Slow but Steady...

A small success!  I have finally been able to locate and speak to my building's IT professional about getting computers in my classroom for student use!  After he deals with the huge list of issues to resolve, he will try to locate a computer or two for my classroom, so I can FINALLY implement the use of my class wiki!  YAY!  The students have been asking for it, and I will be able to open it up to their use.

I have not had the chance yet to research any tech grants for my school.  I'm hoping to spend some time on that this week.  Hopefully if I can find us some funding, I can get us some great tools for our students to learn.

Also, I am working on finding relevant real-world problems for students to solve and explore.  Since we are mostly reviewing pre-algebra concepts right now (adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing real numbers and simplifying algebraic expressions by combining like terms), I have not really been searching as diligently as perhaps I should.  My focus has been on getting some learning tools for students to use, and I guess I have to take things one step at a time.  While researching potential grants this week, I will start looking for good tools and problems for students to learn solving equations.

This process is making me more aggressive when it comes to getting what my students need and would like to use.  Talking to my administrators has become a little easier - they are understanding that I am working with my students' best interests at heart, and I am trying to improve our school a little at a time and in my own small way.  It's quite gratifying when students give you a big hug and tell you that they, "...wish there were more teachers like you at this school!"  Hopefully we'll just keep, "baby steppin'" our way to success...

Frustrated and feeling inept...

So far, I am not doing well with using technology in my classes.  Unfortunately, our district has many "antiquated" notions of what encompasses technology.  Being able to utilize our schools' computer lab is difficult (this week is already completely booked - except for during my prep period...go figure).

I have tried meeting with our building's IT person to discuss whether or not we can put an older computer in my room for students to use.  Of course we have only one IT person, so he is busier than a, "one armed paper hanger."  Our building houses both a high school and a middle school, so understandably, he has his hands full! When trying to find anything out I am told to post a "TrackIT" work order, but there are no options for adding computers to my room.  This is something for which I need to meet face to face to discuss!

I am frustrated and trying to find other options.  Too many of my students do not have internet access outside of school, and this makes it difficult to include them in working on any internet-based projects.  If I can get some kind of internet enabled technology in my classroom, I would give them time to work on projects in class, but getting that technology is proving harder than I would have thought.  Working to get approval for using cell-phones/smartphones is taking longer than I would have expected... Bureaucracy is holding my students back!!! EEK!

Keeping abreast of different learning technologies is a bit easier, since I follow several teachers on Twitter and in my Google feed.  There are so many great learning tools out there - I just wish I could make them more available for my students.  Working in an impoverished district can be so emotionally rewarding, but at the same time, so incredibly frustrating.  I want to do so much better for my students and give them the best of everything, but we cannot get it or administration does not even want to try.

I guess you can see that it has been a pretty frustrating week...I am hoping to make some strides in a better direction as the week moves on and into the future...Maybe I can find my IT guy???  Suggestions anyone?!

ISTE NETS-T: Standards for Better Teaching

Looking at the ISTE NETS-T, it is easy to gain a sense of where I stand as a teacher with regard to utilizing technology in my classroom.  Most of my strengths lie under the standards of modeling digital-age work and learning, promoting and modeling digital citizenship and responsibility, and engaging in professional growth and leadership.  Networking with other teachers in order to learn about new technologies and share my own knowledge of technologies is one of my passions.  My students are very excited about the prospect of using technology in the course of learning math, and have even enjoyed a behavior tracking system that I found through my network.

Honestly, the biggest areas of challenge for me include getting my students to reflect upon their learning using collaborative tools, and also designing or adapting lessons to include digital tools.  It would be great to have my students share their thinking and understanding  with their peers in order to engage in discussion and have them work out and clarify any misconceptions as a group instead of looking to me for the "right" answer!

To improve in the area of having students collaborate, I have started my first class wikis.  I am still working out exactly how I will use them, since many students do not have internet access outside of school.  Posting questions and having students discuss their strategies for solving the problem in the discussion section of the wiki is one possibility, but this is hard to work out logistically, since we do not have a one-to-one laptop program and so many students do not have access at home.  I am still working out ways to include my students without internet into the conversation (any ideas?)

In order to improve in the area of designing/adapting lessons to utilize digital tools, I will continue to research and look for ways I can modify my lessons and still remain true to our curriculum.  Most of the technology I currently use in my classroom is the graphing calculator.  I have used our computer lab to show the students Geometer's Sketchpad, but accessing our one computer lab is sometimes difficult, since it is often booked.

I would also like to improve in the area of finding relevant, real-world applications for the content I am teaching.  Students will often look at a problem and ask why they should care, since they are all going to be professional basketball players…  This is a big issue that I would like to work on.  Part of the problem is not having enough time to complete all of my tasks/responsibilities and still have enough time to be creative - right now there are not enough hours in the day…but that will change in a few months!

I plan on keeping abreast of advances in technology by keeping in touch with my network and looking at research.  I will also make sure to keep an eye out for applications of math concepts that would be interesting to my students…I will keep learning as I would like my students to do.


