http://www.edutopia.org/images/movies/journeys.jpg
The video case that I chose was on the March of the Monarchs. Journey North involves thousands of students in monitoring migration patterns of butterflies and other species. Students would have pen pals in mexico and they would write back in forth, discussing the migration patterns of Monarch buttlerflies. The video shows clips of this journey while the teacher talks about how she is able to also meet the state standards while intergrating other subjects as well such as: Math, Science, Psychology, English and Social Studies.
Flowing the monarchs is only a part of this comprehensive based learning activity called Project North, where they will also be following the migration patterns of several differnt animals as well. This is only one part of Journey North and is delivered for free to schools across the world via Internet. As they track these different animals, the students will be adding personal observations to the global north data base.
They are using the internet to communicate to people all over the world. This project is definately student centered because the teacher only introduced the topic to them and what they will be doing over the next several weeks. Everything after that was up to them to observe and communicate their observations via internet to other students across the world. The teacher was their to help keep them on task. They also include an online geographical game called "The Mystery Class".
I definately agree that the technology makes the lesson more engaging because the students were able to write to their pen pals but they were also able to communicate with just a click of a button using the internet. The students were able to post their own observations and pictures in seconds using the Internet and students found this was way more interesting than just a letter in the mail every two weeks.
This Project Based Learning "Journey North" has been around for years and everything you need to know is posted on the internet. The teacher needs to make sure that he/she always has a backup plan in case any of the technology they were using crashed. Also, like in the video clip, teachers need to be thinking about how they are able to intergrate other subjects in to this one lesson. The teacher had mentioned that their letter writing was improving their writing skills much more because they were cautious when writing back to their pen pals and wanted to make it sound and look good.
I think that through classroom reflection and communication is a great way to assess your students as a whole. Having students keep a personal journal of their own obersvations is also a great way to assess your students.
Our society is growing more and more through technology, so anytime you are able to intergrate technology into the curriculum, you are only improving your students cognitive skills and they are able to keep up with the rest of the world. Technology is always changing, so it is a big challenge for teachers to keep updated so they are able to keep technology part of the curriculm.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Katie Reflection
http://www.edutopia.org/images/videosearch/vg_logo.gif
This video was about a school in Hawaii that did a wonderful job of integrating technology into the classroom. Their students put on a daily news broadcast that they were solely responsible for. The video also sowed how technology was used in other subjects such as science. The technologies that were used in this video included T.V.s, computers, projectors, video cameras, editing tools, lights, and audio tools (stereo, etc.). The technology in this school was definitely students centered. The teachers took a very hands-off approach and let all of the students work with each piece of technology to learn about it. I do think that technology makes lessons more engaging because there are so many ways to integrate technology. I think that be constantly using different ways to teach, students will be more engaged. Before teaching a lesson, it would be important for a teacher to prep his/her students by showing them how each technology works and explaining to them that they need to be very careful when working with technology. One of the challenges that a teacher might face when integrating technology into the classroom would be that students wouldn’t take it seriously and that something expensive might get broken.
This video was about a school in Hawaii that did a wonderful job of integrating technology into the classroom. Their students put on a daily news broadcast that they were solely responsible for. The video also sowed how technology was used in other subjects such as science. The technologies that were used in this video included T.V.s, computers, projectors, video cameras, editing tools, lights, and audio tools (stereo, etc.). The technology in this school was definitely students centered. The teachers took a very hands-off approach and let all of the students work with each piece of technology to learn about it. I do think that technology makes lessons more engaging because there are so many ways to integrate technology. I think that be constantly using different ways to teach, students will be more engaged. Before teaching a lesson, it would be important for a teacher to prep his/her students by showing them how each technology works and explaining to them that they need to be very careful when working with technology. One of the challenges that a teacher might face when integrating technology into the classroom would be that students wouldn’t take it seriously and that something expensive might get broken.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Andrea, Reflection 6
http://w301manipulatives.blogspot.com/
Reading Film- The Story of Movies
Movies was the technology that was used in this video. This clip shows 6th grade students looking at famous classical films and analyzing what they see, rather then just reading the book. Three main aspects of this video was to analyse film by looking at it as a work of art, a cultural historical document and as a communication tool. The teaching in this video was student centered and teacher centered. The students will watch clips of the video and the teacher will stop it at certain parts and ask the students questions that help engage them in the movie. As a teacher, he/she would have to watch the movie and know what aspects of the film he/she wants to analyze, and what questions he/she wants to ask. After watching this clip I think that the video lessons that the students were able to watch were definitly more engaging for a student than simply reading the book. The advantage of using video in the classroom is that it allows students to view literary figures in a different light, by actually seeing them as actoris in a video instead of just on a book. Another advantage of using the video technology is that students are able to analyze the lighting, discover what it takes to make a movie and look at visual aspects of the book that could not be seen soley in the text. It would be easy to assess student performance by asking them questions during certain clips-this will allow the teacher to see if students have grasped the understanding of the movie. Of course students can also take tests and have class discussions reflecting on what they have seen.
