Educational and SMART technology

Emerging Technology Reflection

2010-08-21T16:59:00.003-05:00

As I look at what I have done in my week 6 and 7 assignments I cannot believe how much new technology I have learned about. Beyond learning about the technology it amazes me that I have learned enough about it to feel comfortable integrating it into my classroom. The assignments show just about everything that I have learned in this class. The "plan" incorporates new technologies like web camera, internet resources Skype, learning management systems like RCampus.com, and the ability to learn a class off site. The thought process behind this is to allow the students to gain the knowledge of the class without being in the classroom. I need to accomplish this because the budget constraints of my district will not allow the accelerated eighth graders the opportunity to come to the high school to take my Honors Geometry class. So, with what I have learned in this class I have offered up a way for those students to continue to take the class without having to travel to the high school.

This class has allowed me to put together a presentation for the board that will allow for an off campus learning environment. The ability to explain to the board how all of this technology works together and allows for students learning will be a huge benefit. Then, I can expand this program to not only the honors students, but also to students who do not learn well in a classroom and have failed multiple classes. This class also forced me to look into ways to fund these programs through grants. By showing the board of education that students can still reach their standards and the 21st century skills through this program and they do not have to pay for it but will instead save money I am sure that they will gladly approve of the program.

Last, this class has opened my eyes to all of the technology that is out there to use in the classroom. I have always been a "tech geek", but it is amazing how much technology is out there that I never really considered using in the classroom. With everything that I have already learned in the class it has inspired me to continue to look for conferences and learning opportunities dealing with technology. It has also brought me to the forefront of technology in the classroom in my district. This will allow me to teach other teachers how to use the technology in my district and hopefully open the eyes of many educators to how useful technology can be in education. Hopefully I can lead by example and show student success through technology and keep moving the district forward in educational technology. I am very appreciative of all this class has given me, and I cannot wait to continue the journey throughout the years to come.

Learning Management Systems

2010-07-25T22:44:00.002-05:00

Here is a voice thread of what I think learning management systems can do for a classroom.

http://voicethread.com/share/1255445/

UDL, DI, and Social Networking Reflection

2010-06-24T14:25:00.002-05:00

There has been so much information for me to take in during this class. It is funny how a concept that I have heard of and even tried to implement in the classroom can be so new in many ways. I have attended conference after conference on UDL's and DI's with nothing to take back to the classroom but questions. I constantly tried new things that I thought would work and failed. I think this is just part of teaching, but this course has left me with something that I can actually bring back to the classroom and use.

As for UDL's and DI's I see how it is not as hard as I previously made it to implement into the classroom. It seems like so much work, but with the help of technology it really is not that bad to put into use in the classroom. I use to think that these concepts were a way of dumbing down curriculum so that everyone could understand it, and then hold each student to a different level of comprehension. This course has taught me that my previous thought were ridiculous. All these concepts are trying to do is present material in different ways so that all students can be most successful. Does that mean doing some things at different levels? Sure, sometimes that is the proper way, but most of the time it is about providing visuals, hands-on, and literal explanations of concepts. All students are still responsible for reacting the standards and goals, but each may take a different path to get there.

The social networking that was done helped provide with so many resources for me to implement next year that I can't possibly name them all. It was wonderful to see the views and resources that other teachers from around the country have and use on a daily basis. There is no way to replace the experiences of others in the classroom. No book or speaker can possibly give the knowledge that other teachers can provide. I hope to continue using the network even after this class to communicate with other teachers. I would also like to implement a type of network for my students to become a part of so that they can always use each other to help them succeed in the classroom.

Last, I have a couple of things I want to change as soon as next year starts. I really want to provide different learning stations whenever possible. I have done them sparingly in the past, but I would like this to be come something I do for every section because each student learns differently and deserves the opportunity to learn in their own way. I also want to see if it is possible to keep about 8-10 laptops in my classroom at all times. We have a math laptop cart with about 30 laptops in it, but it does not seem to get used all the time. So, I want to see if I can get some computers in my room at all times to help integrate technology into my lessons on a daily basis. I really think this will allow certain students to really thrive in the classroom when they would not previously have.

Overall, I have learned many things from this class, and I cannot wait to implement them into my classroom next year. With so much stress being put on the math department to meet state standards it would be wonderful to touch more students and get more students to reach the standards. If I can get to even 5 more students a year by doing this it will be a huge success for the school and the students. Thank you to everyone for making this class so worth while.

