Hello all of you faithful "Tyler on Technology" followers (if there are any),
I am sad, but not too sad, to say that this will be my final posting on the blog. I will keep blogging, but not in this venue. My wife Emily and I will be blogging about our young son Leo. But, this technology blog has run its course.
And a good course it was. I remember throwing up my first posting and being so excited about it. Now it is just another posting. I have gotten quite comfortable in my Web 2.0 skills. This program has been great in exposing all of the students to a good many different tech tools. For that I am glad. I love wiki's, blogs, Voicethreads, podcasts and so many other tools. These tools are great and I am so glad that I learned about these technologies.
This brings be to my current class, New and Emerging Technologies. In this course I wrote a plan to use an online learning module, a persuasive report to educate my colleagues, and an introduction that could be used to help get a grant for the technology. This process has helped me realize that if I sit down and put a plan together for technology, I can help my school make some big advances. This project is actually something that I am already working on! Some other teachers and I have been working on the Moodle that our school currently has running. We are writing curriculum and are trying to put together some valuable tools. It is hard work, but I feel the results will be great.
I feel that this course has also got me to see the new technologies that are coming down the pike. I have been very excited about the new tools such as Ipads, games, and MUVE's. I feel like I can help the higher-ups in my school help purchase smart tools. No More TV's!! We need projectors, wi-fi, and other cutting edge and internet based tools. We were still buying VCR's last year!! We have to see what's coming and be ahead of the curve if we want to be leaders in technology. I feel that this course has helped me become that leader.
It has been a good run here on Tyler on Technology. I appreciate all of the help and advice that everyone has given me. Good luck to everyone in the future. Keep teaching. These kids need us!!
God Bless,
Tyler
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Moodle? What is that?
Hey everybody!
Long time no post! I have a Screen Toaster Video that I would like you to check out if you have time:
http://www.screentoaster.com/watch/stUEpQSkBIRFtZSVtZXV9ZXlBQ/moodle_potential
Let me know what you think!
Tyler
Long time no post! I have a Screen Toaster Video that I would like you to check out if you have time:
http://www.screentoaster.com/watch/stUEpQSkBIRFtZSVtZXV9ZXlBQ/moodle_potential
Let me know what you think!
Tyler
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Final Blog Post on UDL and DI
Hey Everyone,
It has been a long time since the blog was furthered with another concise and yet informative post. But, I am always up to let everyone know how I am feeling about the class and how its going (or in this case, wrapping up).
First, I have to say that I am now a big fan of both UDL and DI. I have to say that the theory behind UDL aligns very well with my own philosophy. Why not set up a classroom so that everyone can learn? Especially when the set up makes it easier for everyone to learn? Who doesn't want that? DI also has its place in the classroom, and I know that they overlap quite a bit. This class has turned me on to both ideas.
The NING that my group has been using has been nothing but a wealth of tools for UDL and DI. I have found a some tools that I don't think that I could teach without now that I know they are there. This gave me a great idea though. I need to make sure that I have a place to both organize my tools and get my students access to those tools. Since I found them on this NING, why not list them and post them on a NING. This way I can empower my students by letting them choose the aides that they would like. So, if I had a student who likes text to speech software, he or she can jsut go to the class NING and start using the software. This is only one example, but the idea holds for all of the tools that I have found. If I am teaching my students a topic that fits in well with a certain tool such as visual aides or an online tools, I can mention it explicitly, but otherwise, I can let the students use the tools as they need them.
When it comes to how I think I will change my teaching immediately, I think that it is all about my mindset. I used to go and just assume that my lesson was going to be sufficient for all of my students. Now I know better. I have to stop and think about how my diverse students all receive my lesson. I cannot just assume that everyone will do just fine. I have to start looking for all of the issues that may occur. I have to anticipate how visual learners, ELL students, students on an IEP, and all of the other types of students in my class will react to my methods. As soon as I start planning for DI and UDL, my teaching will improve. I am sure of it.
This has been an eye-opening class. I am really glad to get an insight into these two teaching philosophies. I truly believe that I am a better teacher for it. I can't wait to see how my changes in my teaching approach affect my students learning. I hope it will work, but I am certain it can't hurt!
See you next time!