Some challenges that a teacher may face when using this video technology is of course the video is not working properly. Technology has many posotive aspects, but it can also be a hassle if something isn't working properly.
Reading Film- The Story of Movies
Movies was the technology that was used in this video. This clip shows 6th grade students looking at famous classical films and analyzing what they see, rather then just reading the book. Three main aspects of this video was to analyse film by looking at it as a work of art, a cultural historical document and as a communication tool. The teaching in this video was student centered and teacher centered. The students will watch clips of the video and the teacher will stop it at certain parts and ask the students questions that help engage them in the movie. As a teacher, he/she would have to watch the movie and know what aspects of the film he/she wants to analyze, and what questions he/she wants to ask. After watching this clip I think that the video lessons that the students were able to watch were definitly more engaging for a student than simply reading the book. The advantage of using video in the classroom is that it allows students to view literary figures in a different light, by actually seeing them as actoris in a video instead of just on a book. Another advantage of using the video technology is that students are able to analyze the lighting, discover what it takes to make a movie and look at visual aspects of the book that could not be seen soley in the text. It would be easy to assess student performance by asking them questions during certain clips-this will allow the teacher to see if students have grasped the understanding of the movie. Of course students can also take tests and have class discussions reflecting on what they have seen.
Some challenges that a teacher may face when using this video technology is of course the video is not working properly. Technology has many posotive aspects, but it can also be a hassle if something isn't working properly.
Resources for Manipulatives
http://www.ct4me.net/math_manipulatives.htm
This is an excellent website that really stresses the importance of using math manipulatives in the classroom. If a teacher was unsure about the benefits of using such tools, this website would be a great place to go. Many different benefits are outlined and discussed in great detail. This website also has a section about how teachers can sometimes 'overuse' manipulatives, which I found interesting. Often times, teachers don't realize that there can be too much of a good thing.
http://mathforum.org/library/resource_types/manipulatives/
This is another really good website for using manipulatives. In this website, each type of manipulative is explained and the there are several lessons that a teacher could incorporate those manipulatives into. It also gives contact info for each of the teachers that posted these lessons so if you were confused, someone could be reached to answer your questions.
This is an excellent website that really stresses the importance of using math manipulatives in the classroom. If a teacher was unsure about the benefits of using such tools, this website would be a great place to go. Many different benefits are outlined and discussed in great detail. This website also has a section about how teachers can sometimes 'overuse' manipulatives, which I found interesting. Often times, teachers don't realize that there can be too much of a good thing.
http://mathforum.org/library/resource_types/manipulatives/
This is another really good website for using manipulatives. In this website, each type of manipulative is explained and the there are several lessons that a teacher could incorporate those manipulatives into. It also gives contact info for each of the teachers that posted these lessons so if you were confused, someone could be reached to answer your questions.
Manipulatives/Standards Post
Standard 2.4.2 would be an excellent standard to address when using manipulatives. This standard states that students should be able to sort different geomentric shapes according to number of sides, faces, etc. A teacher could deffinately teach this soncept when using wodden pattern blocks. Standard 2.4.3 would also be very useful when working with manipulatives. This standard states "Investigate the role of putting together and taking apart different geometric shapes." Again, the wooden pattern blocks could be very valuable as a teacher attempted to teach students about this concept.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Julie, Resources
Manipulative Hotlinks:
http://www.arcytech.org/java/
This is a wonderful website that works with students K-8. It has lots of fun but very useful math lessons and games and also includes some Biology and Music. This website would be great for not only students but also for teachers and parents in helping their child learn these subjects in a more interactive way. This website is setup so the user is able to move at their own pace and they are able to go through other links that teaches them the topic beforehand and then they have the chance to try to work the problems on their own when ready. There is also a link for each lesson that is specifically for the teacher that describes the lesson and its appropriate grade level. All of these links could be used either in the classroom or in the home so students are able to practice and parents can help when needed. I would definitely use this website in my own classroom someday.
