Mathematics with Technology is a professional development podcast that will inspire teachers to embrace a different mind set towards technology as a resource. Judy Chandler, a math mentor and trainer expresses how some teachers have the attitude that technology will not help or they don’t have the time to integrate it their curriculum. She stresses the importance of technology as a teaching tool. Technology integrated with mathematics will engage the students with a manipulative experience, have immediate feedback and give them a visual representation with a visual experience. In other words, technology will help the students connect with the future.
As a teacher, we must help our students to think mathematically. The way things are now students have sequential lessons and too many are disengaged and frustrated. Judy Chandler explained that the piece that is missing is “Thinking Mathematically”. Today we do this by asking questions, but with technology it will give students hands on experiences and an alternative demonstration for learning. Technology that is integrated properly will help student explore, prove models, apply and reflect, and challenge all students to think hard. Technology will give students critical thinking experiences to prepare them for the future.
If I was a math teacher, I would definitely use technology as a resource. As I stated earlier, children have different ways of learning. Some children are visual, kinetic, and auditory learners; integrating with technology will help them reach their fullest potentials. In an earlier post, I stated that if we are going to help prepare our children to compete globally there must be some changes in how we approach technology as a resource. A teacher can hinder a student’s progress or help. I would like to share something about myself. I was not aware of the different resources that you could use as tools with technology; if I am going to help prepare children for this promising future, I need to be exposed to the latest trend in education. I am glad that I have taken this course because I see how it could help shape children for academic progress. Even though math is not my specialty, I have access to help others enhance their classrooms are use it as I tutor children who are struggling.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets
In this video podcast, Carol Dweck explains the difference in the mindset of two different set of students. The title of the podcast was “Growth vs. Fixed Mindset”. Students with the fixed mindset think that their intelligence is based on a fix trade and they are concern with how they have before they start a task. Every activity they do is based on how much of their intelligence will be shown. Students with growth fixed mindsets believes that intelligence is something you can develop through education and a passion for studying. There was a statement printed on the video podcast that says in New York, fix mindset students nose dive and growth mindset students soar.
Professor Carol Dweck explains to us that they conducted a study for eight weeks. In this study they divide the students into two groups. Some students had study skills and the other had study skills with growth mindset lesson practices. The students with just the study skills had no motivation but they had good study skills. Also, their grades went down. The study proved that students with growth fixed mindsets do extremely well. Those students were taught that the brain is a muscle and it gets stronger with you and these students had a significant improvement in their grades. Even in the business world, people with growth fixed minds make mistakes, but it’s how they view that mistake that make them so successful.
This will help me as I continue on my educational journey in a lot of ways. First, I learned that to be a mentor I must admit my mistakes and learn from them. How can anyone motivate a person to excel if they never admit their own failures. Secondly, I feel that I have something to help me identify how childern mindsets may be. Once I identify this, perhaps I will be able to mold their thinkng towards a growth mindset. One of the things that Randy Pausch left with us was becoming a teacher or professor is a great position to have to help other reach their goals. So, this information will difintely be a valuable tool for me now and in the future.
Professor Carol Dweck explains to us that they conducted a study for eight weeks. In this study they divide the students into two groups. Some students had study skills and the other had study skills with growth mindset lesson practices. The students with just the study skills had no motivation but they had good study skills. Also, their grades went down. The study proved that students with growth fixed mindsets do extremely well. Those students were taught that the brain is a muscle and it gets stronger with you and these students had a significant improvement in their grades. Even in the business world, people with growth fixed minds make mistakes, but it’s how they view that mistake that make them so successful.
This will help me as I continue on my educational journey in a lot of ways. First, I learned that to be a mentor I must admit my mistakes and learn from them. How can anyone motivate a person to excel if they never admit their own failures. Secondly, I feel that I have something to help me identify how childern mindsets may be. Once I identify this, perhaps I will be able to mold their thinkng towards a growth mindset. One of the things that Randy Pausch left with us was becoming a teacher or professor is a great position to have to help other reach their goals. So, this information will difintely be a valuable tool for me now and in the future.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Week 10: Video Podcasts
As I explore the different podcasts, I see more and more that podcasts are a really good tool to use for teachers, students, principals, and counselors. I reviewed several podcasts and there were two that I chose. They were Mathtrain TV and Electronic field trip Webisodes. These podcasts are a great resource for teachers to enhance the subject that is being taught. In the Mobile County Public School System, on the elementary level we have to set up educational centers in the classrooms for the students. The centers are design to increase classroom participation and to raise the students’ awareness on any topic. As an educator, I think that these two podcasts will greatly improve the students’ academics.