Tyler
It has been a long time since the blog was furthered with another concise and yet informative post. But, I am always up to let everyone know how I am feeling about the class and how its going (or in this case, wrapping up).
First, I have to say that I am now a big fan of both UDL and DI. I have to say that the theory behind UDL aligns very well with my own philosophy. Why not set up a classroom so that everyone can learn? Especially when the set up makes it easier for everyone to learn? Who doesn't want that? DI also has its place in the classroom, and I know that they overlap quite a bit. This class has turned me on to both ideas.
The NING that my group has been using has been nothing but a wealth of tools for UDL and DI. I have found a some tools that I don't think that I could teach without now that I know they are there. This gave me a great idea though. I need to make sure that I have a place to both organize my tools and get my students access to those tools. Since I found them on this NING, why not list them and post them on a NING. This way I can empower my students by letting them choose the aides that they would like. So, if I had a student who likes text to speech software, he or she can jsut go to the class NING and start using the software. This is only one example, but the idea holds for all of the tools that I have found. If I am teaching my students a topic that fits in well with a certain tool such as visual aides or an online tools, I can mention it explicitly, but otherwise, I can let the students use the tools as they need them.
When it comes to how I think I will change my teaching immediately, I think that it is all about my mindset. I used to go and just assume that my lesson was going to be sufficient for all of my students. Now I know better. I have to stop and think about how my diverse students all receive my lesson. I cannot just assume that everyone will do just fine. I have to start looking for all of the issues that may occur. I have to anticipate how visual learners, ELL students, students on an IEP, and all of the other types of students in my class will react to my methods. As soon as I start planning for DI and UDL, my teaching will improve. I am sure of it.
This has been an eye-opening class. I am really glad to get an insight into these two teaching philosophies. I truly believe that I am a better teacher for it. I can't wait to see how my changes in my teaching approach affect my students learning. I hope it will work, but I am certain it can't hurt!
See you next time!
Tyler
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Week 8 Final Reflection
Finally,
One final post to wrap up the class.
I am pretty satisfied with how my GAME plan worked out. I did get some real world applications involved in my classroom. The applications used a lot of different technologies. It all went really well.
My collaboration fell apart. I realize now that I was going about it all wrong. I was trying to bite off more than I could chew! I was picturing all kinds of live chats and Skype interviews. Really, I needed more emails and just regular correspondence. I think that I will eventually get in some collaboration going, but right now, I am going to focus on what is going right. So, I have learned a lot about how to incorporate real world applications and how they will fit into my units. Thus, the impact that the GAME plan had on my practice is an increase in the amount of real-world applications that I will be using. I plan on doing one in each of the courses that I teach this year.
I also think that I have learned how easy it is to use a form of technology in some aspect of my teaching. Whether it is in the body of the lesson or whether it is in the assessment, technology can be used. That will be the immediate change in my practice. Technology will start to work its way into my units with the applications.
Thanks for a great course everyone!
Tyler Winner
One final post to wrap up the class.
I am pretty satisfied with how my GAME plan worked out. I did get some real world applications involved in my classroom. The applications used a lot of different technologies. It all went really well.
My collaboration fell apart. I realize now that I was going about it all wrong. I was trying to bite off more than I could chew! I was picturing all kinds of live chats and Skype interviews. Really, I needed more emails and just regular correspondence. I think that I will eventually get in some collaboration going, but right now, I am going to focus on what is going right. So, I have learned a lot about how to incorporate real world applications and how they will fit into my units. Thus, the impact that the GAME plan had on my practice is an increase in the amount of real-world applications that I will be using. I plan on doing one in each of the courses that I teach this year.
I also think that I have learned how easy it is to use a form of technology in some aspect of my teaching. Whether it is in the body of the lesson or whether it is in the assessment, technology can be used. That will be the immediate change in my practice. Technology will start to work its way into my units with the applications.
Thanks for a great course everyone!
Tyler Winner
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Week 7 Reflection on the GAME Plan
Hey everyone. One final look at our GAME plans to see how they worked and to see what we have learned.