Paul

Reflection on Technology

2010-04-25T10:17:00.001-05:00

Through this course I have learned more about technology and how it can be incorporated in my lessons. I have always looked for new ways to use technology in the classroom, but I have very rarely learned how to appropriately incorporate it. I would just go through the lesson with the students and show them how to use the technology or what to do with the technology. This course has taught me how to be a little more hands off and let the students take control of the technology around them to learn.

The GAME plan that was presented in this course is something that I will be using for the rest of my teaching career. It is a wonderful tool to keep myself on track to complete the goals that I set forth, and it is also a great way for students to keep themselves on track. There is always a place for goals in the classroom, but the focus on attaining those goals often fall to the side. The teacher accomplishes them and the students learn them, but rarely is it presented to the students how they reached them. By letting students create GAME plans it allows them to see how to attain their goal in the classroom, and can help them in any aspect of their lives.

The last thing I took from this class is the confidence to show my district that technology is not such a scary thing. In every school I have ever been a part of there is a fear that if we let students use any technology they want they are not really learning the material and they will do "bad" things with it. For instance if we allow students to use the internet to look up solutions to a problem then they are just copying and not learning, and the students won't really do what is asked of them because they will be looking at other sites instead of doing the curriculum. This idea is completely false, and in my experience through the implementation of my GAME plan students who research and look up the answer to a question learn it much better than those who are just told what it is. I tell teachers all the time that if it is just copying that they are doing from the interent, aren't the students just copying from the board too? At least by using the technology they are finding the answer themselves which can lead to higher understanding.

Technology is a wonderful tool that can be used within a classroom setting. Many teachers and districts hesitate to allow the use of all technology out there, but the more we can show them how wonderful it can be the more they will allow to happen in the classroom. The use of a GAME plan and the appropriate technology in any classroom can only bring a learning advantage to all the students and teachers involved.

GAME Plan with Students

2010-04-14T13:44:00.002-05:00

I have benefited from the use of a GAME plan so much that even before this assignment I was thinking about how to incorporate this idea into my classroom. The plan has allowed me to focus my thoughts, stay on task, and continually monitor my progress toward my goals. I often talk to students about setting goals, but I think the use of a GAME plan would really keep students accountable for their goals.

Since the teacher and student technology standards are so close in nature any time I am trying to accomplish a technology standard I feel like I am allowing my students to accomplish a technology goal. So, I could see myself using a GAME plan in two different ways. First, I could use it as it pertains to technology standards. I could have the students take a pre-test on technology, and then let them set goals as to what they want to improve upon throughout the year. This can even be extended to have the student come up with projects and ways they can accomplish these goals in a math setting. I can then use their ideas to strengthen their technology standards and help them reach their goals. The second way would be to use the GAME plan according to the curriculum standards. Each chapter I could outline what they will be learning, and they can create a GAME plan that would help them accomplish the goals they set for the chapter. This would give me an idea of where they want to focus and how they will accomplish it. It would also show them that they are part of their own learning and that they are responsible for their share in the classroom.

I really think that setting goals is a wonderful thing to do in a classroom, but I am not sure that many teachers (including myself) have students actually write out the goals they have for themselves. A GAME plan allows everyone involved to be held accountable for their actions and give the students a sense of responsibility in their own learning. This will be a great tool they can then use for the rest of their lives.

GAME Plan Revisions

2010-04-07T18:31:00.002-05:00

So far I have learned so much about using technology in my assessments and how much it engages my students and allows them to learn the material better. Also, by adjusting my assessments to account for the technology based learning I am seeing an increase in the 21st century skills in my students. The students are becoming a little more self-sufficient knowing that they are able to use all different kinds of resources to complete a task. With my second goal I am realizing that taking on administration is not easy no matter how educationally beneficial what you are trying to do is for your students. Since my district's administrators are there 12 months of the year, this is definitely a task that would have been better taken on over the summer when there is not as much going on. With coaching and teaching I feel like I have not been dedicating as much time to the fight for blogs and wiki's as I should.

In the last week I am still progressing on changing my assessments, and the students are responding well to it. They are making progress on the content and NETS standards. The students are also becoming more self learners and asking responsibility for their own learning. I have not gone back to administration with anything about the wikis and blogs because I just have not had the time to research enough websites to find one that will work for them. To accomplish this task I am thinking about having my students research the topic and let them present something to administration as to how it can help them learn.

So, I am not revising my GAME plan just yet, but I am revising how I am going to accomplish my goal by bringing my students into the situation. I will continue to extend what I am doing throughout the remaining chapters, and then start getting my stuff revised for next year. I will also be planning ahead for when I get the blogs and wikis approves so that I can start to use them right away. Again, I am looking forward to continuing on this journey with my students.