http://standards.nctm.org/document/eexamples/chap4/4.2/index.htm
This is another great website that helps teachers set up lesson plans in the classroom and also allows students to work with computers interactively. This website helps students learn the concept of triangles and the properties of polygons. This website allows students to work with an interactive computer geoboard to help students identify simple geometric shapes, describe their properties, and develop spatial sense. These interactive activities help students reach the goals described in the geometry standards. This website explains to the students what they should do and then gives tips and ideas to teachers about how to talk about this topic in the classroom and gives questions they can use to help form a discussion and reflect after discussion.
http://www.lane.k12.or.us/insttech/vtc/science_interactive.html
There is so much going on in this website that that your students will be busy for hours. This is a great website for all ages. It focuses on science and is a great resource for learning and then testing what you learned through fun, animated activities. This website covers every sub division of science and really stimulates the users thinking. I think this website is a great way for students to explore on their own beyond the text book and allows them to test their own knowledge using interactive activities.
~ All of these websites are great for in the classroom or at home. These websites allow students and teachers to enjoy learning through virtual online manipulatives and are great for all ages. These links will take students beyond the text book and allow them to work hands on so they are able to really work understand and learn these topics.
http://www.arcytech.org/java/
This is a wonderful website that works with students K-8. It has lots of fun but very useful math lessons and games and also includes some Biology and Music. This website would be great for not only students but also for teachers and parents in helping their child learn these subjects in a more interactive way. This website is setup so the user is able to move at their own pace and they are able to go through other links that teaches them the topic beforehand and then they have the chance to try to work the problems on their own when ready. There is also a link for each lesson that is specifically for the teacher that describes the lesson and its appropriate grade level. All of these links could be used either in the classroom or in the home so students are able to practice and parents can help when needed. I would definitely use this website in my own classroom someday.
http://standards.nctm.org/document/eexamples/chap4/4.2/index.htm
This is another great website that helps teachers set up lesson plans in the classroom and also allows students to work with computers interactively. This website helps students learn the concept of triangles and the properties of polygons. This website allows students to work with an interactive computer geoboard to help students identify simple geometric shapes, describe their properties, and develop spatial sense. These interactive activities help students reach the goals described in the geometry standards. This website explains to the students what they should do and then gives tips and ideas to teachers about how to talk about this topic in the classroom and gives questions they can use to help form a discussion and reflect after discussion.
http://www.lane.k12.or.us/insttech/vtc/science_interactive.html
There is so much going on in this website that that your students will be busy for hours. This is a great website for all ages. It focuses on science and is a great resource for learning and then testing what you learned through fun, animated activities. This website covers every sub division of science and really stimulates the users thinking. I think this website is a great way for students to explore on their own beyond the text book and allows them to test their own knowledge using interactive activities.
~ All of these websites are great for in the classroom or at home. These websites allow students and teachers to enjoy learning through virtual online manipulatives and are great for all ages. These links will take students beyond the text book and allow them to work hands on so they are able to really work understand and learn these topics.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Bridget, Resources
Three Great Websites:
All of these sites are a great teaching tool to have. They all give great ideas for teachers, have teacher support links, and standards.
http://www.galaxy.gmu.edu/~drsuper/Virtual_Manipulatives/virtual.htm
This website is wonderful. It is a virtual manipulatives math links page. It has all kinds of different links and and ideas for students. It has manipulatives to use for any grade level from K-8. Each link you can click on has a little description of what it is. This is a great resource for math and elementary teachers and also great for us right now. There are a lot of really cool manipulatives and great ideas to go along with them. It would be good to look at before creating any math lesson plans.http://www.tne.uconn.edu/ClassResources.htm
This is another great site to visit. It's from the University of Connecticut and it's called "Teachers for a New Era". It has all kinds of on-line sites that children can explore. It has teacher supports, lesson plan ideas, and all kinds of other things. One really great thing about the site is that it lists the standards right on the bottom of the page, so you don't have to go looking for them elsewhere. This is by far the best site I have come across and I know that I will personally use it a lot this semester, so check it out!http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blended_Learning_in_K-12/Blended_Learning_in_Grades_3-6
This last website is all about blended learning. It's great because it talks about about virtual field trips, video conferencing, and cirriculum connections. It has a lot of great links to click on where you can learn more about these things and to see how to best incorporate them into your classroom.All of these sites are a great teaching tool to have. They all give great ideas for teachers, have teacher support links, and standards.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)