Assessing Meaningful Learning

My absolute favorite assessment tool is the clicker. I feel that the clicker setup will reach out to more students who are shy about answering questions in class. I know when I was a student a teacher would fall into the rut of picking the same students every time he/she wanted a question answered. By using the clicker now every student can answer and no one will ever know what their answer was. Also, grading rubrics are a great assessment tool. A rubric allows the student to see what they have to do to get the grade they want. Grading rubric can be used in every subject and are very easy to assemble. I plan on using a grading rubric for all my classes so that every student know what I expect of them. If the school district has the available funds I will also get the clicker setup to use in my class.

This class has opened my eyes in so many ways as to what is available for teachers these days. I always knew that I wanted to incorporate technology into my classroom just did not know how to do. I know that I will be able to reach my students by having a blog post or maybe venture into making podcast. I think that most students, if not all, will excel when a teacher incorporates technology into their class. I hope to be able to incorporate things like Podcasting, VoiceThread, Gliffy, Glogster, ect into my everyday class. I know that if I do use these types of technology I will have done everything in my power to make sure students understand every assignment  and can excel in the future. This class has proved to be one of my favorite classes with ample information about WEB 2.0 tools and other technology available.

Technology Application Standards

1. Technology Application Standards

§126.23. Computer Science II

        (c) Knowledge and skills.

                       (2) Foundations. The student uses data input skills appropriate to the task. The student is expected to:

                               (B) use digital keyboarding standards for the input of data.

2. Technology Standards in a Secondary Mathematics Class

§111.34. Geometry

        (a)  Basic understandings.

(5)   Tools for geometric thinking. Techniques for working with spatial figures and their                               properties are essential in understanding underlying relationships. Students use a variety of    representations (concrete, pictorial, numerical, symbolic, graphical, and verbal), tools, and technology   including, but not limited to, calculators with graphing capabilities, data collection devices, and  computers) to solve meaningful problems by representing and transforming figures and analyzing relationships.

In Geometry students have a hard time trying to figure out how geometry actually works. I plan on using Geometers Sketch Pad to help students grasp the concepts I plan to teach. GSP is a program that is very fun to use and has a lot of utilities. I personally think that if students are able to use GSP correctly they can learn more than they ever would from just the direct instruction method. Being able to use technology and learn from it will not only help the students in the real world but is also detrimental to learning while in college. In this particular TEKS, Geometry has so many ways for the teacher  to incorporate technology. Nearly every profession has some type of technology as well as some type of Geometry included in the job description. I plan to incorporate technology at every possible chance. I know that not all students will like it at first but I know that they will appreciate me later.

3. Reflection

It is hard to choose which TEK is the most important. I personally think that every TEK should be addressed. If a teacher ignores a TEK they take the chance of a student not being prepared. In Mathematics students have to use technology. Mathematics in my opinion is what makes the world function. Just in the last few decades I have seen technology advance further than I ever thought it would. I know that in the next few decades technology will be everything. So I have to make sure that my students are able to use this technology. Students will need to know how to use technology not only in Mathematics but also in every other subject. If our future students are able to walk away knowing how to use technology in every subject I know I will feel like I have completed my job as a teacher.              

Visualizing with Technology

I personally think that visualizing with technology is one of the best things to use as a teacher. In the Math field it is hard for some students to understand what is going on in the lesson. With the technology available in today's society, teachers can make it possible for students to see what is going on. For example, a lot of students struggle with Geometry. Geometers Sketchpad eases this pain because now students can draw a triangle and see what happens when you move the points. This visualization is a must for most students. I myself am not an artist so this type of program is a must in my lesson. Students will be able to fully grasp the concept when they can get a visualization of what is really going on instead of some bad drawing that I provide on the chalkboard or overhead projector. I have always been a firm believer in a student has to see what is really happening for them to fully understand what is going on.

Podcasting

     I have never really thought about using Podcasting in the classroom. I have learned that Podcasting can be used in a variety of ways that will be helpful in the class. If used correctly a Podcast can make your job as the teacher and the students job easier throughout the year. Many subjects can greatly benefit from this web 2.0 tool. The first thing that comes to mind would be the opportunity for me to upload a Podcast that relates the lesson to real world situations. With that tool the students can research on why they are learning a certain lesson. I could also use a Podcast to reach out to students who need the extra help on the subject matter. I could upload demonstrations throughout the year that the students can reflect back on to study for their final exam or even to help them gain more knowledge on the subject. I certainty plan on using Podcasts in my classroom. 

     

     Podcasting is very similar to most of the Web 2.0 tools that are available. Just like the wikis and blogs, podcast still engage the students and keeps them participating. Podcasting and Web 2.0 tools are all very similar because it allows the students to explore on their own. With this the students is able to "dig" as much as they want and then share this information with their peers. Since most students already use these tools in there every day lives why not go ahead and get them to use them in the school too. All Web 2.0 tools allow the students to participate online which is a big tool that will help them as they prepare for their future as workers in the economy. One of the only differences I see with Podcasting and other Web 2.0 tools is that Podcasting is kind of limited when it comes to Math. I can think of a few instances where it will work but I can think of unlimited ways to use Podcasting in an English or Speech class.

 

     I own an iPod and I have only ever used it to listen to music. I know that they have a bunch of features that I have never even looked into. Now that I know that I can use iPods to help reinforce my subject matter I will definitely try to use Podcasting and other Web 2.0 tools as much as possible. I know that Web2.0 tools cannot be used to replace face to face instruction. With that being said I will make sure that I always have a Podcast available for my students so they can get the extra help if they so desire to want it. I worry that if I try to use a Podcast in the classroom the students will not take it seriously. I know that if I was given the option to listen to a Podcast while in class I probably would not have. I know that I would have listened to music or ventured off to another site. Trying to keep control of the lesson is a problem that I see.