Speaking Math
Janet Graham and Ted Hodgson
This article talks about teachers and their experiences in the classroom teaching math using online discussions. The authors talk about the benefits of real time discussion and collaboration that technology brings to the educational table. The classroom used moodle as the operating tool. Students signed up and assignments were posted and worked out in this little virtual classroom. Students were able to easily talk to each other using their own language to help with understanding. With kids texting nowadays they have their own languages and sometimes communicating online with each other in their own languages, helps the learning process.
Question 1. Is there intelligence lost in the technology age? I started reading the article and the authors mention the use of electronic tools to help with math discussions. That sounds fantastic. But immediately my mind moves on to a note i intercepted between students the other day. I read the letter, it was some sort of adolocent apology for something. What startled me is that one of the students spelled sorry wrong. I could not believe it. How can you spell the word sorry wrong, in an apology letter? I spoke about this with my friends and they mentioned that everyone chats nowadays. Now I am reading this article and on the right, I see emoticons and comments from students right next to them. The comments are grammatically incorrect and one of the students spelling was wrong. There is a convienience to technology that is appreciated, but is there something lost in that convenience? I remember planning things before I met up with friends. A person could not head to the mall and meet someone on the way by giving that person a call or a text on the celly. Is there something lost with this increase in technology? I think there is, but even I have a hard time capitilizing my i's when I write an email or a journal post. I think there is something lost, but way more to gain.
question 2... Is the learning victim of the technology? The authors describe the use od moodle as the program for discussion. These authors also mention that many chat rooms, or systems do not allow mathmatical symbols, so they try to teach math vocab so the students can express knowledge of the lesson. This is strange to me. In an ideal world, the program lets mathmatical symbols be used, but we do not live in an ideal world. We have to make due with what we have. In this case, I feel like they are changing the lesson for the sake of the technology. I have my own personal frustrations with math, which is why I am weary of changing teaching patterns. I do appreciate how involving students in a chat room can help teachers understand the students thought process, but if is only allows a certain capability of symbols and excludes many of the math symbols... how can this be a fair assessment of a students knowledge?
question 3 How is this feasable? The article states that most the students who need this chat room are the ones who do not have access to a computer at home. The authors go on to say that the chats were most effective when the students were in comuter labs during school hours. I thought abou this and I wondered how this is different from class discussions? Couldn't a math teacher form small groups of students who have similiar problems and accomplish the same goals? I think that having a chat room available to help students with their homework, or to understand a concept is a tremendous idea, but this idea of chatting during class in place of a traditional math class misses the mark. I think a chat room is a great resource, maybe a place where a student can ask a question, or look for help after school hours. I do not think students chatting in a moodle chat room where math symbols do not work is the answer to our students math problems.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Journal 3
The Five Don'ts of classroom blogging.
Julie Sturgeon
The basic idea of this article is self explanatory. Mrs. Strugeon does a great job mentioning the not only the con's of classroom blogs, but she also mentions the benefits and the rewards of a well thought out, successful blogging resource. Students must be encouraged to promote proper behavior while using the internet. The classroom rules apply over the world wide web as well.
First question; What happens when a student bends or pushes the line but does not break it? In the first don't Julie tells us not to "dive in" with a class blog. That makes obvious sense. She also tells us to have the students sign a code of conduct agreement before they start blogging. If the student misbehaves that student loses their internet privaleges. As a long term sub, I have many students who try their absolute hardest to bend the rules without breaking them. What they say, what they do. Kids are smart and they find all kinds of ways to test the teacher. I think a class blog would be a great idea, but I still see kids making fun of each other in a language that the teacher does not even understand.
How would having a class blog help me teach effectively?
I was speaking with my madre about the performance of one of my classes on the last test I gave. The students did not do very well and my mother's advice was to try more repetition. Sometimes it is hard finding the time to get as much repetition in, as I would like because there is so much content to cover. I wonder if this blog might give me an extra couple chances to repeat some valuable information to the students? If the students had access to computers and I made it an assignment to check the blog, that could be another way to get the much needed repetition to the students.
Would some students get jealous or angry if they saw the teacher's comments were more favorable to some students?
I was wondering, if the teacher comments on the students who do well in the blog, could that cause some striff between some of the other students? Some students are very cruel to other students and if they see something in print, something that can be viewed several times, they may see that and makefun of another student while at school or something. The intelligence is so widespread among my students, that it would cause widespread comments from me as well. Not sure if this would be an issue, but just something that might come up.