References:


NETS for Teachers. (2008).  International Society for Technology in Education.  Retrieved September 12, 2011 from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers.aspx.

MATH for Charity!!! SO COOL!!!

My daughter is raising money for a great cause - using MATH!!!  If you can help out, please click the link(MATH!!!) to donate...

Thanks!

Final Reflection - EDUC 6711

So often initiatives come to teachers and we are thrown into utilizing tools, technologies, and processes that we do not understand.  We are often told to use more technology in the classroom, but very rarely do we have time to learn the technology fully in order to properly integrate its use in our classrooms.  This course has not only introduced us to some wonderful technologies, but it has also provided us with the understanding of when and how it is appropriate to use it.  By tying technologies to learning theories and strategies, we can become more adept at properly using technology with our students.

At the beginning of the course, we were asked to develop our own personal learning theory.  At the time, my theory leaned more toward constructivism.  Throughout the past eight weeks, I have learned that each theory has a time and a place for use; however for the deepest and most meaningful learning of concepts and content constructivism still appears to be the "most applicable" learning theory.  I have not changed my opinion regarding constructivism, but I have grown to embrace the other theories for certain lessons.

The biggest adjustment I am going to make to my instructional practice will be to utilize more technology in well thought-out ways in my lessons.  I will not simply use technology because my district mandates it.  I will carefully consider what technology will best help my students learn and understand the material presented to them.  I will also consider ways that my students can utilize that technology outside of the classroom, so they can see that it applies not only to math class, but to their lives outside of school.  I will definitely use more concept mapping software in my classes to help my students make connections among the concepts.  I will also utilize Voicethread to present opportunities for my students to discuss problem solving strategies.  Hopefully these things will help to keep students engaged and interested in the lessons!

One long-term goal change I want to make to my instructional practice regarding technology integration is to move away from technology as instructional tool to technology as learning tool.  Dr. Orey mentions that when the technology is in the students' hands they tend to learn more than they would if the tool were in my hands and they watched me use it (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).  Unfortunately, some of the technology we learned about is unavailable to my students within my school.  I hope to learn how to write grants in order to procure funding to make more of the technology available to them.  It would be nice to be able to put the technology into their hands on a regular basis so they can learn and understand rather than watch me demonstrate how it would work if they had it to use themselves.  I also plan on keeping up-to-date on technologies by reading other math teachers' blogs regarding how they are using the technology for students. 

Another long-term goal would be to set up and utilize a class blog for each of my classes.  This is an incredible tool that I feel my students would find useful and relevant.  Being able to open up discussions to which students would feel more comfortable contributing via online discussion rather than in-class where shy students will not talk, or students will not speak for fear of appearing to be a "geek."  In order to accomplish this goal, I will need to be more comfortable with blogging - which this class helped me take a step in that direction... 

I have learned so much over the course of the last seven weeks.  Tying learning theory and teaching strategies to the various technologies we discussed and learned to use not only made it easier to understand how to use the technology, but made it more relevant to classes.  There are so many different technology tools available for us to use - we just need to make sure we understand how they can be relevant to classroom use and be flexible and willing to learn.  This has been a great class - I cannot wait to apply what I have learned.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. [Webcast]. Baltimore: Author

A Question...

...For all of my high school teacher followers:

Does your school have a student council, and what is their role in the school?

My school currently does not have a student council, and I have a group of students who would like to start one.  I do not have a lot of experience with a student council, and would love any input you can give me.  I will be researching this as much as I can over the weekend so I can discuss it with my principal on Monday morning.

Thanks for your input!

Social Learning Theory

This week we explored social learning theory.  Basically, social learning theory states that learning occurs when students, "actively engage in constructing artifacts and conversing with each other." (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010)  Students definitely demonstrate better understanding of material when they give voice to their though processes and receive input from others regarding their thoughts.  I constantly encourage my students to "teach" each other how to solve a problem or even to teach their parents how to do the homework problems.

The technologies presented this week offer several opportunities for students to work together to create and share artifacts demonstrating their learning.  The beauty of these technologies is that they are not just limited to students!  Teachers can utilize these wonderful technologies to share and learn from each other.  Understanding how to use these technologies effectively gives us opportunities to share with classrooms all over the world and to get the input of others.  As learners, we can share our experiences and knowledge with the school, community, and world.

Students can collaborate with others in the class as well as students from other schools within the community and the world at large.  Learners gain insight from others by expanding their own understanding by creating a webcast, website, wiki, or other artifact they can share and post.  Working together to develop and create something they will share with others gives students a reason to truly learn and understand the material.  The students can then take ownership of the knowledge and learning and share it with the world by distributing their knowledge appropriately.

Using technologies like the voice thread above gives us new opportunities to have our students create and share their learning.  I look forward to learning, creating, and passing on my knowledge to others.  Thanks for reading!

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Program Number 8: Social Learning Theories [Webcast]. Baltimore: Author

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007) Using technology with classroom instruction that works.  Alexandria, VA: ASCD.