Class #9

For this week's technology assignment, everyone has received a Web 2.0 tool to research:

Sondra - Make Beliefs Comix
Amanda S. - XtraNormal
Courtney - Geogebra
Erika - Storybird or StoryJumper
Ashlie - Voki
Erin - Voicethread
Kelly - Quizlet
Amanda M. - Classtools.net
Stacy - Wallwisher

Each person should prepare a presentation (no more than 15 minutes long) that explains what your Web 2.0 tool is and how it can be used in the classroom (in particular, a math classroom, but you can also include general classroom use as well).  I would also prefer that you include other websites that may be similar to the one you were assigned, but this is optional.  You do not have to use PowerPoint for this presentation.  You can, but also feel free to try other new presentation tools.  There are several really neat ones available (and I would be really impressed if you use one!!).  Here are some you may want to try...

Prezi



Glogster



I also said I would post additional links where you can find information about your Web 2.0 tool, in particular, how it can be used in the classroom.  I will be adding to these to our Google Sites page over the next two weeks, so you may want to check back periodically.

Class Google Site Page

I also received most of your unit topics. If I did not receive yours, please email me and let me know what you would like to do.

Sondra - 4th grade Geometry
Erika - 3rd grade Geometry
Amanda S. - 3rd grade Measurement
Courtney - 8th grade Linear Systems
Erin - 3rd grade Fractions
Kelly - 5th grade Transformations
Amanda M. - 8th grade Pythagorean Theorem

For our next class, you need to have completed items 1, 4, and 5 from Task G - Designing the Instructional Unit and all of Task I - Unit Organizer.

Class #8

Tonight's class opened with coordinate plane graphing. Depending on how you connect this topic, you could either include it with data analysis or geometry. Most people see it as data analysis (just another type of graph). However, according to the core content, it is part of the geometry strand...coordinate geometry. We discussed creating a human coordinate plane grid using painter's tape as well as using a manipulative called the X-Y Coordinate Plane Board.

Next we looked at how similar the core content is for the different grade levels with regards to statistics and probability. Consequently, it is important to look carefully at the core content for the grade level below and the grade level above to see exactly what you should emphasize for your grade level.
There were no additional technology assignments for this week, which means it is a great time to get caught up on your book reviews and website evaluations!

Class #7

I was really impressed by all the surveys that were created using Google Forms!! Certainly a variety of topics from just plain fun to very thought-provoking! This week, you are to complete each of the surveys that were posted and submit your answers. Please have this completed by midnight on Saturday 3/20/2010. The survey creator then needs to print the spreadsheet results and bring them to class Monday night.

I have also updated the list of websites to evaluate, so it now includes the ones for Data Analysis and Probability. I have also added children's books on these topics to the collection in the CRC.

Next week we will begin taking a closer look at developing a unit, so please begin thinking about the topic and grade level you would like to focus your unit on. Each person must have a different topic and/or grade level.

Tonight we will look at approaches to teaching Data Analysis.

Class #6

Doesn't Google have SOOOO much more stuff than just a search engine?? Tonight we looked at another feature - Google Documents and Google Forms.



Although Google Documents can be VERY useful in the classroom, we will be focusing on Google Forms. Click here to see an example of how one teacher uses Google Forms to create assessment problems for her students.  This week you need to create your own survey using Google Forms and link to it on your blog. This blog posting contains ten great ways you can use Google Forms in the classroom (and I am sure there are many, many more!)



Hopefully everyone's observation and tutoring arrangements have been finalized. Please collect the following information from the teacher you observe:

- Ask for a copy of their favorite lesson or activity.

- Ask about their homework policy. For example, how is it graded? What percentage does it count? How often is it assigned? How does the teacher go over the answers with the students? How do the students demonstrate an understanding of the problems that they missed?

Tonight's core content strand is algebraic thinking. We will focus on using algebra tiles for lots of algebraic topics.

Class #5

Geometry was the theme for tonight's class. We sang, watched videos, and even did a little aerobics (all geometry-related, of course!). We also looked at several manipulatives such as anglegs (to build different polygons), angle rulers (instead of protractors), color tiles (for area and perimeter), and polygon tiles (for sorting & classifying polygons). Here are some key points to remember from tonight's class:

** Make connections - whether they are real-world or just something that will interest the students.

** Don't just tell the students - Let them discover it!

** Have students make predictions or estimate first.

** Tie in previously covered content to review.

I have placed several children's books in the Curriculum Resource Center. Right now the only topics are number computation and geometry, but I will be adding more each week. Please choose at least 10 number computation books and at least 5 geometry books to read and summarize. You need to include the following information:

** Title
** Author
** Core Content
** Summary

Also, please continue evaluating the websites that I have uploaded to our class's google site. I have added additional number computation topics as well geometry ones. I know many of you are saving and/or printing the PDF files, but I would also suggest adding them to your delicious or diigo account. This will allow you to tag them with multiple topics.

Finally, please complete the midcourse survey. It will help me make changes to the class, if necessary. Thanks!

Class #4

I have been following each of your blogs and they are looking great! I am impressed. One suggestion - Please don't wait to the last minute to do your postings. The more detailed your information, the more you will have to refer back to in years to come. You don't want to begin to plan a lesson and become frustrated because you can't remember "that fraction activity."

I hope you were able to begin bookmarking your websites in delicious or diigo. This will be a wonderful database for your personal resources as well as a way to access the resources of others. The tag system will make it very easy for you to pull websites on a particular topic. Here is an article that compares & contrasts the two sites. Choose whichever one best suits your needs.

Here are some videos regarding Delicious.







Here are some videos regarding Diigo.





Those of you who have been able to complete your screencast -- WOW!!! Impressive!! Remember all the ways we listed that this will be useful for...substitute teachers, absent students, homework problems...just to name a few. A couple of you have had trouble with using jing. I have found the easiest way to include a jing screencast in your blog is by linking to it rather than embedding it.

Here are a couple of good jing tutorials.

Teacher Training Video - Jing





Here are some other screencast programs that you could use rather than jing. I have not tested any of these, but they have received good reviews in the blogs that I follow.

ScreenToaster

Click here for a video tutorial of screentoaster.

Screencast-O-Matic

Screenr

Screenjelly

Click here for a video tutorial of screenjelly.

Class #3

Tonight the fun begins! We will be rotating through centers and looking at different ways to explore topics in number computation. I will also present a radically different approach to teaching multiplication. You will also begin evaluating number computation websites that are uploaded to the google site page for this class.  As always, don't forget to reflect on this week's class and post your reflections on your blog.

Click here to access the template to evaluate websites.