I have to say that I am glad that we learned about this process. I can't say that it was easy to have something new about the plan every week. I think the main thing I learned was that the G of the GAME plan (Goals) is the most important part. We have to set goals every year to get something new accomplished. It becomes too easy to just rest on what we have previously done in this profession. We have seen it in ourselves and in our colleagues. The ruts can become very deep. This is why we have to set (and write down) new goals every year to challenge ourselves and get a new tool, method, or strategy. Writing down goals is key to good teaching.
Having the goals about collaboration and real world applications made me really aware about the lack of these two aspects in my teaching. These are two things that I always planned to put into my teaching. When I was in my undergrad, I was all about these and other types of non-lecture teaching. But, the day to day grind got me hooked back on lecture. I have to STOP! It was great to work on this shift. I have already done two projects that use math applications, and they worked wonderfully.
When I looked at the NETS standards, they just look like a bunch of goals. They are all things that we aspire to do. If we do the teacher standards, then we will accomplish the student standards as well. When I compare them, the two sets are inseparable. One will follow the other. So, again I think that it is all about goals. If we as teachers set ourselves high tech goals, our students will have no choice but to accomplish student tech goals.
Agree?
Tyler
I have to say that I am glad that we learned about this process. I can't say that it was easy to have something new about the plan every week. I think the main thing I learned was that the G of the GAME plan (Goals) is the most important part. We have to set goals every year to get something new accomplished. It becomes too easy to just rest on what we have previously done in this profession. We have seen it in ourselves and in our colleagues. The ruts can become very deep. This is why we have to set (and write down) new goals every year to challenge ourselves and get a new tool, method, or strategy. Writing down goals is key to good teaching.
Having the goals about collaboration and real world applications made me really aware about the lack of these two aspects in my teaching. These are two things that I always planned to put into my teaching. When I was in my undergrad, I was all about these and other types of non-lecture teaching. But, the day to day grind got me hooked back on lecture. I have to STOP! It was great to work on this shift. I have already done two projects that use math applications, and they worked wonderfully.
When I looked at the NETS standards, they just look like a bunch of goals. They are all things that we aspire to do. If we do the teacher standards, then we will accomplish the student standards as well. When I compare them, the two sets are inseparable. One will follow the other. So, again I think that it is all about goals. If we as teachers set ourselves high tech goals, our students will have no choice but to accomplish student tech goals.
Agree?
Tyler
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Week 6 Wrap up!
Thanks for all of the comments folks!
I am glad that I am not alone when it comes to the lecture problem. I will work to get some variation into my lessons right away. Good luck everyone with the final two weeks. See you on the discussion boards!
Tyler
I am glad that I am not alone when it comes to the lecture problem. I will work to get some variation into my lessons right away. Good luck everyone with the final two weeks. See you on the discussion boards!
Tyler
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Week 6 GAME Update
Hey everyone,
Sometimes I think that it is hard to come up with something new (events) on our GAME plans every week. But, I think that I have come up with some new conclusions about my GAME plan.
What have I learned so far from my GAME Plan that I can apply to my practice?
I think that the one thing that I have learned is that students like real world applications and technology better than the normal pen and paper notes. I have to keep that in mind when I plan my new lessons and units next year.
What new goals do I have and what goals am I still working for?
I am still working on my goal of collaboration. It is hard to do. The effort needed and the teamwork that is needed is immense if I cannot get on the web. If you haven't been following my issues, I have one of the worst web filters in the history of web filters. So, I have been looking "in house" and the response has been less than perfect. So, I am continuing on a crusade at district office to let up on this craziness. I figure that if I fight that good fight, I can get things better in the long run. That is my new goal. Taking down the Filter!
What learning approaches will I try next time to improve my learning?
I will try more problem based learning. But, I will also try anything that gets me out of lecturing. I get tire of lecturing so much. We are only half way through the 2nd nine weeks in my school and I am already all lectured out. I have to work on this. I will not make it through my career if I have to lecture this much. Getting student centered lessons written will take a long time, but it is worth it!
This is where I am sitting with my GAME plan. Can't wait to see how yours' are going!
Tyler
Sometimes I think that it is hard to come up with something new (events) on our GAME plans every week. But, I think that I have come up with some new conclusions about my GAME plan.
What have I learned so far from my GAME Plan that I can apply to my practice?
