FV_Why am I being held responsible?

W4_Reading

In an article by John Bellamy and John Mativo, the main idea that will help in my journey was that technology is not just media technology.  As teachers in the 21st century we need to bring, specifically in mathematics education, the real-world to our students.  Make the math concepts and theorems and steps for solving problems come to life.  And do this in any way that the leaders of the school will allow.  If you cannot get the guest speaker to come to the school, try a video conference.  If you can bring the students outside to learn a concept using technology in construction, do so.  Find a way to reach the students and take mathematics back to where it all began, understanding the world around us.

PE6_Google Docs Drawing 3

On my last time playing with Google Docs Drawings, I went through and changed backgrounds.  I also checked out the automatic shapes feature which was very helpful in making the look for pac-man.  Overall, this feature has the benefit of being a google doc mixed with the low level content of other drawing programs.  This does make it very, once again, user-friendly.  This is great for people just starting out with technology, or people who do not care for more complicated features.  This was used for one of our themed nights out.  The students were to dress in their 80's clothes and makeup.  It was a blast from the past.

PE5_Google Docs Drawing 2

This time I played around with the word art.  It was a little disappointing due to the word art not have many options.  Extremely basic format with only choice being to change the font.  I also utilized the insert image feature.  I liked how it gave the option to perform a google search for an image.  Very user friendly.  The nice thing is that a fairly good looking poster can be made with very little effort.  I was able to take this and create a homecoming banner for the hallway.  The students were impressed.

PE4_Google Docs Drawing

Since I am not an artist, this program might just be the thing to help me make better drawings for class presentations or flyers for school functions.  For my first attempt I will be making a flyer for our homecoming community gathering.  This program was very user-friendly and easy to navigate through.  It was nice that text boxes were part of the tools provided in this program.  I was able to use several of the different automatic shape features to create the image you see below.  

W3_Reading

Theodore J. Kopcha wrote A systems-based approach to technology integration using mentoring and communities of practice.  In this he focuses on four main steps to integrating technology into curriculum as a whole.  I have already been involved in a failed attempt at technology integration and can see at which point in Kopcha's theory we failed.  It takes time to integrate technology and the teachers need to be a part of the planning.  Just putting technology into place does not ensure that it will be utilized, nor that it will be effective.  Once technology is introduced, the teachers must be trained so that they can successfully integrate it into their curriculum.  Technology is a great tool that needs to be controlled because the minute we allow it to become something other than a tool for education is the minute it loses its value.

BP12_e-tutor.com Graphing Calculator Commercial

PE3_Flash Motion Plus

This one was much more fun to play around with.  I was actually able to change the way the stick figure moved.  I made him march, high step, jump, squat, do jumping jacks, and run.  I was able to see how the movement according to the time frames could make the stick man do different things.  I moved his different joints around and got to see the next natural movement according to the program.  This time I had more success with the learning of the materials.  Here is a picture of the stick man doing my movements.

PE2_Flash Motion

This was definitely not something to try without some guidance.  I spent about an hour trying to figure out how to add extra layers to make the particles move.  Then once I was about to give up and actually watch the tutorial (like I should have at the beginning), I was able to make a few new movements on the dots.  I will make sure to watch the tutorials at lynda.com before the 6th month.  Flash is not something that a person can just pick up and go with.  There is a need for learning the system.

PE1_Flash Beginnings

The first thing I needed to do was figure out how to open a new project.  Flash is not the most user friendly program out there.  It has a steep learning curve, but I am willing to climb that mountain high.  To start off the journey I found a template that I could just play around with to get used to moving around in the different frames.  I was able to replace the content in the simple presentation to create a small three frame presentation with text only.  I will be playing around with the action features next.

BP11_Comment to Hunter

Click here to see my comments about BookRix.com.

BP10_Comment to Tawnya Lee

Click here to see my post about Tawnya's commercial for Kerpoof.

