Hey Everyone, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you are with your loved ones and don't have to do too much with the Class this week! I know that I am headed home Friday to see Mom. Hope you all get to see your loved ones as well!
As for my game plan, I am making some progress. I am working on my collaboration in many different media and I am trying to get my students real world scenarios and problems to work with while they are learning. Those were my two main goals.
Let me address the questions brought up to us this week in the prompt. First, am I finding the resources that I need. For the most part, yes. I have found some great science teachers who are willing to do some collaboration this year! This was a big problem at first because the web filter at my school will not allow for video or hardly any pictures. I tried to get this loosened, but I was essentially told that fighting this would be a losing battle. So I had to go with an in-building collaboration and I found some teachers. This is invaluable! So I am finding what I need. The real world problems that I also want to start working on have been easy to find/design, so I am good on that front as well.
To the question of If I need to modify my action plan, I don't see any big modifications right now. My online collaboration is looking grim, but I do not want to take it out yet because I am holding on to hope that I will get some clearance on the web sometime this year. When that will be, I am not sure. I just can't give up on that yet.
We are also being asked, what we have learned so far. I have learned that setting these projects up take a TON of time. It will be great next year when I have a lot more of the ground work laid ahead of time, but the first time through is brutal. I have also learned that other teachers are excited about what I am trying to do. They are waiting to see how it works out. Hopefully it goes well and I can get them on board.
And when it comes to new questions. I have to say that I don't have any yet. All of the questions I have about time frames, logistics, student opinion, etc., I had from the beginning. I am sure that I will come up with some more soon, but I am honestly dealing with the same questions that I had from the start.
I am excited to hear how everyone else's GAME plans are going. See you on the blogs!
Tyler
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Week 3 wrap up
I am glad to see that all of our GAME plans are going.
I am going to work on getting that Internet filter down and getting some collaboration time. I was glad to hear that some schools work that time into that work week. I think that I could push for something like that. I am sorry to hear that the collaboration time is not going well for some of you. Try to turn it around. Show your colleagues how valuable that time really is!
I am going to work on getting that Internet filter down and getting some collaboration time. I was glad to hear that some schools work that time into that work week. I think that I could push for something like that. I am sorry to hear that the collaboration time is not going well for some of you. Try to turn it around. Show your colleagues how valuable that time really is!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Week Three, The resources needed
When I look at this GAME, I am wondering if I bit off more than I can chew!
But I know that it will be worth it if I can pull it off. Again, my GAME plan is to work on collaborating (teachers with teachers and students with students in real and virtual environments) and getting real world applications of math.
So far, I have assigned one real world application to my Pre-Calc students. They have 2 weeks to work through this and use equations and series to model an infection in the body. However, when I set it up, I made it an individual assignment so it won't work in both of my goals. I have given them multiple technology tools and I am working hard on it.
But, on Collaboration, I have a lot of work to do. Right now, I am collaborating with the teachers who teach the same courses as I do, but I am not working outside of this little bubble that I find myself in. To get out of this bubble, I need better Internet access. Right now, my school filter blocks anything that that isn't text! It is ridiculous. No video, rarely a picture, no audio...it is stupid. I have to get some more access to get to the good stuff.
Secondly, I need some meeting time with all of the science and other teachers. I would like some common planning time. To do planning with teachers, I need to know when the Psych teachers are teaching stats, when the physics teachers are teaching vectors, and so on. So, some inter department planning is a great thing, but rarely do I get any of it!
So, to collaborate, I have to find an easier filter on the Internet, or find a willing partner in my school. Once I find that, I will be good to go. Some other resources will be needed, I am sure. But I won't know until I get to that point.
But I am working on it!
Can't wait to see how you guys are doing,
Tyler
But I know that it will be worth it if I can pull it off. Again, my GAME plan is to work on collaborating (teachers with teachers and students with students in real and virtual environments) and getting real world applications of math.
So far, I have assigned one real world application to my Pre-Calc students. They have 2 weeks to work through this and use equations and series to model an infection in the body. However, when I set it up, I made it an individual assignment so it won't work in both of my goals. I have given them multiple technology tools and I am working hard on it.
But, on Collaboration, I have a lot of work to do. Right now, I am collaborating with the teachers who teach the same courses as I do, but I am not working outside of this little bubble that I find myself in. To get out of this bubble, I need better Internet access. Right now, my school filter blocks anything that that isn't text! It is ridiculous. No video, rarely a picture, no audio...it is stupid. I have to get some more access to get to the good stuff.
Secondly, I need some meeting time with all of the science and other teachers. I would like some common planning time. To do planning with teachers, I need to know when the Psych teachers are teaching stats, when the physics teachers are teaching vectors, and so on. So, some inter department planning is a great thing, but rarely do I get any of it!
So, to collaborate, I have to find an easier filter on the Internet, or find a willing partner in my school. Once I find that, I will be good to go. Some other resources will be needed, I am sure. But I won't know until I get to that point.
But I am working on it!
Can't wait to see how you guys are doing,
Tyler
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Week two wrap up
One quarter of the way through the class already? Wow!
I just wanted to say thanks to Heather and Susanna for commenting on the Blog. To answer your questions, Heather, I am trying the applications with my upper level juniors right now. They are amazing mathematicians so I am starting with modeling logistics and viral particles in an infected person. And no, it is not swine flu based, it is purely an imaginary disease that I made up.
