Week 6 with my GAME plan.

This has been a great week for learning more about technology for the classroom.  Since we have to work on putting together a lesson plan with social networking tools, I have done a lot of reading and trying out of new programs.  For example, I went on Ning and Wiggio last night and found them both to be amazing concepts.  I can really see myself using them with my classes and having each of my students be a part of my "team."  I will need to spend some time working on both sites to really be comfortable using it next year as a part of my classroom. 

I also found a great site called Mathalicious that had a variety of math related problem-based learning opportunities.  I already sent the link to my math colleagues at work and they will also be spending some time working on the site this summer.  Overall, I am really excited to start getting some great problem-based learning activities into my classroom that incorporates technology and then begin to collaborate with other teachers and classrooms.

These new discoveries are helping me to continue to work on standard 2a, "design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity."


*An update on my screencast activity...  They went great!  The kids were really into the activity and in general the results were good.  Some students had trouble with the activity since they did not have microphones on their computers, and had to come in at lunch to use mine.  However, many took advantage of the extra credit opportunity, and the entire class had a fun time viewing them.  Some were really cute, and the students reported that having to explain how to do the problem verbally, and not just in written form, really helped them understand the process better.  This review activity is a keeper!

Continuing with my GAME Plan

I am on my way!  I assigned the screencast activity today to my Algebra II students.  They were really excited.  Not only did I show them how to use Microsoft Equation, which is part of Word, so that they could write out the math problems, I then showed them how to use Jing.  Some of the students who had their lap tops in class, immediately downloaded Jing, and started on the process.  It is really exciting for me to be able to show my class how to use new technology. 

My monitoring will occur as they work on this project.  It will be due next Tuesday, so I want to check with each of them to see how it is going.  Then I will evaluate the project by using a quick survey. 

Another area where I need to use my GAME plan is with my Smart Board.  I have been using it now, for a little over a year.  I know that there is so much more that I could be doing with it.  So...

My Goal:  Get some quality time with my colleague who is a Smart Board Pro!  I think that I will offer her lunch out, or something, if she will spend a couple of hours with me.  I want to know how to get the kids up there and what other cool things that I can do.

Action:  Spend some time on line at the Smart Board site to look at some sample lessons and ideas

Monitor:  I will go into my classroom once every two weeks this summer to try at least one new thing with my Smart Board

Evaluate:  Hopefully the students will notice the changes. 

By the way - does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get better?  Any good sites that you know have worked?  Please share.

I Have an Idea!

As I continue to work on my GAME plan, and as final exams approach for my students, I wonder if I can try another new approach to help with NETS-T standard 2a, "design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity."  I  have anywhere from 15 to 19 students in each of my classes.  There are about 20 or so questions that need to be covered as review.  So... I will ask each student to take a question, download Jing, and create a screencast.  The screencasts can then be viewed by the other members of the class as they prepare for their final exam.  What will I need?

Action:  Teach students how to use Jing. 
              Get time in computer lab or have this be an at-home project
              See if screencasts can be accessible via internet

Monitor:  Meet with individual students to make sure that the problem is done correctly before they start.   Have the student talk through the process before they record.
               
Evaluate:  Ask students how they enjoyed creating the screencast, and if it helped them learn

I'll let you know how it goes.

Working on my GAME Plan!

I need to continue to work on NETS-T standard 2a, "design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity" while incorporating my GAME plan.  This week my goal was to incorporate technology into the teaching of my ellipse lesson.  In the past, I would just teach the formulas and try to explain how the foci, the directrix and the ellipse all worked together.  Yesterday, my first class went to the computer lab and created their own ellipse using the Geometers Sketchpad (GSP).  I typed up a list of directions and just let them at it.  It was fun to watch.  As partners, they needed to follow directions, one reading while the other was manipulating the computer, both watching the creation unfold.  There were a variety of creations formed.

All groups felt successful, however.  Not all created an ellipse, but were able to look at another group's.  A couple of groups moved along quickly and I could ask enrichment questions and keep them delving deeper.  By the time the entire class went back to the classroom, all felt that they knew what an ellipse was, felt that they had created something, and that they had a good time.  They were now ready for the formulas and math that came along with the shapes.

I felt that I took action by using technology in an area that was new to me. I spent time with a fellow math teacher who had used this program often, and worked together to come up with plan for my class.  I monitored their interaction with the program as they were using it.  But the real evaluation will come when I am working through the formulas with them tomorrow and whether or not the working on the computer really helped them to visualize ellipses, or not.  It was a big step and an exciting one though, and I am glad that I tried it.