Monday, April 23, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Reflection #9
What, so what, now what?
In biostatistics Dr. T introduced us to Kahn Academy. Kahn has a demonstration for about everything math, science, and statistics! It might be helpful for a student to hear a formula explained differently than a teacher might. It is a very handy thing to know about, and can be a useful teaching tool for students if they need a refresher on a formula.
In biostatistics Dr. T introduced us to Kahn Academy. Kahn has a demonstration for about everything math, science, and statistics! It might be helpful for a student to hear a formula explained differently than a teacher might. It is a very handy thing to know about, and can be a useful teaching tool for students if they need a refresher on a formula.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Dr. Marsano gave a speech at a technology conference regarding the effects of using the Promethean interactive white board (IWB) in the classroom. Through his research he discovered the IWBs were used most effectively by experienced teachers, who had been using them for two or more years, who use it for 75% of the class time, who had some training in using it. Additionally, it was most effective when the teacher focused on the content rather then on the IWB's "bells and whistles."
Dr. Marsano also talks about what happens when a teacher calls on one student to answer a question; the rest of the class tunes out. So he discusses the signalling devices and how they can be used to spur discussion and keep all student's attention.
It was interesting that his research discovered that 23% of the time teachers were worse off with the tech. He mentioned that some people are just not as effective with the technology. He calls the scenario I mentioned earlier, about the IWB's effectiveness, the "sweet spot," and if one was outside of that sweet spot the IWB's effectiveness decreased. With that in mind I understand that as I get my feet wet in the teaching field I will find my niche, but I do believe that technology and the Promethean board or Smart board will play an important role in my classroom.
Dr. Marsano also talks about what happens when a teacher calls on one student to answer a question; the rest of the class tunes out. So he discusses the signalling devices and how they can be used to spur discussion and keep all student's attention.
It was interesting that his research discovered that 23% of the time teachers were worse off with the tech. He mentioned that some people are just not as effective with the technology. He calls the scenario I mentioned earlier, about the IWB's effectiveness, the "sweet spot," and if one was outside of that sweet spot the IWB's effectiveness decreased. With that in mind I understand that as I get my feet wet in the teaching field I will find my niche, but I do believe that technology and the Promethean board or Smart board will play an important role in my classroom.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Week 11 blog
Mrs. Abernethy's blog seems to be a publication of fun activities in her class. She has her students do some really random activities, but it appears they have a great time. I ended up commented on a post with links to poetry sites her students could follow to check out other kid's poems. It seems they were going to be writing poems and entering them in a contest.
My comments were to encourage the students (if they will indeed read them!) to think about how others might relate to their poems. I wanted my comments to help show them that other people will potentially read their work, thus proving that they are participating in a truly authentic and meaningful assignment.
My comments were to encourage the students (if they will indeed read them!) to think about how others might relate to their poems. I wanted my comments to help show them that other people will potentially read their work, thus proving that they are participating in a truly authentic and meaningful assignment.
Blog #10
Blooms Taxonomy is a great tool for myself and future students to climb the intellectual ladder. Of course, as a student myself I hate questions that force me to take my thinking up a notch , but it definitely taxes the brain which leads to deeper understanding.
When thinking about technology's place in the hierarchy, Andrew Churches' blog addresses this question. The first level, remembering, includes technological activities like, Google searches, social media, and favorites/bookmarks on the web. Next is understanding which includes blogging (what a novel concept!) or subscribing to a website. After remembering and understanding comes applying which could include hacking and uploading/sharing. Fourthly we come to analyzing which could include activities like using Priceline, tagging, or linking. Next we have evaluating which could include activities like commenting on a blog, or posting something to a chat room. Lastly we have creating. Activities here could include wiki-ing and programming.
Most of these do not seem very taxing to me, but maybe if I was not a digital native they would be. Yet within these activities the hierarchy could be used toward the level of one's comments or thought process. Another take could be that these technologies are merely to be taken analogously to the thought process.
When thinking about technology's place in the hierarchy, Andrew Churches' blog addresses this question. The first level, remembering, includes technological activities like, Google searches, social media, and favorites/bookmarks on the web. Next is understanding which includes blogging (what a novel concept!) or subscribing to a website. After remembering and understanding comes applying which could include hacking and uploading/sharing. Fourthly we come to analyzing which could include activities like using Priceline, tagging, or linking. Next we have evaluating which could include activities like commenting on a blog, or posting something to a chat room. Lastly we have creating. Activities here could include wiki-ing and programming.
Most of these do not seem very taxing to me, but maybe if I was not a digital native they would be. Yet within these activities the hierarchy could be used toward the level of one's comments or thought process. Another take could be that these technologies are merely to be taken analogously to the thought process.
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