Evaluating My GAME Plan

2010-03-31T20:09:00.002-05:00

I think that my GAME Plan has been going very well so far. I have been monitoring my progress through each chapter, and I am now on my second chapter in each class since starting the plan. The integration of technology in my assessments has seem to boost my students' interest and they are performing slightly better on the assessments overall. By allowing them to show me how to accomplish the content through the technology they are more interested in the content and doing better on both the standards based assessments as well as the technology based assessments. For instance, I just got done grading the take home quizzes I gave to my Honors Geometry students during spring break, and the grades were higher than ever before. I had multiple students say that after making the required question using the technology they went back and fixed other problems in the quiz because they realized they had done something wrong. So, for my students to be able to synthesize the information needed to create a problem they actually performed better on their other problems. With these results I have gone into my next chapter and started to add in more technology pieces to the project I already have in place.

My Algebra students have also shown better completion in their quadratics unit from simply being able to use a calculator to help them graph. They have also taken the initiative to find a couple of websites to help them walk through solving quadratics by different methods. Some of the websites they have found are wonderful and I have posted them to my school website for all the students to use. This give them the opportunity to learn in different ways and see step by step instructions away from the classroom.

As for my second goal I think I am making some headway in the tech department and administration on allowing blog and wiki sites past the filter for my students to use. Someone suggested that I look for .org or .edu sites that allow for this, and when I asked if this would be easier to get through the filter both the tech department and the administration said yes. So, right now I am in the process of finding good blog and wiki sites that are .org or .edu. When I find them I will be putting together a presentation for the administration on how to use them and how I can monitor what is happening on them. I think this may work, so if anyone has found any of these sites in a .org or .edu format please let me know. If I cannot find them I may have to drop this fight and pick it back up over the summer so that I can get it implemented for next year.

Overall, I am excited about my progress and I can't wait to see how it ends up by the finish of the school year.

Monitoring My GAME Plan Progress

2010-03-24T10:11:00.002-05:00

I have been working on my GAME plan very intensively this week because I am on spring break. This has given me the time to look at many of my assessments and change them to include technology based ideas. In both Algebra and Geometry I have a "lab" set up for the following chapters, and part of my assessment will be involving them using that technology to demonstrate full understanding of the content. For example, I have always done a project based unit for area in geometry where the students need to design something with all shapes represented, research how big it would be in real life, list those dimensions, scale the dimensions down, draw the design to scale, then find the areas of all the shapes represented in real life measurements. This year I have decided that the students will be using drafting software to create their drawings, and then they can use google sketchup to create a three dimensional representation of their design. This will allow me to not only use the technology, but bring the projects into the next unit of surface area and volume.

As for the websites getting approved I have been actively working with the administration and tech department to figure out what will be allowed and what will not be allowed. If they put a stop to what I want to do then I will need to revise my plan a bit. I will still make the blog site and wiki site that I want, but it will be hard to make it mandatory for the students to use them because not all of them have Internet access at home. Hopefully all will go well when I meet again with them next week, but as for now my plan is not changing.

I am happy with my progress so far in my GAME plan. I don't know about the rest of you, but I actually feel a sense of accomplishment. These are goals I have had for almost a year now, and I am finally put them into practice. For me it has always been hard to get started, and this class has forced me into starting these ideas in the classroom. It has been wonderful to see that my ideas are starting to take shape in the classroom and my students will benefit from me finally doing what needs to get done. So, overall the journey to this point has been a lot of work, but very fulfilling and rewarding. I cannot wait to get everything done and in place for my students to use.

Game Plan Update with Resources

2010-03-17T19:12:00.002-05:00

So far, I have been able to accomplish part of my goals, and establish how I will be taking the actions I want. While working on making sure I assess using different technologies, I went through Chapter 10 (circles) in geometry and Chapter 10 (Quadratics) in algebra and took a look at my current assessments. In geometry I usually give a take home quiz over spring break that the students work on. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to add a question to assess the technology standards. With the students having a whole week to work on this, they have plenty of time to find a computer to do what is necessary to complete the question. I added a part that incorporates using technology to create a problem involving circles, and then finding or using technology to solve that problem. I think this is a great way to get the students to be both creative and use technology to further their knowledge of the properties of circles. I have not quite gotten to changing any algebra assessments other than the fact that I have integrated the calculators more and let them do all of the graphing of quadratics using them.

To reach my second goal of using technology to interact with the students and the community I have had to do way more planning. This is the goal that I need to really research the resources I need to accomplish it. The district has a fairly strict firewall and I need to get through many hoops to make sure that the wiki I want to use can be used by students in school because not all of them have access to the internet outside of school. I am currently working on this process now, and may be lucky to get the wiki in place for this year. I will be updating the blog as that journey progresses.