I think that the one thing that I have learned is that students like real world applications and technology better than the normal pen and paper notes. I have to keep that in mind when I plan my new lessons and units next year.
What new goals do I have and what goals am I still working for?
I am still working on my goal of collaboration. It is hard to do. The effort needed and the teamwork that is needed is immense if I cannot get on the web. If you haven't been following my issues, I have one of the worst web filters in the history of web filters. So, I have been looking "in house" and the response has been less than perfect. So, I am continuing on a crusade at district office to let up on this craziness. I figure that if I fight that good fight, I can get things better in the long run. That is my new goal. Taking down the Filter!
What learning approaches will I try next time to improve my learning?
I will try more problem based learning. But, I will also try anything that gets me out of lecturing. I get tire of lecturing so much. We are only half way through the 2nd nine weeks in my school and I am already all lectured out. I have to work on this. I will not make it through my career if I have to lecture this much. Getting student centered lessons written will take a long time, but it is worth it!
This is where I am sitting with my GAME plan. Can't wait to see how yours' are going!
Tyler
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Week 5 and still going...
Hey everybody, I am getting a little behind on all of the stuff for this class! I hope that everyone else is coping better than I am!
As I look at my GAME plan, I am pretty happy about everything that is going on. Again, my two goals are to work on my collaboration in many different media and to try to get my students real world scenarios and problems to work with while they are learning. I have really nailed one of my goals out of the park.
How effective were your actions in helping you meet your goals? I have done one assignment for my students where they have written a paper on a real world application and they have used and infused all different types of technology! I have started looking through these papers, (I have a lot of grading to do) and they look spectacular. So, my actions have been really effective in meeting my second goal.
What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice? I have learned a lot about making real world assignment. These projects and problems are all over the place and they are not as hard to find as I thought. Many tech sites have problems that their products/software are great at solving. I just need to look around a little more and I can use them to teach or assess!
What do you still have to learn? What new questions have arisen? I still have to learn about collaborating with my colleagues. I thought that I found some great teachers to collaborate with, but some of my connections have fallen through. I still have some good leads, but timing is going to make this very hard. I am worried that I am going to lose all of my potential teammates as the year gets even busier. My new question is, where do you find collaboration partners?
How will you adjust your plan to fit your current needs? I am going to lower amount of out-of-classroom collaboration and just focus on the student to student in-classroom collaboration. I am going to use the resources that I have in my control and stop looking elsewhere. I think that it is more beneficial to use in-house collaboration 3 or 4 times a year rather than fight to get one out-of-classroom session. So, I am going to get some kind of collaboration in any way I can!
Hope your plans are going well!
Tyler
As I look at my GAME plan, I am pretty happy about everything that is going on. Again, my two goals are to work on my collaboration in many different media and to try to get my students real world scenarios and problems to work with while they are learning. I have really nailed one of my goals out of the park.
How effective were your actions in helping you meet your goals? I have done one assignment for my students where they have written a paper on a real world application and they have used and infused all different types of technology! I have started looking through these papers, (I have a lot of grading to do) and they look spectacular. So, my actions have been really effective in meeting my second goal.
What have you learned so far that you can apply in your instructional practice? I have learned a lot about making real world assignment. These projects and problems are all over the place and they are not as hard to find as I thought. Many tech sites have problems that their products/software are great at solving. I just need to look around a little more and I can use them to teach or assess!
What do you still have to learn? What new questions have arisen? I still have to learn about collaborating with my colleagues. I thought that I found some great teachers to collaborate with, but some of my connections have fallen through. I still have some good leads, but timing is going to make this very hard. I am worried that I am going to lose all of my potential teammates as the year gets even busier. My new question is, where do you find collaboration partners?
How will you adjust your plan to fit your current needs? I am going to lower amount of out-of-classroom collaboration and just focus on the student to student in-classroom collaboration. I am going to use the resources that I have in my control and stop looking elsewhere. I think that it is more beneficial to use in-house collaboration 3 or 4 times a year rather than fight to get one out-of-classroom session. So, I am going to get some kind of collaboration in any way I can!
Hope your plans are going well!