Mathtrain Episode 39 is a wonderful video podcast for sixth graders who are struggling with math. This podcast is done by students who have mastered the skills that are taught; sometimes students learn well from each other. In this podcast, the viewer can actually see how the problems are being solved step by step. It is great for visual learners and for parents who cannot afford to pay for tutoring. Almost, every household has a computer or have access to one.
The way the economy is going the educational budget has been cut tremendously; therefore, money for field trips has been cut. The video podcast Electronic field trip Webisodes will be a wonderful tool for teachers to use to further enlighten students on social studies topics. I presently work as an Instructional Paraprofessional and at the beginning of the school year I had to help assist the fifth grade teachers in their classrooms. Sometimes, I helped with reading and social studies. If I would have known then about this podcasts I know it would have helped those students in a powerful way. This video podcast will allow the students to go places they have never gone. For instance, it has a field trip topic on The settlers in the new frontier. The students can actually see how things were then and how things came about and they will be able to process the information through visual learning. In the future, through podcasts and other technology resources I will be able to help students develop academically.
Mathtrain Episode 39 is a wonderful video podcast for sixth graders who are struggling with math. This podcast is done by students who have mastered the skills that are taught; sometimes students learn well from each other. In this podcast, the viewer can actually see how the problems are being solved step by step. It is great for visual learners and for parents who cannot afford to pay for tutoring. Almost, every household has a computer or have access to one.
The way the economy is going the educational budget has been cut tremendously; therefore, money for field trips has been cut. The video podcast Electronic field trip Webisodes will be a wonderful tool for teachers to use to further enlighten students on social studies topics. I presently work as an Instructional Paraprofessional and at the beginning of the school year I had to help assist the fifth grade teachers in their classrooms. Sometimes, I helped with reading and social studies. If I would have known then about this podcasts I know it would have helped those students in a powerful way. This video podcast will allow the students to go places they have never gone. For instance, it has a field trip topic on The settlers in the new frontier. The students can actually see how things were then and how things came about and they will be able to process the information through visual learning. In the future, through podcasts and other technology resources I will be able to help students develop academically.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Week 8: Podcast done by Students
I listened to two podcasts from last semester’s EDM 310 classes. I must say this, they all had courage. I have the opportunity of hearing how it should be done from listening to professional podcasters and guidelines from the instructor. The students from last year were the test subjects; there were a couple of things that I would improve and implement them into my podcast to make it better. I listened to You Tube-For Education? and Possibilities for using Facebook in an Educational Setting. The information was good but the presentation of the information is what I will focus on.
In both podcasts, there were too many ah’s and um’s. When I took a speech class, it was stated that too many ah’s will ruin a great topic. I will try to keep that in mind I present my topic on March 10, 2009. Also, some of the panelists were not enthusiastic about presenting the topic. Every presenter must remember to speak with enthusiasm to keep the attention of the listeners. If the presenters are not excited about the topic the audience will not be excited either. So, on Tuesday, I will speak with enthusiasm so that the listening audience would desire more information. Last but not least, I will cite the links to the resources of the covered material. One of the podcast I listened to forgot to do that. So, with all this in mind, on next year someone will be critiquing mine for improvement.
In both podcasts, there were too many ah’s and um’s. When I took a speech class, it was stated that too many ah’s will ruin a great topic. I will try to keep that in mind I present my topic on March 10, 2009. Also, some of the panelists were not enthusiastic about presenting the topic. Every presenter must remember to speak with enthusiasm to keep the attention of the listeners. If the presenters are not excited about the topic the audience will not be excited either. So, on Tuesday, I will speak with enthusiasm so that the listening audience would desire more information. Last but not least, I will cite the links to the resources of the covered material. One of the podcast I listened to forgot to do that. So, with all this in mind, on next year someone will be critiquing mine for improvement.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Podcasts
There is a lot of talk going on about podcasting; I just found out the meaning of the word podcasting. I have nieces and nephews who were talking about the different technology gadgets available for a Christmas present. The newest were the iPods and MP3 players. But now, I know that it is just another way of reaching the world through learning at society’s connivances. After viewing the different podcasts shows has enlighten me even more as to how all of this could fit into education. Earlier in one of my blogs I mentioned that technology will definitely help us get our students prepared for global marketing in education. I listen to all of the podcast shows given in the courses syllabus and these are my findings.