I am looking for any experience in the area of getting the district to accept wiki's as parts of educational learning. I have provided examples, but I am still getting some resistance. If anyone has gone through this I would really appreciate any help I can get. Thank you all in advance.

Paul

GAME plan for addressing the National Education Standards for Teachers.

2010-03-11T19:34:00.000-06:00

After looking at the National Education Standards for Teachers I found two specific performance indicators that I would like to improve upon in my classroom. The indicators I would like to improve upon are:
· Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.
· Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.
The reason I picked these two indicators is because I feel like I do them a little, but that it would be very beneficial to my students if I did them consistently throughout the year. So, I have devised a GAME plan according to the DVD we watched to make sure that I strive to accomplish these two indicators in my classroom.

Goal: My goal is to make sure that I accomplish these standards once per chapter in my math classes. By forcing myself to accomplish the indicators every two to three weeks, I will know that I am consistently striving to improve my use of them in my classroom. Then, by using them that often the students will become more comfortable learning with the technology, and I will become more comfortable using the technology to assess and collaborate.

Action: To achieve my goal, I will have to do some revamping of my current way of both teaching and assessing. The first indicator will be hard for me to personally accomplish because I am so use to using tests and quizzes aligned only to the content standards to assess students. So, I will be creating at least one assignment, quiz, or test that aligns to the technology standards. This will mean going through my “old” material and finding a way to integrate the technology standards into them. It will also mean having more technology on hand in the classroom so that students can use it to accomplish these assessments. To accomplish the second indicator on a weekly basis I would like to create a wiki for the students to be able to use. I went into this year telling myself that I would create a wiki and blog for my students to use, but I did not actually commit to it and do it. So, I actually be creating the wiki to use, and then I will be posting a problem of the week for students to work on. This will allow for more collaboration outside of the classroom through virtual means. It will also allow all students to express themselves in different creative ways. So, I will get the chance to collaborate with all of my students, and not just the ones that express themselves in class.

Monitor Progress: I will monitor my progress with a checklist of what needs to be done each week to accomplish my actions and goals. By using the checklist I will be able to see if I am revamping my “old” routine to accomplish my goals. If I find that I am not doing what is on the checklist then I know that I am just relying on what I use to do instead of pursuing my goals of using the new indicators. The checklist will have things such as, created a wiki, posted a question of the week, interacted with students on the wiki, created a new assessment, and aligned an old assessment with the technology standards. These things will show me that I am really trying to accomplish the goals that I set.

Evaluate: As I am going through each week, I will look back and evaluate both the checklist and student achievement to see if I am accomplishing my goals. If my checklist is not done then I have not done my best to become better with the indicators that I have chosen. If my checklist is all checked off then I know I am doing everything in my power to complete the goals that I have set. However, my work toward accomplishing my goals means nothing if the students are not achieving in the classroom. So, I will also be comparing my students’ achievements with their own previous records on other topics to see if there is improvement, and I will be comparing them to the records of previous year’s students to see if there has been improvement in my students on that topic. If the students are improving then I know what I am doing is helping the students and I will continue to work in the same way, but if the students are not improving or declining then I need to reassess my actions to accomplish the goals so that I am benefiting my students.

I am really looking forward to working on these goals and doing what I can to improve student achievement in my classroom. If anyone has any ideas of how I can achieve my goals or improve upon my actions please leave a comment and thank you all in advance.

Paul Severino

Information Literacy Reflection

2010-02-28T16:35:00.000-06:00

This course has made me think about many aspects of technology that I never really considered in my teaching. I think that with the students growing up in a technology rich era I often forget that they still need to be taught how to properly use the technology they grow up around. The students may be able to use all of this technology and even teach me some about how to use the different programs, but it is very rare that they have learned how to properly use the technology for educational purposes.
This will directly affect my teaching of the students throughout the year. I try to accomplish many different technology based projects throughout the year, but I do not always stress to the students how to find the resources they will need to accomplish the project. I also do not focus much on how to find if a site is credible or even how to site that source. I let the students do “free” research to get what they need to complete the project, but after this course I realize that the students really need to be taught how to find what can be used and how to use it. If I do not accomplish this for my students I am not helping them grow as young adults, and I am not showing them what it means to be responsible with the information that they gather and provide to others.
One goal I have for the future has two parts. The first is to create lessons to show the students how to effectively, efficiently, and responsibly. This will allow my students become better researchers and it will hopefully help them in every class throughout their schooling carrier. The second part to that is to then show the students how to cite those resources and make them part of a social bookmarking site for all students to use throughout the years. This will get students use to giving credit for work done, and it will also give students a chance to contribute to the learning of each other. The ultimate goal is to get students to properly use the internet and share that information with everyone else so that they start to become responsible for their own learning. I believe that this course has helped me to realize that I need to take some responsibility in teaching the students these skills, and I will make that my main goal into the future.