Tyler
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Week #4 the GAME continues
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
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
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
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Reflection on Bridging Learing Theory
The final week of reflection is always exciting. I get to see all that I have learned and wrap up another class on the way to a Master's Degree. Fun Stuff!
As I look back on the first paper that I wrote for this class, I really don't think that I have changed that much. Rather I think that this class has reinforced some of my basic beliefs about students and learning. Students learn in many ways, and I don't think that I will ever be in just one camp when it comes to a learning theory. I believe that the Behaviorist have it right when it come to actions. Students learn from experiencing consequences and reinforcements. The evidence for that is solid. I can't argue with it. But that is all about how students act. When it comes to what students think, I am still a cognitivist. Students have to map, organize and file all of the information that comes there way. Their minds are not simply video recorders, their minds are much more powerful and complex objects. The ideas presented in this course about dual coding and concept mapping all make too much sense to ignore! The only real changes that I can say I will make when it comes to my view on learning theory is the addition of social learning and constructivism. The evidence and thoughts provided by Dr. Orey really make sense. I never realized how much of an influence the people around us make when it comes to how we view the world. The "more knowledgeable other" is a sound idea, and I will look to that whole theory as I start to plan lessons.
The immediate change that I am going to make in my own instructional practice is an important one. I am going to do everything I can to get the students be active in their learning. I rely to much on the passive form of lecture. I would say that 90% of my teaching is lecture and examples. It is no wonder that my students shut down at the end of the year. It has to be extremely boring! I am going to make sure now that whenever I plan a lesson, I am going to first ask myself how I can make this an active process.
Two tools that I am going to use to accomplish the aforementioned change are the Voice Threads and Concept maps. When I was working with those tools, I was fully involved. They were fun to use, and they were not hard to integrate into lesson plans. I already have two lessons that I am envisioning for this upcoming school year. They will be great tools to have in the tool belt.
There are two long-term goals that I have for my instructional practice. First, I want to stay up with the newest forms of technology. To do this, I plan on attending all of the professional development that is offered to me. I also will take the time to search the Internet for the newest trends on the Blogs and teacher sponsored sites.
My second goal is to be as students centered as possible. This goes along with my immediate change that I want to make, but I want to make sure that this is a change that will last! I actually want to get very good at it and share it with my colleagues. I eventually want to have a position where part of my job will be advocating technology and all of its great uses to my building.
It has been a fun class and I am looking forward to the second half of the Master's Program. 5 down, 5 to go!
Tyler
As I look back on the first paper that I wrote for this class, I really don't think that I have changed that much. Rather I think that this class has reinforced some of my basic beliefs about students and learning. Students learn in many ways, and I don't think that I will ever be in just one camp when it comes to a learning theory. I believe that the Behaviorist have it right when it come to actions. Students learn from experiencing consequences and reinforcements. The evidence for that is solid. I can't argue with it. But that is all about how students act. When it comes to what students think, I am still a cognitivist. Students have to map, organize and file all of the information that comes there way. Their minds are not simply video recorders, their minds are much more powerful and complex objects. The ideas presented in this course about dual coding and concept mapping all make too much sense to ignore! The only real changes that I can say I will make when it comes to my view on learning theory is the addition of social learning and constructivism. The evidence and thoughts provided by Dr. Orey really make sense. I never realized how much of an influence the people around us make when it comes to how we view the world. The "more knowledgeable other" is a sound idea, and I will look to that whole theory as I start to plan lessons.
The immediate change that I am going to make in my own instructional practice is an important one. I am going to do everything I can to get the students be active in their learning. I rely to much on the passive form of lecture. I would say that 90% of my teaching is lecture and examples. It is no wonder that my students shut down at the end of the year. It has to be extremely boring! I am going to make sure now that whenever I plan a lesson, I am going to first ask myself how I can make this an active process.
Two tools that I am going to use to accomplish the aforementioned change are the Voice Threads and Concept maps. When I was working with those tools, I was fully involved. They were fun to use, and they were not hard to integrate into lesson plans. I already have two lessons that I am envisioning for this upcoming school year. They will be great tools to have in the tool belt.
There are two long-term goals that I have for my instructional practice. First, I want to stay up with the newest forms of technology. To do this, I plan on attending all of the professional development that is offered to me. I also will take the time to search the Internet for the newest trends on the Blogs and teacher sponsored sites.
