1. Describe at least 2 ways that the use of a class web site like TeacherWeb could be used to support your future teaching. Provide some specific details for each example.
Teacherweb (or another simliar website) could provide to be a great tool for a teacher. In addition to being an excellent way for students to learn about you and find resources, it provides a great tool for providing information for them without having to answer individual questions and repeating the same information again. For example, I remember as a high school student there would be times that I would forget to write a homework assignment down. Of course, I was never the only one, and the teacher was undoubtedlyl bombarded with people requesting the same information or other similar information that had been provided in class. With a website, the teacher can post announcements, homework assignments, upcoming test dates and grades hopefully mitigating the unending stream of questions that have been previously answered. Another fantastic aspect about a site is that it gives parents access to this same information so that they can find out how their students are doing and what sort of things are being covered in class. Instead of calling up teachers to figure out what their children need to do, they can look up the website and figure out these things on their own.
2. Identify 2 ways students could use a class web site like TeacherWeb to enhance their learning. Provide some details for each way identified.
Students have a lot to gain from a site like teacherweb. Of course they can get their questions answered about various classroom assignments as mentioned above. However, I remember as a student I wasn't always that motivated and I didn't always know the right questions to ask. As a student, the available resources could provide to be an invaluable tool. I know I'm not always going to explain or facilitate understanding perfectly, but I can provide potentially useful resources that a student might have trouble locating on their own which can assist in their understanding of the material. Secondly, as I put on my teacher web, it can provide a way for them to provide some anonymous feedback. I know that students will rarely use it, but at least it is their and if there is something that they find truly outrageous or unfair in my class it gives them an opportunity to vent without fearing about the repercussions.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Educational blogs are providing an efficient tool for teachers to provide information to their students. It is sort of like a teacher website, but it is a good forum for presenting videos that you found interesting, or for presenting thought provoking discussion topics to be considered for the next day. For example there was a blog where a teacher posted some educational science videos that he had just recently viewed for his students to look. Wikis are a fantastic way to do group projects and discussion groups. As a math teacher, it provides a great tool for students to learn through interacting with their peers as opposed to just asking me every time they have a question. Or, to use an example from the web, they can be used to showcase students’ projects. It is a quick and easily accessible way for people to be able to see what your students have been accomplishing.
As a math teacher, I think it is a little bit harder to find uses for RSS/aggregators. They are a fantastic tool for keeping up on current events, so I suppose I would see if I could find a few websites on math news and keep an RSS feed from those. Also, potentially an RSS feed could be used to keep tabs on math websites that are in the process of being constructed. Or, it could be used to keep tabs on another class/group to keep tabs on data that is being collected so that we could use the data for a math project.
2 pros of using blogs in education
Blogs are a good way of informally reviewing content each day. Students could access it for a quick reminder on what was taught and maybe bring a response to a question you post to class. Or maybe post a response to a wiki.
Also, blogs could be used in the classroom to have students keep journals. This could be used to monitor their progress and collect data on how they are feeling about the class. It could also provide a way for students to find out what was taught in class without having to talk to the teacher if they miss a class.
2 cons of using blogs
They take time to keep updated. Just like all technology they require a lot of maintenance for them to be really useful. And if they are not maintained, students will stop checking them making them unreliable for conveying information. If unreliable, students may start using them as an excuse for missing things that have been posted.
For student blogs, especially in a math class students might view them as ridiculous tools that aren’t related to the subject and treat them as a waste of time instead of a reflective opportunity. Also, just like teachers, students might stop updating them regularly.
2 pros of wikis
They are great for group work. They can be used to help students interact and react to material. As the students interact, it helps socially construct knowledge. Just like with in class group learning, it gives them an opportunity to present material too each other in a different fashion than the teacher has.
They can work as a group when they have free time. Lots of group projects require a substantial amount of time and finding a time when everyone can meet can be exceptionally difficult. This gives the group a chance to meet and share information on their own time.
Cons
The teacher does not have control over what students post and deleting posts doesn’t delete them forever. Inappropriate content that gets posted is hard to get rid of permanently.
They can be viewed by anybody.
3) Describe at least 2 pros and 2 cons of using blogs and wikis in education.