Reflection on Learning Theories

2009-11-01T18:45:00.000-06:00

After seeing how all the different learning styles can affect the way students learn I have changed my philosophy just a little bit. I still believe that all of the theories need to be used together to get the maximum potential out of the students, but I now believe more in the constructionist and socialist theory that I did before. I always like the idea of those theories, but I never thought it was possible to use them as much as needed to make them effective. With NCLB there are so many different things we need to get through as teachers that there never seems to be enough time to accomplish a project where students get to work together to produce a product. I have found through this course that there are ways through strategy and technology to accomplish these hands on activities without losing the days necessary to teach all the content.

A couple of the pieces of technology that I would like to incorporate into my teaching to help me reach my students better would be the graphic organizer websites, and the voice threads. The reason these will help so much is because it will give me a way to help students organize the content without me having to tell them that everything works together. They will be able to see through the graphic organizer that they create how all the content works together. Also, the use of voice threads will allow students to create a product they can share with the rest of the class without having the fear of presenting material in front of all their peers. Taking this “risk” out of the equation will allow students to open up much more to their classmates and create a wonderful product to share.

The long term goals that I have for my classroom are to create more project based tests, and allow for more group projects. The way I will do that is by slowly introducing small group projects that can be completed in class. I think that a project way of thinking is much different than what students are use to and will take time to adapt to. By providing time for them to work together in class and produce a product they will have the chance to get use to this new way of thinking. Then, I can work toward having individual project tests, and projects that need to be done outside the class to achieve a topic. This will enhance the students’ learning and experience. In the end I am hoping to create self learners and critical thinkers. By conducting class in a way that requires them to work together to gain an end product I think I will ultimately be helping the most I can for what they will need to do in their lives outside of school. Helping students be productive in real life is the best possible thing I can do for my students.

Voice Thread

2009-10-11T18:34:00.001-05:00

Didn't quite work Like I hoped it would, but hopefully you all can get to it.

http://voicethread.com/share/661257/

Social Learning

2009-10-09T20:37:00.000-05:00

The social learning theory is one that I like to use in my classroom, but only as a supplement to the other learning theories. I truly believe that students can and do learn from each other. Because of this philosophy the use of social learning is important to any classroom. Letting students work in groups and use what they know to help others succeed can only help everyone in the classroom. It helps the struggling students to hear the material from someone other than the teacher. It helps those that are succeeding push their understanding through explaining what they know to others. It also helps the teacher because they can work around the room to make sure the students are on task and help when needed, but the teacher does not have to instruct everyone. This dynamic can be very successful as a warm up to a lesson to see what students already know, as a practice method to help students achieve at a higher level, or as a closing activity to have the students present what they have learned from the lesson. All ways are very beneficial to a classroom, but none of them is a substitute for gaining the basis of the core concept through a lesson.

One of the strategies that I read about in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works by Pitler was using base groups in the classroom (2007). This idea coupled with Dr. Orey’s idea of a jigsaw method brought a great idea to mind that I would like to use in the classroom (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). The idea behind a base group is that they are, “long-term groups, created to provide students with support throughout a semester or school year” (Pitler, 2007, p. 140). I like this idea because it really lets the students from a relationship and trust with a small group of students. The trust between these students can foster a great learning environment. However, if the students do not work with other students I believe they are missing out on other opportunities that could benefit their learning. So, I would couple this idea with the jigsaw method that lets the group split up and work with one student from every other group. These mixed groups discuss a topic and then the students go back to the original group and report what they learned (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). By doing this I am allowing students to work with everyone in the class and experience every learning opportunity available while still keeping the trust that they have for the base group. The base group will be gaining even more knowledge because they trust the member that reports back to give them good information. I really think this combination could help students both socially and academically by letting them experience working with everyone in the class.
Even though I really like this way of working in groups I still do not believe that group work replaces other teaching methods. There is a time and a place for students to help each other learn. There are topics that can be researched and done completely with students helping each other, but there are also topics where this just can’t happen and students need more guidance. As the teacher it is always our responsibility to provide the best combination of all the learning theories to maximize our students’ potential.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Constructionist Theory

2009-09-30T18:21:00.001-05:00

I believe the constructionist theory is the most beneficial to students when used in the correct way. However, I also believe the use of the constructionist theory is not always a viable option in the classroom. In my high school each period is only 48 minutes long. This does not always allow for hands on activities that have the students produce an outcome. When it is possible I do like to give my students the opportunity to participate in different constructionist theory activities because as Dr. Orey talks about it is the best way to have students make the connections discussed in the cognitive theory. The use of the constructionist theory makes the cognitive connections necessary to file and recall information. The best thing about the constructionist theory is that it allows students to go beyond just recalling information to them really understanding what is going on and making the topic personal (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009).