Susanna, I only have Juniors and Seniors right now. So I am afraid that it could be hard to find some connecting content right now!
I am glad that you both like my GAME plan. Susanna, I agree that it is hard to get people to do the extra work. But I will beg! Heather, I like your website, and I am sad that your teachers never got you any real world math exposure. I will try to make sure that none of my students have that fate!
See you all next week!
Tyler
I just wanted to say thanks to Heather and Susanna for commenting on the Blog. To answer your questions, Heather, I am trying the applications with my upper level juniors right now. They are amazing mathematicians so I am starting with modeling logistics and viral particles in an infected person. And no, it is not swine flu based, it is purely an imaginary disease that I made up.
Susanna, I only have Juniors and Seniors right now. So I am afraid that it could be hard to find some connecting content right now!
I am glad that you both like my GAME plan. Susanna, I agree that it is hard to get people to do the extra work. But I will beg! Heather, I like your website, and I am sad that your teachers never got you any real world math exposure. I will try to make sure that none of my students have that fate!
See you all next week!
Tyler
Thursday, November 12, 2009
My GAME plan for the NETS-T
Hi everyone and Welcome to my blog:
I keep it pretty casual around here, but still try to make some good points about the Prompt for each week. The Picture I have up for my profile is with my little first born Leo. He is now 4.5 months and growing like a weed.
But let's get down to business. When I took a look at the NETS-T page, (http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf),
I really have concerns in two standards. These two are both under #1 Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity.
The first is letter B: Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. This is something that is the essence of the math that I teach. The idea that math has all kind of real world applications. And, now with the Internet, I have access to all kinds of real world applications and projects that are going on across the entire globe. Yet, I spend a lot of my time teaching solving methods out of a text book.
The second is letter D: Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments. I have a great science department and other great math teachers in my school. But, I have not done one collaborative project in the 3 year that I have been teaching. It is so difficult to get the time to get together and show students how adults collaborate and give them good examples upon which they can model their own behavior.
So, here is my GAME plan.
Goals: Once a semester I will have a project that applies some of the methods we have studied. I will incorporate technology tools like the Internet and software that people would use in the workplace. This way, students get some experience with tools that they will be using someday. Also, I plan for one of these application projects to be collaborative, where the students either build an online showcase of group work, work with students from another class in the school, or compare results in a virtual meeting with another class somewhere in the world. This way I can address both of the standards that worry me.
Actions: First, I will work on my collaboration. I need to schedule meetings with the other willing teachers in my building and also try to look on the net for online forums to meet teachers who need to partner up. Then, I will take what I find and write it into my content schedule so that it has a maximum impact on my students.
Monitor: I will check weekly that I have worked towards my goal of creating a collaborative learning environment that is applying the content that they have learned. I will need to make sure that I work on this planning for at least an hour a week until the planning is done.
Evaluate: After I get the new lessons in and taught, I will still keep looking to add more of the collaborative and application lessons. If not add, just replace to keep the ideas new and fresh. I also have to make sure that the lessons are beneficial, and not just fulfilling my goal of technology for technology's sake.
Let me know what you think of my GAME plan. I can't wait to read some of yours!
Tyler
I keep it pretty casual around here, but still try to make some good points about the Prompt for each week. The Picture I have up for my profile is with my little first born Leo. He is now 4.5 months and growing like a weed.
But let's get down to business. When I took a look at the NETS-T page, (http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf),
I really have concerns in two standards. These two are both under #1 Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity.
The first is letter B: Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. This is something that is the essence of the math that I teach. The idea that math has all kind of real world applications. And, now with the Internet, I have access to all kinds of real world applications and projects that are going on across the entire globe. Yet, I spend a lot of my time teaching solving methods out of a text book.
The second is letter D: Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments. I have a great science department and other great math teachers in my school. But, I have not done one collaborative project in the 3 year that I have been teaching. It is so difficult to get the time to get together and show students how adults collaborate and give them good examples upon which they can model their own behavior.
So, here is my GAME plan.
Goals: Once a semester I will have a project that applies some of the methods we have studied. I will incorporate technology tools like the Internet and software that people would use in the workplace. This way, students get some experience with tools that they will be using someday. Also, I plan for one of these application projects to be collaborative, where the students either build an online showcase of group work, work with students from another class in the school, or compare results in a virtual meeting with another class somewhere in the world. This way I can address both of the standards that worry me.
Actions: First, I will work on my collaboration. I need to schedule meetings with the other willing teachers in my building and also try to look on the net for online forums to meet teachers who need to partner up. Then, I will take what I find and write it into my content schedule so that it has a maximum impact on my students.
Monitor: I will check weekly that I have worked towards my goal of creating a collaborative learning environment that is applying the content that they have learned. I will need to make sure that I work on this planning for at least an hour a week until the planning is done.
Evaluate: After I get the new lessons in and taught, I will still keep looking to add more of the collaborative and application lessons. If not add, just replace to keep the ideas new and fresh. I also have to make sure that the lessons are beneficial, and not just fulfilling my goal of technology for technology's sake.
Let me know what you think of my GAME plan. I can't wait to read some of yours!
Tyler
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