I have many goals for my students and myself as an educator. My goals are closely alligned with the National Education Technology Standards (NETS). My personal goal is to foster the skills that I want my students to improve on and also to be able to design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences for my students (NETS*T #2). I also would like to develop multimedia for teaching math and aiming toward different learning styles.
I think it is very important for my students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills (NETS*S #4). Especially when it comes to Math, students need to be able to investigate word problems and analyze data. Another goal I have for my students is to develop initiative and self- direction when it comes to solving math problems. Students must be able to have apply existing knowledge to generate their own ideas (NETS*S #1). For example, when students are solving a complicated real- life math problem, they need to be able to dig back into their prior math knowledge. The students then need to be able to (without direction) research and visualize, even draw, that real- life problem. When it comes to communiacation and collaboration (NETS*S #2), I feel that many of my students are lacking in skills needed to work with their peers. My hope is to develop strategies to enhance these skills.
I currently use Microsoft Word and Power Point daily in my classroom to display notes and practice problems to my students. I have found both of these tools incredibly useful in the classroom. I also use "discovery streaming" and "you tube" to introduce new math concepts to my students; this has worked well in gaining the interests of my students. I have also used the TI-83 graphing calulator and computer software with my students to create "linear art projects". The students had to use multiple line segments to create a picture, and print it out in color.
I hope to learn how I can use blogging and wiki with my students to enhance collaboration and communication skills. I would also like to learn what other technology tools that I can use and different methods of teaching math. I hope to learn how to use different tools to help my students reach these goals that I have.
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Jessica, Your students are lucky to have you as a teacher! Your efforts to provide effective authentic, differentiated instruction will certainly move you towards your educational objectives. I think the collaboration and communication skills you develop will be a great model for your students and other teachers. I’m excited to follow your blog.
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog and agree with your enthusiasm for authentic learning--I definitely think this type of learning increases student desire as well as comprehension of concepts. I'm interested in knowing more about discovery streaming. In addition, I also think collaboration is important--blogging and wiki may help with this. I'll be watching your investigation of new ways to increase authentic learning and collaboration. Great job!
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI really think that using technology in a math classroom could open up some great new ways to reach students who may not be that interested in Math. Speaking from my own experience as a High School student I really was not that interested in Math classes because most of the teachers just talked a whole lot and wrote a lot of examples on the board. However with new technology and a lot of the ideas you stated in your blog may be able to help engage those students more and make them think on thier own and not just copy down what the teacher has on the board (like I did in school).