BP9_e-Tutor Graphing Calculator

Since most of my students do not seem to think that buying a $100 calculator is worth it, this tool will at least give my students some basics.  I can have my students practice finding zeros, y-intercepts, intersections between curves, etc.  With this tool the students can input their own functions to manipulate.  The tool allows for multiple functions to be input.  Now when the students do not purchase what they need for my class, they will not loose out on all of the parts of the lessons in which they will need a graphing calculator.  The only down side I can see is that you cannot have it calculate values that you want calculated.  The cursor will move along the curves giving values, but you cannot select desired ones.

W2 Reading

The article that I am posting about this week is titled "The Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in delivering Higher Education - A Case in Bangladesh".  The article had good information about how the infrastructure needs to be in place for the use of technology in education in order for the education to be acceptable.  This means that the educators must be highly trained in the use of the course technology as well as technicians that can fix problems that might occur during the course.  I plan on using this information in my own research by making sure that I have a grasp on the technology that I want my students to use.  That way no variations about the technologies impact on the education will come from poor technology utilization.

BP8_Quizlet Commercial

Please Press Play

BP7_Comment to Tawnya

Click here to see my comment to Tawnya Olen about her Kerpoof Scholastic blog post.

BP6_Comment to Sandy

Click here to see my comments for Sandy Lopez's blog about Freemind.

BP4_Eduslide

Since I need to be prepared for where education is going, this Web 2.0 tool is a great place to start.  The setting up of the class was simple and fairly self explanatory.  The folder system is related to the windows system in which you can give a hierarchy to the folders.  They have a preset of tools that would most commonly be utilized such as Quizzes, Assignments, Media, WIKI, FAQ's, Notecards, etc.  One of the best features for teachers is that they can privatize their classes so only those with the password may get in. In order to make this a viable course system, some security of who is actually taking the course would have to be put into place.  A great way to try this tool out is for when a substitute is needed, set up some assignments for the students where they can first see a tutorial by the teacher and then complete a quiz online.

W1 Reading

BP3_Diigo Group

BP5_Quizlet

This Web2.0 tool is a great one for my students.  As the tour guide mentioned, most people do not know how to study.  This is especially true of my students who for the most part have no one at home wanting to or able to help with their education.  Quizlet already has many subjects covered with libraries of flash cards available to use for studying.  Not only is there the useful flashcards, but they have turned the learning into to educational games as well.  The students can play a race against the clock game and a matching game.  But that's not all, the students can create their own flashcards and share them with friends.  I fully embrace working smarter not harder and try to convince my students not waste time reinventing the wheel.

BP2_iGoogle Screen Shots

BP1_Google Reader

I found all of my blog subscriptions at www.edweek.org/ew/section/feeds/index.html  This site had many great feeds available and here are the ones I chose. 


Education Week: Professional Development
Since I am new to the teaching profession and did not become a teacher through traditional means, I want to make sure that I gather all the available knowledge about teaching I can get my hands on.  This will also be a way for me to keep up with the ever changing culture that is education.


On Special Education
The 450 student school that I teach at has a high percentage of students that currently have or have had an individualized education plan.  They require attention in ways that I need to be familiar.  On top of that the few students that are at the high end of the spectrum need to also be served.  This blog has information about special education from parents, in legal issues, the advantages/disadvantages, etc.


Education Week Blog: Beyond School
Since I do teach at a high school, the students are seeing that school is not just from 8:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon.  Also, with everything that the Florida Department of Education has schools in need of improvement doing, they are seeing that they are not getting all of the material the class has to offer.  The only answer to this troubling question is how can we get the education to continue after the release bell rings.


College Bound
I am a senior sponsor this year and have always taught the upper level high school math classes.  I need to stay abreast to what colleges are strong in what subjects, and what types of students are being accepted into which colleges.  I also need to make sure that I am preparing the students for college, so this feed will filter that information right to me.


Education Week: E-Learning
I have several students that are currently taking courses on Florida Virtual School.  I need to know how to help my students.  At the conclusion of this class I would like to create my own E-Learning software, system, lesson plans, etc.  Since the students are practically born with cell phones in their hands and know how to operate gaming systems before they can talk, E-Learning is a true need for educating this generation.