Mathematics 24x7

The social network group that I joined and really interested me was Mathematics 24x7. The url is http://mathematics24x7.ning.com. This group is all about math. They have lots of different forums on math ideas and blogs with teachers asking other teachers questions. It seems very useful to me because teaching is all about sharing and there are lots of great ideas on there and lots of people to ask for help. There are even videos on there for helpful ways to teach different topics. Teaching is all about collaborating and helping each other. This group would be very helpful in that aspect and I would be able to get a lot of great ideas for my own classroom and ways to help my students and myself.

Learners of Today

A learner is like technology, if they are not interested in it and it is not easy for them to understand, then they do not want anything to do with it. Like technology for us as adults, when some new type of technology comes out if it is not interesting to us or easy for us to understand how to use it, then we don't want anything to do with it. Teachers need to strive to make lessons more interesting to students rather that just note taking, reading, and homework. If a new topic is introduced to a student and it is made to seem interesting and taught in a way that the student will understand it then they will want to learn it, but if it is boring and dry they shut down and tune out the teacher. An important point that George Siemens makes in his article on Connectivism is that "Informal learning is a significant aspect of our learning experience. Formal education no longer comprises the majority of our learning. Learning now occurs in a variety of ways – through communities of practice, personal networks, and through completion of work-related tasks." Students need to be engaged and interested in order to learn and that is not done through formal learning like it used to be. Students need to practice and do hands on to learn, not be tested over and over again until they get it. Another good point George Siemens brings up in his video called the Network is the Learning is "The way we are connected to other individuals is largely responsible for our ability to continue to stay current in the field." If students get to communicate and connect with other students about what they are learning they are more likely to understand what is going on than just with the teacher telling them. There is so much information out there that we are not all going to get it all the time but through communication with others that can help greatly. Other individuals may help make it more interesting for them and sometimes easier to understand.

References:

Siemens, G. (2005, January). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, Retrieved November 20, 2005

The Network is the Learning http://www.youtube.com/watchv=rpbkdeyFxZw&feature=PlayList&p=3E43054A8703F57A&index=4

Retrieved September 15, 2009

Blogs in the classroom

Blogs are something very new to me, I have heard about them before, but never used them. In the one day that I have been working on my blog I have learned so many new and interesting things. I have also saw so many different ways to use this in the classroom. The situation I am in right now in my school is I am a Teaching Assistant in two Algebra 1.1 9th grade math classes and I also work in the learning center with students who need AIS help in math. The blog can be used many different ways with my students. One way it can be used with my math classes is I can update it daily and keep the homework posted on there so if the kids need it they can easily access it and also since we use smart boards in math at my school I can also post the daily notes for students with a quick click of a button just incase they need them at home. This would be very helpful for the students, especially the special ed kids that I work with because they sometimes need just a little bit of extra help and their parents like to be connected too! With a blog that is possible. The students can comment on something if they don't understand it and if I can get back to them that night, if not then I know what to go over ahead of time the next day. Another way the blog can be used is with my learning center kids. I do not have specific lessons with them, but since I know what they are working on with their other teachers I can have an area for them to start the day off. When they walk into learning center they get on a computer, go on my blog, and do a problem of the day. The problems will incorporate what they worked on the day before and what they will be working on. This will help them so much stay focused and know what is expected that day. Lastly another way the blog can be used is just a general overview for all of math. The different formulas that are used in the different areas (algebra, geometry, trig, calc) and helpful hints for taking exams, etc. Students love technology if teachers can find ways to help students learn by using technology the students will learn so much more! They will have fun on the computer and be learning math, what more can you ask for!

Getting Acquainted

I am from Lewiston, attended Niagara Wheatfield for high school and NU for undergrad.
I am a TA special ed math in grand island school district
I have not visited any other country (besides Canada), would love to travel to Europe, Italy, etc.
I love cheerleading, I coach JV/varisty at Grand Island and I coach 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders for NWAA