My second goal is to be as students centered as possible. This goes along with my immediate change that I want to make, but I want to make sure that this is a change that will last! I actually want to get very good at it and share it with my colleagues. I eventually want to have a position where part of my job will be advocating technology and all of its great uses to my building.
It has been a fun class and I am looking forward to the second half of the Master's Program. 5 down, 5 to go!
Tyler
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Wrap up for Week 5
Thanks to everyone who commented on the Voice Thread and Thanks Leilani for the comment on the blog.
I will take your advice on trying to get students there on time. Consistency will be the key.
Leilani, the veteran teachers are still my MKO in my building. They will be for some time.
See you all next week as we get through another new piece of technology,
Tyler
I will take your advice on trying to get students there on time. Consistency will be the key.
Leilani, the veteran teachers are still my MKO in my building. They will be for some time.
See you all next week as we get through another new piece of technology,
Tyler
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Can You Socialize Too Much?
Hey everyone,
Week 5 huh? Where is the summer going? Well I hope everyone is having a good one.
I also hope that my students never read this blog because if they see me say that socializing leads to learning, I will never get them to shut up! Ha!
All jokes aside though, lets get down to brass tacks on this week's prompt. How do the learning resources this week match up with the idea of social learning? Pretty well I feel.
Social learning boils down to the idea of all students being an apprentice. I always think about how in my summer job, I learned how to pour concrete while working construction. I never read a book about it or took a test, I just followed around the guys who knew (or who looked like they knew) what they were doing and they helped me by answering questions and yelling at me when I screwed up. They were the "more knowledgeable others" and I learned.
I feel that the Voice threads definitely have the potential to follow this concept. I love the idea of posting difficult math problems and having student get on and leave comments about how to start the problem, difficulties with the problem, or potentially becoming a source of help for others. They can take turns being the experts that help each other move through the zones of proximal development.
Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski (2007) have a lot of ideas that seem to really jive with social learning because they allow students to work with each other as they create. If I had a science classroom and we were growing plants, I would definitely find (online) a classroom in another climate and try to compare data about how certain plants grow. I love the idea of collaborating on ePALS!
These authors also bring up awesome ideas about collaborative calendars and collaborative website creation that are all about learning socially. When Dr. Orey discussed the idea of a Jigsaw method in the DVD this week, I thought about how much fun it would be to take the information discovered by the students in Jigsaw groups and have them build a wiki or website together to share with others.
These resources this week are right on. I am starting to write down ideas for the school year already and I still have 5 weeks till the year starts!
Tyler
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Week 5 huh? Where is the summer going? Well I hope everyone is having a good one.
I also hope that my students never read this blog because if they see me say that socializing leads to learning, I will never get them to shut up! Ha!
All jokes aside though, lets get down to brass tacks on this week's prompt. How do the learning resources this week match up with the idea of social learning? Pretty well I feel.
Social learning boils down to the idea of all students being an apprentice. I always think about how in my summer job, I learned how to pour concrete while working construction. I never read a book about it or took a test, I just followed around the guys who knew (or who looked like they knew) what they were doing and they helped me by answering questions and yelling at me when I screwed up. They were the "more knowledgeable others" and I learned.
I feel that the Voice threads definitely have the potential to follow this concept. I love the idea of posting difficult math problems and having student get on and leave comments about how to start the problem, difficulties with the problem, or potentially becoming a source of help for others. They can take turns being the experts that help each other move through the zones of proximal development.
Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski (2007) have a lot of ideas that seem to really jive with social learning because they allow students to work with each other as they create. If I had a science classroom and we were growing plants, I would definitely find (online) a classroom in another climate and try to compare data about how certain plants grow. I love the idea of collaborating on ePALS!
These authors also bring up awesome ideas about collaborative calendars and collaborative website creation that are all about learning socially. When Dr. Orey discussed the idea of a Jigsaw method in the DVD this week, I thought about how much fun it would be to take the information discovered by the students in Jigsaw groups and have them build a wiki or website together to share with others.
These resources this week are right on. I am starting to write down ideas for the school year already and I still have 5 weeks till the year starts!