First of all, all of the podcast shows did an introduction with music. For some of the podcasts, there were several people hosting but you always had a main host that would introduce the panels. I noticed that the conversations flowed very smoothly. In other words, you must know your material that is being discussed. When we do ours, we will not have music, but we can have a main host to introduce the panel. Connect Learning and Kid Cast both of these had one host but the approach was like an interview. I listen to several Kid Cast shows and one in particular was the students themselves did the podcast on a particular topic. I would like to try that with some fifth graders where I presently work. I think that it will be good exposure and another way to make learning fun.
Secondly, Mac Break Weekly and TWIP hosts integrated some casual talk in between their topics of discussions. That is something I definitely would like to use in a podcast in the future. You must have excitement in your voice to sale the show. I do have some favorites. Connect Learning with David Warlick as the host and Education Technology Talk were the two that held my attention. Episode 91 Connect Learning was very informative. It was a podcast workshop with Library Media Specialist. The topic was about using podcast in the library with the students. The thing about technology is this it will not become alive unless teachers, administrators push hard to make it happen. I presently work around educators who are just stuck back in time. My goal and desire is to use whatever I can to help my students get to the next level.
Education Technology Talk is a good podcast that I would consider prescribing to because of the professional development topics that are being discussed. I listen to episode 19 about the responsibility of educators to be professional online as well as in the classroom. As an educator you can not loose your professionalism even though you have clock out for the day. We may not be in the classroom but our image is still important. There are certain things that we should not put in a blog if it is for educational purposes. This episode discussed online etiquettes for educators. I am glad that I have been exposed to podcasting. I must say I am having a wonderful time in the class. When I took this class I knew nothing about blogs, podcasting, Access labs and Alex and all of this I will use one way or another in my career.
First of all, all of the podcast shows did an introduction with music. For some of the podcasts, there were several people hosting but you always had a main host that would introduce the panels. I noticed that the conversations flowed very smoothly. In other words, you must know your material that is being discussed. When we do ours, we will not have music, but we can have a main host to introduce the panel. Connect Learning and Kid Cast both of these had one host but the approach was like an interview. I listen to several Kid Cast shows and one in particular was the students themselves did the podcast on a particular topic. I would like to try that with some fifth graders where I presently work. I think that it will be good exposure and another way to make learning fun.
Secondly, Mac Break Weekly and TWIP hosts integrated some casual talk in between their topics of discussions. That is something I definitely would like to use in a podcast in the future. You must have excitement in your voice to sale the show. I do have some favorites. Connect Learning with David Warlick as the host and Education Technology Talk were the two that held my attention. Episode 91 Connect Learning was very informative. It was a podcast workshop with Library Media Specialist. The topic was about using podcast in the library with the students. The thing about technology is this it will not become alive unless teachers, administrators push hard to make it happen. I presently work around educators who are just stuck back in time. My goal and desire is to use whatever I can to help my students get to the next level.
Education Technology Talk is a good podcast that I would consider prescribing to because of the professional development topics that are being discussed. I listen to episode 19 about the responsibility of educators to be professional online as well as in the classroom. As an educator you can not loose your professionalism even though you have clock out for the day. We may not be in the classroom but our image is still important. There are certain things that we should not put in a blog if it is for educational purposes. This episode discussed online etiquettes for educators. I am glad that I have been exposed to podcasting. I must say I am having a wonderful time in the class. When I took this class I knew nothing about blogs, podcasting, Access labs and Alex and all of this I will use one way or another in my career.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Randy Pausch's Last Lecture
There were a lot of gold nuggets given in Randy’s lecture. Before this assignment, I knew nothing about Randy Pausch and never have heard any lectures he has given. From the introduction of the video, he set the tone of this lecture. Randy viewed his battle with cancer as another opportunity to enjoy life and the people around you. He was a professor at CMU. This video presentation of Randy’s Pausch Last Lecture will motivate you to continue your dreams and enable others to do the same. He uses his own life experience to help awaken your dreams.
