USM Computer Class (Sue Dunn)

When I told people I was taking a class that ran 8:30 - 4:30, they said I’d never make it through the day. Well, I had no trouble getting through the day, more than that I took an hour off at home and then went back at it for a couple more hours. I loved that Alice was so organized and the syllabus was clear.

Alice insisted that we read blogs every night. The first night I read them as I would  a textbook, as the week progressed I found myself reading for enjoyment. The names of the pioneers in this medium are becoming familiar. We are fortunate to have some of those people right here in the state of Maine. I am excited to learn more and get lost in the labyrinth of the blog world.

Alice has made it very clear to us that she will always be available to answer questions even after the course is over. That is evidence of her passion for the use of technology in teaching our students. I have learned so much and hope to be able to share it with the people in my district.

Thank you.

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I plan on doing 3 activities by September.

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I plan on completing a couple of projects before school starts in September, as well as to apply for the Best Buy Grant.

Project 1

WHAT: MHS Faculty Blog

WHY: 1. To inform faculty of current issues in the school.

2. To promote discussion on the issues.

3. To increase the use of technology in our school.

4. To improve the school climate and the quality of education at MHS.

HOW: I will open an account in edublogs and start with a posts discussing a couple of hot topics. Once the blog is started I will send the address to the MHS staff and then wait for the discussion to begin.

Project 2

WHAT: Share with my peers what I have learned this week.

WHY: To promote using technology in our school. Also, to encourage them to understand that it is time to do both old and new things in a new way.

HOW: I will organize my notes and create a webpage using Weebly. I will post the page on my Blog.

Project 3

WHAT: I am going to complete the Best Buy Grant.

WHY: I’d like to have a LCD projector mounted in my classroom.

HOW: I will plead my case that it would benefit my students to have mathematics taught in a new way. Actually, I use GeoSketch pad in my classes and sometimes use the internet to give a visual description of a topic. For example in Algebra 2, we were learning about exponential equations, I pulled up a growth chart to show the shape of an exponential graph. The kids enjoyed learning what percentile they were in height and weight. Needless to say, the discussion then led to nutrition and exercise. Who says math can’t be fun and informative?

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I agree that we do need to listen to our students. I had a student that returned to school this past year after leaving school the previous year. All he did was to play video games, he ended up repeating his freshman year. He stated more than once that he wasted that year. A friend of my daughters just told me that he stopped participating in World of Warcraft because he wanted to do better in school. His words were that it “sucks up your life”.  The comments by both of these boys make me nervous. Like most things in life, MODERATION.

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As each day passes I am starting to agree with the author that Blogs have a place in the classroom.

The question is how do I use blogs in a high school mathematics class? My thought is to start a blog for each class and have them comment and question. I could post a question like…Do you have any suggestions for how I should teach proofs? I can only imagine the comments. It might be fun.

I’d love to read ideas on how to use Blogs in a high school math class.

I am planning on starting a Faculty Blog.

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Yes, yes, I know we need to “synch” up and it is very exciting to read what other people are doing, but I keep thinking that I need to prepare them for the next level (college). They need to be prepared to take SAT’s/ACT’s and placement exams. This might be a case of changing from the top down. If the colleges demanded a more tech savvy learner we would be more likely to use the technology at the high school level. Having stated my hesitation or my worry, now my challenge is to find a way to integrate the technology in teaching the concepts the students need to be successful at the next level.

I agree with the author when he says that teachers are using their computers for administrative duties. It is a start, this past year our school started to use powerschool/powergrade. After becoming more comfortable with PS/PG, some of my more reluctant peers started using the computers as an educational tool.

I am excited about the prospects of teaching with the new technology or should I say facilitating, however I do not want to become an MC.

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Until today my only experience with blogs was reading the responses to Portland Press Herald articles. It didn’t take me long to realize that blogs are full of information. I would venture to say that they contain an infinite amount of knowledge…It will take self-discipline to stop reading. I must say that I feel a bit overwhelmed with how much I don’t know.

After speaking with Alice I’ve decided to focus my attention on blogs that might enhance my ability to teach in the classroom. I plan to go out and find blogs that meet my needs. I assume to find a blog topic that would appeal to me I’d simply do a Google Search.

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Goals for MacComputer in the Digital Classroom 7/16 - 7/20
1. Learn how to use blogs in my classes. HOW ABOUT CREATING A BLOG FOR EACH CLASS? A PLACE THAT THE KIDS CAN SHARE IDEAS, SHORTCUTS, FRUSTRATIONS WITH EACH OTHER AND ME. SET UP BLOG GUIDELINES(RULES).
2. Learn how to effectively use the computer in my SpEd Geo Class
3. Learn all the cool updated technologies

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