My school has talked about using the Wordpress bloging platform for some time so this afternoon I took the time to view a presentation on the state of Wordpress. The presenter below outlines the future of the very popular blogging platform and describes what is possible with the newest update. The newest update looks great, and the MU functionality sounds interesting for use in schools. Ultimately I would like to see some of the same functionality in built into Google Sites or Google Apps for Education since we already have these accounts at my school. This presentation did spark some new ideas for what is possible with blogging.
Another tidbit of ed. tech. info stored away for a rainy day.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Much Is Possible in 3hrs 15minutes
This week I have learned just how much is possible in a three hour fifteen minute academic class.
I am teaching a summer school class titled "Bridge to Integrated Mathematics II." This class is an attempt to push a group of students that sometimes gets overlooked, the students who are not quite ready for honors but that need a push in mathematics. My ten amazing students have signed up to come to math class over the summer for nineteen days for over three hours a day to learn about linear, exponential, and quadratic functions as well as some fundamentals of Geometry. Their reward...getting promoted to sophomore level math for their freshman year. Doesn't that sound like a fun summer activity?
Anyway...
In a time when the media bashes our schools' ability to teach and our students' attention spans and motivation, I have seen students focus in for THREE HOUR math classes with only two five minute breaks to breath, and then go home to do an hour and a half of homework. I have seen students make connections, solve problems, get creative with math, and struggle with both their social identity and some complicated mathematics concepts. Next week the students will deal with transitioning to a new teacher for a new Geometry unit while I go on vacation (yes I feel bad but it was already planned and couldn't be moved). This will provide new challenges for them. But am I worried? NO!
I am convinced that these students are locked, are motivated, and will succeed in mastering some real hard math concepts this summer. Theses students have re-energized me and re-motivated me as a teacher through their hard work, and I cannot wait to see what comes of their high school years. I am expecting very great things.
That is just some of what I learned this week.
I am teaching a summer school class titled "Bridge to Integrated Mathematics II." This class is an attempt to push a group of students that sometimes gets overlooked, the students who are not quite ready for honors but that need a push in mathematics. My ten amazing students have signed up to come to math class over the summer for nineteen days for over three hours a day to learn about linear, exponential, and quadratic functions as well as some fundamentals of Geometry. Their reward...getting promoted to sophomore level math for their freshman year. Doesn't that sound like a fun summer activity?
Anyway...
In a time when the media bashes our schools' ability to teach and our students' attention spans and motivation, I have seen students focus in for THREE HOUR math classes with only two five minute breaks to breath, and then go home to do an hour and a half of homework. I have seen students make connections, solve problems, get creative with math, and struggle with both their social identity and some complicated mathematics concepts. Next week the students will deal with transitioning to a new teacher for a new Geometry unit while I go on vacation (yes I feel bad but it was already planned and couldn't be moved). This will provide new challenges for them. But am I worried? NO!
I am convinced that these students are locked, are motivated, and will succeed in mastering some real hard math concepts this summer. Theses students have re-energized me and re-motivated me as a teacher through their hard work, and I cannot wait to see what comes of their high school years. I am expecting very great things.
That is just some of what I learned this week.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Graphing Calculators, Ed. Tech Feed, the Kno, and Sketchcasting Ideas
Yesterday I relearned how to use a graphing calculator to calculate and graph the line of best fit for a "somewhat" linear scatterplot. I also relearned to do the same for "somewhat" exponential and "somewhat" quadratic scatterplots. This will definitely be benefiting my students in the days and weeks to come.
I was then surfing the internet when I came across a really good ed. tech feed (eduDemic.com) which lead me to many different articles that stimulated my mind. One major link from that site was the Kno, which is a new type of tablet that is in production and might just change the textbook industry in the years to come.
Kno Movie from Kno, Inc. on Vimeo.
As I continued my surfing, I came across some cool sketchcasting tools and ideas that I might be able to use with my students.
It was a very good day for my mind!
I was then surfing the internet when I came across a really good ed. tech feed (eduDemic.com) which lead me to many different articles that stimulated my mind. One major link from that site was the Kno, which is a new type of tablet that is in production and might just change the textbook industry in the years to come.
Kno Movie from Kno, Inc. on Vimeo.
As I continued my surfing, I came across some cool sketchcasting tools and ideas that I might be able to use with my students.
It was a very good day for my mind!
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