Julie Sturgeon
The basic idea of this article is self explanatory. Mrs. Strugeon does a great job mentioning the not only the con's of classroom blogs, but she also mentions the benefits and the rewards of a well thought out, successful blogging resource. Students must be encouraged to promote proper behavior while using the internet. The classroom rules apply over the world wide web as well.
First question; What happens when a student bends or pushes the line but does not break it? In the first don't Julie tells us not to "dive in" with a class blog. That makes obvious sense. She also tells us to have the students sign a code of conduct agreement before they start blogging. If the student misbehaves that student loses their internet privaleges. As a long term sub, I have many students who try their absolute hardest to bend the rules without breaking them. What they say, what they do. Kids are smart and they find all kinds of ways to test the teacher. I think a class blog would be a great idea, but I still see kids making fun of each other in a language that the teacher does not even understand.
How would having a class blog help me teach effectively?
I was speaking with my madre about the performance of one of my classes on the last test I gave. The students did not do very well and my mother's advice was to try more repetition. Sometimes it is hard finding the time to get as much repetition in, as I would like because there is so much content to cover. I wonder if this blog might give me an extra couple chances to repeat some valuable information to the students? If the students had access to computers and I made it an assignment to check the blog, that could be another way to get the much needed repetition to the students.
Would some students get jealous or angry if they saw the teacher's comments were more favorable to some students?
I was wondering, if the teacher comments on the students who do well in the blog, could that cause some striff between some of the other students? Some students are very cruel to other students and if they see something in print, something that can be viewed several times, they may see that and makefun of another student while at school or something. The intelligence is so widespread among my students, that it would cause widespread comments from me as well. Not sure if this would be an issue, but just something that might come up.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
journal 1
Social Networking for the k-12
Jim Klein
Mr. Klein writes about the advantages of collaboration and networking. He talks of all the information available, and mentions how collaboration with trusted individuals can save time and help us become more effective teachers. Mr. Klein mentions the problems facing our kids in education and how social networking is a possible answer to some of our educational problems. Using community sites students can interact share thoughts and ideas and collaborate on their own creations.
With each passing day technology is bringing us closer together. I am currently a substitute teacher for a world history class and one of the lectures I recently gave mentioned the invention of the radio. Prior to the radio people on separate coasts had to wait for the pony exress to deliver mail. After horse delivered correspondence there were trains. It seems like so long ago. I grew up when pagers were first appearing while I was in high school. Now, we can connect instantly over the internet. Not only can we talk through text, but we can use video's to see while we chat. Social networking seems like the next logical step.
I think anyone who has ever surfed the net realizes the capabilities for information. The article by Jim Klein points out, that social networking can be a very effective tool for teaching. I remember a teacher at the university of redlands telling me to question the things i read on the internet because any fool can post an article. He mentioned the neon nazi movement as evidence that you cannot trust everything you read on the internet.
I jumped on the net twice last week before class to try and find information about Joseph Stalin and Mussilini. It did not take me long to find something, but it would be nice to have easy access to a trusted site that I know the other history teachers use.
I wonder if this social networking is where future teachers might go to find lesson plans? Having user profiles makes lots of sense because it makes filtering of the information that much easier. I can see myself logging on, going directly to a user whom I trust and seeing what new stuff he may have found on that particular day.
1. Does this sharing of information lead to an increased threat of computer viruses or identity theft? The only thing that scares me is the potential threat for viruses I have all kinds of protection on my PC, but that does not mean someone else within the online community does too.
The article mentions the student community site which has over 450 students involved, with even some second graders using pod casting.
2. The second question that pops into my mind is; will classrooms in the future have a computer for each student? It also mentions that students can review or comment on work done by their peers. Another step in collaborative learning. I wonder how comfortable my students would be if they had their peers reading and commenting on their work?
3. What will our educational system be like in 20 years? I imagine that technology will help us teach much more effectively but the costs will be much greater as well. However, if the schools districs save the money on paper, maybe it will even out. Will this access of trusted information lead to more standardized lesson plans across the US? Either way it will be exciting to see.