I liked how he shared his own childhood dreams. He named several in the lecture and with each one there were lessons of courage, tenacity, and hard work. One thing I would like to mention, not all his childhood dreams was achieved but there were lessons gained from trying to obtain the dream. For instance, he never made it to NFL but he learned the value of hard work and the power of enthusiasm from Coach Graham. There were several quotes and sayings he uses after each dream was accomplished or attempted to accomplish. I will name two. First one, experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you want and secondly, brick walls are there to let us know how bad we want something. These are quotes that I will definitely share with young adults as well as my students at Whitley.
His second focus point was enabling others childhood dreams. The way he did that was through careful advice he became a professor. Professors and teachers have an awesome task before them. They can either break or inspire dreams in their students. Professor Pausch had his first assignment when he had a student come to him with his childhood dream. Tony wanted to work with Star Wars; this was in 1993 and Randy did not think that that would be possible, but it came to pass. I gathered from this experience is sometimes as a teacher you may not think a dream is possible but if the student has a deep passion for that dream help them get there.
Another focus point is learning how to work together in a group. Randy created a course Build Virtual World. In this course several other departments was bridged together to accomplish a whole part. This was a big success on the campus. Students learned the value of networking and as a teacher he learned how to encourage them and inspire them to excel higher than where they were. Everybody needs someone to help them reach their dreams. Parents, mentors, bosses, and students all play a major role in helping a person obtained their dreams. Success also depends on the character we portray such as loyalty, forgiving, truthfulness, grateful, cherishing and listening to feedback. I work around children every day and all they want is for someone to believe in them. From this point forward, like a mighty warrior, I will carefully point those arrows in the right directions.
I liked how he shared his own childhood dreams. He named several in the lecture and with each one there were lessons of courage, tenacity, and hard work. One thing I would like to mention, not all his childhood dreams was achieved but there were lessons gained from trying to obtain the dream. For instance, he never made it to NFL but he learned the value of hard work and the power of enthusiasm from Coach Graham. There were several quotes and sayings he uses after each dream was accomplished or attempted to accomplish. I will name two. First one, experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you want and secondly, brick walls are there to let us know how bad we want something. These are quotes that I will definitely share with young adults as well as my students at Whitley.
His second focus point was enabling others childhood dreams. The way he did that was through careful advice he became a professor. Professors and teachers have an awesome task before them. They can either break or inspire dreams in their students. Professor Pausch had his first assignment when he had a student come to him with his childhood dream. Tony wanted to work with Star Wars; this was in 1993 and Randy did not think that that would be possible, but it came to pass. I gathered from this experience is sometimes as a teacher you may not think a dream is possible but if the student has a deep passion for that dream help them get there.
Another focus point is learning how to work together in a group. Randy created a course Build Virtual World. In this course several other departments was bridged together to accomplish a whole part. This was a big success on the campus. Students learned the value of networking and as a teacher he learned how to encourage them and inspire them to excel higher than where they were. Everybody needs someone to help them reach their dreams. Parents, mentors, bosses, and students all play a major role in helping a person obtained their dreams. Success also depends on the character we portray such as loyalty, forgiving, truthfulness, grateful, cherishing and listening to feedback. I work around children every day and all they want is for someone to believe in them. From this point forward, like a mighty warrior, I will carefully point those arrows in the right directions.
Monday, February 16, 2009
International School Teacher's Blog
The School I found was Lorne Skuce Public School in Oakville, Ontario. The teachers basically use their blogs the way teachers in the United Sates use theirs. It advertise to the public; if you are relocating into that area, you can use the blog to find out about the mission, goals of the school. They use their blog for the parents. You can check homework schedules and check out up-coming events. It was not anything so outstanding that appeal to me. You can check out Lorne Skuce Public School at http://lor.hdsb.ca/index.html
This is the second blog I found of Calwell Primary School in Australia. There is nothing so interesting about this blog. The teachers and school use the blog just like all the others. One particular thing I notice was, there were not pictures or videos. But, they had information concerning programs, the school mission and goals and parent information. The parents could access information from their children's class with a password. I do not think this blog would help me in my area of interest. To visit Calwell Pimary School go to http://www.calwellps.act.edu.au/contact_us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