One of the ideas from the reading that I liked was the use of an excel type program to collect and analyze data (Pitler, 2007). I have done this on a small scale with trying to get students to understand correlations. I have them collect data on two different topics such as height and shoe size. We use excel to enter the data and make a graph. Then we use the graph to test the correlation and make a line of best fit. This works well for students because they are able to make a hypothesis about the data, and then they can use the program to test the hypothesis and to see if they were correct or not. If the students are not correct they can see what does happen and make that correction in their thinking. Again, I like this method but it takes at least two days to accomplish and I do not have the time in class to use this method for every concept.

What I would like to do after what I have learned this week is try and come up with one project per quarter or unit that I can use the constructionist theory with. If I find the overall topic for that unit or quarter I can make a project that uses many concepts within the unit. This will not only give the students something concrete to produce, but show them that the concepts they are learning in each section of the unit are related to each other. This will not only give them a better understanding of the main concept, but it will also allow them to see that when the concepts are put together they become a very powerful mathematical tool. Making all of those connections will allow students to become better all around problem solvers and learners. Even though I do not think I can use the constructionist theory on an everyday basis, I do feel it is the most powerful theory we as teachers have to help students fully understand a concept.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author. Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Cognitive Theory

2009-09-23T18:27:00.000-05:00

I found that this week’s readings and DVD about the cognitive theory really helped me see why I do what I do in the classroom. What I mean by this is that I have found the best way to help a student is by continually giving him or her cues and questions. I even find myself trying to teach the students how to question themselves so that they can continually succeed in class. I always tell them that it is ok to talk to themselves, but that they should never lose an argument with themselves because they should always win. I find that I get a laugh out of the students, but it helps them remember and buy into the fact that questioning themselves may just help.

Until reading chapter four “Cues, Questions, and Advance Organizers” out of Using Technologywith Classroom Instruction that Works by Howard Pitler, and combining that with Dr. Orey’s comments in the DVD program I never realized that what I was doing was encouraging the cognitive theory. One statement that stood out to me by Dr. Orey was, “Students do not forget content, they just do not know how to find where they put it” (Laureate Education, Inc, 2009). Then, the book states, “Questions perform the same function as cues by triggering students’ memories and helping them to access prior knowledge” and all I could think about was that the students do actually learn the material but have no idea how to recall what they need when they need it (Pitler, 73, 2007). I always thought that by having students question themselves I was helping them learn a process in which to do the math. However, after the readings I am realizing that they know the process in which to do the math, but I am giving them a process to find what they are looking for. I cannot count the number of times that students ask if they are doing something correctly or do not know where to start, but after one simple question they are off and running. The cognitive theory supports that they are just given the necessary cue to find where they filed the needed information.

I also think that the use of some kind of organizational tool like a concept map can also be beneficial to students in a math class. Too often students think that each new section is something completely different when in reality it is just an extension of what they already know. By using the concept mapping tools on the computer students can relate what they already know to a general subject, and then create branches for new information onto the same map. By doing this they will visually see the connections between all the different math concepts they learn. I think it would be more beneficial on the computer because they can make it as big as they want and it would be very easy to move around, add, or delete items in any way. This would heighten their ability to make connections in their minds which is exactly what the cognitive theory states is needed to recall the information easily.

Overall, I could not believe that I did so much based on the cognitive theory. I was not sure of how everything fit together, but the more I read and explored the more I found that there are many methods that fit this theory. I will definitely be looking to add to what I already do in the classroom to ensure that students can make better connections in their minds to the content being taught.References: Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author. Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Behaviorism Theory

2009-09-20T16:23:00.003-05:00

Even though behaviorism is a "bad" word in the education world I believe that it is something we use all of the time. After reading the sections "Reinforcing Effort" and "Homework and Practice" in the book Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works by Mr. Pitler I have found that many of the best strategies we use in the classroom are from the behaviorist theory. I know that the students and education are constantly changing, but there is a reason some of the methods we use today have been used for so many years. Certain practices in education would have faded many years ago if they did not work, and I found ideas in the reading that I use and fit the behaviorist model. One of the ideas that I really liked from the "Reinforcing Effort" section was the thought of having students make a spreadsheet of not only their scores, but also the effort they have put in during that week of work (Pitler, 2007). I believe this holds students accountable for not only their grades, but also for how what they do to help them succeed. To me this definitely has some aspects from the behaviorist model. This is a conditioning method that allows for intrinsic positive reinforcement. Students get to use technology, and then get the reward of seeing how hard they worked and how well they did on the test. It also provides for negative punishment when the student notices that when they do not work hard their grade is not what they want it to be. Again, the best part of this is that the reinforcement is intrinsic instead of extrinsic which gives much more meaning to the students.