Jim Klein
Mr. Klein writes about the advantages of collaboration and networking. He talks of all the information available, and mentions how collaboration with trusted individuals can save time and help us become more effective teachers. Mr. Klein mentions the problems facing our kids in education and how social networking is a possible answer to some of our educational problems. Using community sites students can interact share thoughts and ideas and collaborate on their own creations.
With each passing day technology is bringing us closer together. I am currently a substitute teacher for a world history class and one of the lectures I recently gave mentioned the invention of the radio. Prior to the radio people on separate coasts had to wait for the pony exress to deliver mail. After horse delivered correspondence there were trains. It seems like so long ago. I grew up when pagers were first appearing while I was in high school. Now, we can connect instantly over the internet. Not only can we talk through text, but we can use video's to see while we chat. Social networking seems like the next logical step.
I think anyone who has ever surfed the net realizes the capabilities for information. The article by Jim Klein points out, that social networking can be a very effective tool for teaching. I remember a teacher at the university of redlands telling me to question the things i read on the internet because any fool can post an article. He mentioned the neon nazi movement as evidence that you cannot trust everything you read on the internet.
I jumped on the net twice last week before class to try and find information about Joseph Stalin and Mussilini. It did not take me long to find something, but it would be nice to have easy access to a trusted site that I know the other history teachers use.
I wonder if this social networking is where future teachers might go to find lesson plans? Having user profiles makes lots of sense because it makes filtering of the information that much easier. I can see myself logging on, going directly to a user whom I trust and seeing what new stuff he may have found on that particular day.
1. Does this sharing of information lead to an increased threat of computer viruses or identity theft? The only thing that scares me is the potential threat for viruses I have all kinds of protection on my PC, but that does not mean someone else within the online community does too.
The article mentions the student community site which has over 450 students involved, with even some second graders using pod casting.
2. The second question that pops into my mind is; will classrooms in the future have a computer for each student? It also mentions that students can review or comment on work done by their peers. Another step in collaborative learning. I wonder how comfortable my students would be if they had their peers reading and commenting on their work?
3. What will our educational system be like in 20 years? I imagine that technology will help us teach much more effectively but the costs will be much greater as well. However, if the schools districs save the money on paper, maybe it will even out. Will this access of trusted information lead to more standardized lesson plans across the US? Either way it will be exciting to see.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Introduction
Who I am??? My name is Nicholas Chambers, I am the youngest of three and I was born and raised in Oceanside. My old man was a tanker in the marine corp and if it weren't for some sports injuries I would probably be in the corp serving my country right now. I went to Del Rio Elementary, Lincoln Jr high, then on to EL Camino high school, all of which are located in oceanside. I went to college at the University of Redlands. I loved every minute of it, and I have found that i enjoy being in a classroom. I try my best to be straight forward and honest. I am currently a high school soccer coach, and a freshman football coach.
When it comes to technology, I would say I am not a beginner but not an expert. I am good with research, but not very savy when it comes to tech. I am definitely a PC guy. Since this is my blog I will be totally honest and say that I tried using a bootlegged version of microsoft office 06, but for some reason it is not working and I am currently using the word processor which came on my lap top which i bought last decemeber. I have to save all my word documents in Microsoft word 98, which is kind of a bummer, but i get things done.
Before I even read the mission statement I can say that it had nothing to do with my decision to come here. ... I just read the mission statement. Nothing struck a huge cord. I always referred to Cal State San Marcos, as Cal State San Moscow. I dont have much experience with this school, but so far I am pleasantly surprised with my choice. So far it seems like exactly what a college should be about. I enrolled here because it was close. Maybe that was not the best idea, but here I am ready to rock and roll, and tackle this technology.
When it comes to technology, I would say I am not a beginner but not an expert. I am good with research, but not very savy when it comes to tech. I am definitely a PC guy. Since this is my blog I will be totally honest and say that I tried using a bootlegged version of microsoft office 06, but for some reason it is not working and I am currently using the word processor which came on my lap top which i bought last decemeber. I have to save all my word documents in Microsoft word 98, which is kind of a bummer, but i get things done.
Before I even read the mission statement I can say that it had nothing to do with my decision to come here. ... I just read the mission statement. Nothing struck a huge cord. I always referred to Cal State San Marcos, as Cal State San Moscow. I dont have much experience with this school, but so far I am pleasantly surprised with my choice. So far it seems like exactly what a college should be about. I enrolled here because it was close. Maybe that was not the best idea, but here I am ready to rock and roll, and tackle this technology.
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