As a math teacher, I think it is a little bit harder to find uses for RSS/aggregators. They are a fantastic tool for keeping up on current events, so I suppose I would see if I could find a few websites on math news and keep an RSS feed from those. Also, potentially an RSS feed could be used to keep tabs on math websites that are in the process of being constructed. Or, it could be used to keep tabs on another class/group to keep tabs on data that is being collected so that we could use the data for a math project.
2 pros of using blogs in education
Blogs are a good way of informally reviewing content each day. Students could access it for a quick reminder on what was taught and maybe bring a response to a question you post to class. Or maybe post a response to a wiki.
Also, blogs could be used in the classroom to have students keep journals. This could be used to monitor their progress and collect data on how they are feeling about the class. It could also provide a way for students to find out what was taught in class without having to talk to the teacher if they miss a class.
2 cons of using blogs
They take time to keep updated. Just like all technology they require a lot of maintenance for them to be really useful. And if they are not maintained, students will stop checking them making them unreliable for conveying information. If unreliable, students may start using them as an excuse for missing things that have been posted.
For student blogs, especially in a math class students might view them as ridiculous tools that aren’t related to the subject and treat them as a waste of time instead of a reflective opportunity. Also, just like teachers, students might stop updating them regularly.
2 pros of wikis
They are great for group work. They can be used to help students interact and react to material. As the students interact, it helps socially construct knowledge. Just like with in class group learning, it gives them an opportunity to present material too each other in a different fashion than the teacher has.
They can work as a group when they have free time. Lots of group projects require a substantial amount of time and finding a time when everyone can meet can be exceptionally difficult. This gives the group a chance to meet and share information on their own time.
Cons
The teacher does not have control over what students post and deleting posts doesn’t delete them forever. Inappropriate content that gets posted is hard to get rid of permanently.
They can be viewed by anybody.
3) Describe at least 2 pros and 2 cons of using blogs and wikis in education.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
MI project
My biggest strength according to the quiz I took on multiple intelligences was my interpersonal intelligence. I scored 8/10 on it whereas the rest of my scores hovered around 40-60.
According to the surfaquarium website, the core characteristics of this are Affective awareness, ethical awareness, self-regulation and metacognition. That is, being aware of people’s feelings, knowing my principles, being aware of myself and being aware of my own thoughts. For me personally, I am really into metacognition, affective awareness and ethical awareness. I am a little less into self regulation.
As for students who are interpersonal, they are generally very comfortable with who they are and what they like. They know their strengths and weaknesses and the often have a strong sense of justice and fairness. In the classroom this can be supported by differentiating instruction, allowing time for reflection, self-assessment and allowing the students to have some choices. With technology specifically, this intelligence can be supported with things like journals, surveys, real time projects and self-assessments.
I can effectively impact people with all sorts of learning styles by first observing what sort of styles or intelligence they have and then using various online resources to investigate effective ways to teach to their styles. Also, a very important component of teaching is making sure that you are taking advantage of using multiple way of presenting information so that it is easier for all people to comprehend the lessons you are presenting.
Journals
My biggest strength according to the quiz I took on multiple intelligences was my interpersonal intelligence. I scored 8/10 on it whereas the rest of my scores hovered around 40-60.
According to the surfaquarium website, the core characteristics of this are Affective awareness, ethical awareness, self-regulation and metacognition. That is, being aware of people’s feelings, knowing my principles, being aware of myself and being aware of my own thoughts. For me personally, I am really into metacognition, affective awareness and ethical awareness. I am a little less into self regulation.
As for students who are interpersonal, they are generally very comfortable with who they are and what they like. They know their strengths and weaknesses and the often have a strong sense of justice and fairness. In the classroom this can be supported by differentiating instruction, allowing time for reflection, self-assessment and allowing the students to have some choices. With technology specifically, this intelligence can be supported with things like journals, surveys, real time projects and self-assessments.
I can effectively impact people with all sorts of learning styles by first observing what sort of styles or intelligence they have and then using various online resources to investigate effective ways to teach to their styles. Also, a very important component of teaching is making sure that you are taking advantage of using multiple way of presenting information so that it is easier for all people to comprehend the lessons you are presenting.
Journals
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