The other section "Homework and Practice" is full of the behaviorist theory. I truly believe that practice is what makes perfect in a math class. Even for those students who are very good at math they cannot get the best grades without practice. As the book states, "Having students practice a skill or concept enhances their ability to reach the expected level of proficiency" (Pitler, 188, 2007). So, to reach the level we need students to reach because of no child left behind, they need to put in the effort to practice the skills. I tell my students all of the time that it is very hard to learn through osmosis, but that they need to actually do something to get the information to stick in their head. So, with the idea that students need repetition to fully grasp a concept practice and homework is part of the behaviorist theory. As Dr. Orey talked about in his DVD program the behaviorist theory allows for the idea that students need repetition and structure to learn something. So, by working with a concept and then having students practice it, they are building a structure of learning within themselves. They get to build on the knowledge they have by practicing the skill and gaining the confidence that they can complete that skill whenever they are asked to.

Overall, a teacher cannot completely use the behaviorist method in a classroom because students do need variety and hands-on activities to completely grasp a concept. However, by providing those opportunities in class, and then giving the students a chance to build on that knowledge through practice, homework, and effort they have the best chance at reaching their full potential.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Reflective Post

2009-06-28T15:31:00.001-05:00

This class has really changed my view on how I teach and what to do with the technology that is out there to help my students succeed. Through the experience of developing a blog page, a wiki page, and even a pod cast I have seen the benefits that are available to teachers and students to help advance the way content is presented. As Dr. Thornburg talked about in the video, I have found that technology can aid me in becoming more of a facilitator instead of just an instructor. With this I am able to proceed with more project based learning for my students ((Laureate Education, Inc., 2008).

Learning how to use the different aspects of technology and seeing the skills that students need to succeed in the “real world” has inspired me to change some of what I do in the classroom. Since I now know how to design and use both a blog and wiki one of my goals for the future will be to use these two 2.0 technologies to teach math. I will be using both of them in a way that will allow students to figure out problems of the week on their own. Students will be able to use each other and any other resources to produce and answer to the problem that they will post to the class blog. The wiki will be the place where they can talk about anything that is going on in the math class and help each other out. By doing this I am hoping to increase their 21st century skills through their ability to become independent thinkers. I will have to make sure that I have access to computers at some point during the week and also make sure that students are responsible enough to find time to use the computers at school if they do not have the internet at home.

Another goal for my classroom, my teaching, and my students is to be able to enhance their learning though the use of the smart board and smart technology that I have in my room. I have realized throughout this course that there is a big difference between just using technology to do the same thing differently and actually teaching differently. At the beginning I was just using the smart board as a whiteboard and not actually using it to enhance the lessons. What I am trying to do now in summer school, and hopefully over the next couple of years is to use the smart technology to enhance the learning experience for the students by letting them use all of the tools available to completely understand the content we are learning. I know my administrators like to see student centered learning, but I have had comments made before about letting the students do too much. This type of teaching and learning will be an adjustment for everyone from the students to the administration but it is necessary to create the best learning environment for these students.

The last thing I have learned and will continue to learn about is the way this generation of students learns. I have realized that students no longer think about learning in the way that I did as a student. Even though I grew up around technology I do not see myself as a digital native in the same sense as these students (Prensky, 2001). They need something that will entertain their minds and keep them interested in what is going on. If all I do is stand in the front of the room and teach I will lose their interest quickly. If I challenge them to find the information needed to complete a task they will stay involved and really help them learn the material. I will be working very hard to try and give up some of the power in the classroom and let students use all of the technology available to us to create their own learning environment. Hopefully this will keep students interested and give them the skills necessary to succeed outside of the classroom.

References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2008). Understanding the impact of technology on education, work and society. Baltimore: Author.
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5).