Tyler
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Week 4 wrap up
I would like to again thank everyone who commented on the blog this week. I am glad that you all enjoyed it.
I have been taking time to play with my newborn son and I can't wait to watch him learn as he grows. I wish I could fast forward with him and start using some of these ideas!
I am sure he will grow up fast enough!
Tyler
I have been taking time to play with my newborn son and I can't wait to watch him learn as he grows. I wish I could fast forward with him and start using some of these ideas!
I am sure he will grow up fast enough!
Tyler
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Caution...Constructionist Ahead
Week 4 and we are rolling ahead.
I love the ideas in constructionism. We learn when we try to construct things. The reason is that building is an active process. You have to think, hypothesize, try, rebuild, and invest mental energy when you are constructing something. It is a great theory.
I guess I have to talk about the prompt for this week though. How do the ideas presented in 11th chapter of the text by Pittler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski (2007) correlate with the ideas of constructionism. Well it all comes down to how information is learned. Instead of the teacher giving all of the details about a subject and then testing on it, students get involved in projects and learn about the ins and outs, main ideas, and small details while playing around.
The interactive spreadsheets in the text allow students to put in data, build graphs, and analyze data. Instead of the teacher lecturing about interest, the students experience interest. They build their own realities and assimilate that into their own understandings. It is pure constructivism. It is the same way the students experience part of WWII in the gaming example in the book. They build their own understanding about the causes of the war by playing the the factors that caused it.
I know that this program was under my grade level, but I also love the program tha NASA put out about designing a planet "Astroventure." I had to play around with it until I got a planet to hold human life. I just played around with different factors until it happened and I learned about some astronomy terms. It was fun, and I build knowledge.
Anything that we give to students that has a potential to let them be creative, let them learn, and let them explore is great. I think that exploration is something that lacks in today's education. Everything is layed out, and the students feel that they have no wiggle room to learn. If we give them a little freedom in some constructivist lessons, I think that they will engage.
It will be fun.
Let me know what you guys think,
Tyler
I love the ideas in constructionism. We learn when we try to construct things. The reason is that building is an active process. You have to think, hypothesize, try, rebuild, and invest mental energy when you are constructing something. It is a great theory.
I guess I have to talk about the prompt for this week though. How do the ideas presented in 11th chapter of the text by Pittler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski (2007) correlate with the ideas of constructionism. Well it all comes down to how information is learned. Instead of the teacher giving all of the details about a subject and then testing on it, students get involved in projects and learn about the ins and outs, main ideas, and small details while playing around.
The interactive spreadsheets in the text allow students to put in data, build graphs, and analyze data. Instead of the teacher lecturing about interest, the students experience interest. They build their own realities and assimilate that into their own understandings. It is pure constructivism. It is the same way the students experience part of WWII in the gaming example in the book. They build their own understanding about the causes of the war by playing the the factors that caused it.
I know that this program was under my grade level, but I also love the program tha NASA put out about designing a planet "Astroventure." I had to play around with it until I got a planet to hold human life. I just played around with different factors until it happened and I learned about some astronomy terms. It was fun, and I build knowledge.
Anything that we give to students that has a potential to let them be creative, let them learn, and let them explore is great. I think that exploration is something that lacks in today's education. Everything is layed out, and the students feel that they have no wiggle room to learn. If we give them a little freedom in some constructivist lessons, I think that they will engage.
It will be fun.
Let me know what you guys think,
Tyler
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Week 3 Wrap up
I'd like to thank all of those who commented on my blog this week.
To answer some questions, I do have a smart board and the interactive nature of it will make my concept mapping all the more interactive.
I think that the main point of this week was about making connections. Whether it is connecting info to past experience through a virtual tour or connecting ideas in a concept map, connections mean learning to a cognitivist teacher. We have to make connections with our kids so they can make their own connections.
It was a good week. Let's keep it up!
Tyler
To answer some questions, I do have a smart board and the interactive nature of it will make my concept mapping all the more interactive.
I think that the main point of this week was about making connections. Whether it is connecting info to past experience through a virtual tour or connecting ideas in a concept map, connections mean learning to a cognitivist teacher. We have to make connections with our kids so they can make their own connections.
It was a good week. Let's keep it up!
Tyler
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