high school students can best relate to one of their own, and see how their peers view drug usage, and how it could possibly effect them in society.

In my class, I think it would be a good idea to have the students make a web cast or iMovie on student based teaching of an topic. The students must first learn the topic at a proficient level, second, they must learn how to make the movie, then lastly, they must learn how to present the material in that proficient manner. All in all, it would be an excellent project and an opportunity for the students to understand the importance of learning.