21st Centry Skills Review

2009-05-30T11:09:00.000-05:00

After looking over the 21st Century Skills website (http://www.21stcenturyskills.org) I came to realize that there is finally someone on the side of educators. I feel that educators are always being battled against by government, society, and programs that just want what is best for them. All we here about lately is standards and No Child Left Behind, and because of this educators are pushing through curriculum to meet the standards set forth by the government. I am not saying that standards are not important, but that we should be able to meet those standards in the best possible way for our students without facing the thought of our schools being restructured or in the worst case shut down. I believe that the 21st Century Skills program is something that is looking out for everyone involved. They are coming up with standards and processes that will benefit the teacher in the classroom, the learning of the students, and then the companies that will hire these students in the future. The mission statement states it is time that we bring what is expected in the business world together with what is done in the classroom.

I was very surprised by how much work has been done on this project, and that before this course I had known nothing about it. It seems that few states are grasping onto this project, and they are instead still focusing on NCLB. I feel as though this project could be a huge breakthrough in education. It will show teachers how to connect their students to the business world. I know that some teachers come from the business world into teaching, but for a teacher like me who has never experienced the business world past working at a department store these strategies and concepts are something I have never had to deal with. So, by exposing me and other teachers like me to the idea of what is needed in the world today and how to start to accomplish this in the classroom we are only benefiting the students that we teach. I was also surprised by the MILE guide they have, “The Partnership for 21st Century Skills developed the Milestones for Improving Learning and Education (MILE) Guide for 21st Century Skills to assist educators and administrators in measuring the progress of their schools in defining, teaching and assessing 21st Century Skills” (21st Century Skills). What I liked so much about this was that not only does it have ideas for teachers and administrators, but that it has a category for parents as well. This program seems to realize that it is an effort between all parties involved (teachers, administrators, students, parents, companies, and government) to be able to teach our students to become thinkers, communicators, and self learners as Dr. Thornburg talks about in the videos from this week (Laureate Education, Inc., 2008).

One thing that I disagreed with on the website was that everything on the website was positive. I could not seem to find anything that showed the downfalls of this project. When I read an article or look at a program I not only want to see how great it is, but I also want to see that they realize there is more work to be done and what needs to be improved upon. I know that the company is out to promote itself though this website, but at some point I would have liked to see what they have tried in the past and failed on to show that the program is improving. I would have also liked to see articles from writers that do not like the program and see the website combat those arguments. I feel like there are still a lot of questions about the program, and readers of the website cannot really get answers from what is presented. If the program were to show what people have said about them and then responded in a positive way to show the answers I believe this would have been helpful in really assessing the program. Anyone can make a program look great if there is only positive aspects to talk about, but it is the great programs that can make a positive out of a negative.

Last, I believe that one of the articles present on the website shows exactly what the implications for our students and teachers are in this “new” 21st Century Skills program. The article was ROCKEFELLER CALLS FOR COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION REFORM TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH JOB SKILLS (http://rockefeller.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=312976). This article talks about an incentive program for schools that allow for classes beyond the core curriculum. I think what could eventually occur in the United States is a school system that allows more flexibility for students. Right now every student goes to high school, and that high school prepares them for college. Not all students go to college and our current system does not really account for that. There are many bright young students who just do not like school and will not try to do well in their studies. These students aspire to go onto construction or other trades that do not require all of the stuff they learn in school. Many jobs need hands on experience to become great at them. I believe that there is still a place for core curriculum like in the article, but that we do need to offer more to students than just that. After the first two years of core classes schools could either branch out or offer classes that specialize in a trade if the student knows what they want to do. We can still have the college bound curriculum, but there should be some sort of incentive for schools to provide opportunities for students who already know they do not want to choose this path. I know that some high schools already offer classes in education, construction, and even nursing through local community colleges, but until all schools offer a variety of topics for students to look into we will still run into the problem of students not wanting to be in school. By offering alternative courses we are reaching out to the interest of students and helping them learn and think in a way that benefits them and the community they will work in.

Please feel free to comment, argue, or even boost my ego if you choose too. I am always looking for a good discussion even if it means a disagreement.

How to use Blogs in the classroom

2009-05-15T16:09:00.002-05:00

I think that blogs would be a wonderful tool in a classroom setting. I believe the most beneficial use would simply be for contact outside of the classroom. Having a blog set up for students to post to can act as another form of communication between students themselves, or a way for the students to reach the teacher. This could be used to talk about assignments, ask for help, or even post an idea for class. Teachers can also post a question and have students respond at some point during the week as a participation grade. This would get all students involved in the classroom and may even bring out the ideas of those that are shy or quiet in class. As a high school math teacher I could easily use a blog as a way to post the question of the week and have students discuss, share, and talk about ways to solve the problems. They can even post their answers and compare them to other students. This will allow for students to check their work with their peers, and may even foster discussion on different ways to complete the problem. Overall the blog could be a great tool for students to share their thoughts on mathematical topics.