Before I get started... I'm a slacker and forgot who my group is! :( I think its Jan Walker, Liz Speakman and Jenny Wallace? Help - so I know who's post to respond to! Thank you!
First, I'd rate myself about a 2.
My question is along the lines of.... what happens when technology is used in the classroom? Does it affect student learning or motivation or both?
I left the last meeting kind of frustrated because I really want to use technology to help my students learn - but I wasn't sure what extent that was being done. I wanted to reevaluate how I was using my technology and the activities and lessons we did with it. I'll be honest, I haven't really used the technology much the past few weeks.
I was in the middle of trying to come up with a meaningful vocabulary lesson for my financial algebra class. They never seem to take the vocabulary words seriously. The class is probably one of the most useful they will ever take and they aren't relating vocab to the real world! So I came across this website called Pixton where you can make your own comics. I was a little worried at first, but their is an education section where teachers can make up their own classrooms, assign projects and monitor students. So I dove in. Thank you creators of Pixton! The assignment was to use 5 vocab words in a "real-life" comic. Honestly, I wasn't that impressed with many of their final projects - but the conversations they were having with their partners on how to use those words were amazing! They were thinking on a much higher level about the vocabulary. Overall, I'm pretty pleased. :)
As for my Algebra classes, I'm still collecting data. This week we did a review using groups and every 4-5 minutes, one of the members switched groups. I explained how this meant that you would be talking, learning and teaching from potentially the entire class if everyone held up their end of the bargain. It worked really well. We'll see how their test goes.
I guess what I need from the group is maybe some ideas on how to incorporate more technology? Or at least how to incorporate it meaningfully? I'm thinking I'm going to try to incorporate it at least once a week. Then, I can make sure I have data on lectures, group work and technology? Any thoughts are appreciated!
Courtney, my group is Lisa P., Cathi B and Tina B. Liz
ReplyDeleteThanks! That narrows it down! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this would be very fun, but for vocabulary we have incorporated digital flash cards and we have a site we create them on it is www.flashcardmachine.com We have the students study the flash cards and then the site has a quiz that it will give the students and it keeps track of their score as they go through the list of words. We then have a vocabulary jeopardy game that we play on the smart board. They like the jeopardy. We can do the flash card machine on the iPods also. We usually have them pair up and work on the flash cards. I really liked your idea of the comics that sounded pretty cool. Just some thoughts, hope they help.
ReplyDeleteOur group is you, Jenni W., Jan W. and Kristina :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris! I haven't actually used the flashcard idea before... but I've seen a different site. I'm going to check yours out though, because the one I have isn't necessarily the best. I like the quiz part!
ReplyDeleteI have used jeopardy and other games like it on my SMART board.... but since it's math, I have always had trouble grouping students and still getting everyone to do the review problems. Some of them (that need it most) rely on the others in the group and don't practice themselves. Any ideas for accountability on those types of games??
I know the accountability issue always comes up. I have used white boards in the past and after the question is given each of the students has to write their answer on the white board and then they share their answers. This way they all have to give an answer and if the majority of the group gets it right they get the points if you have one getting the answer right they don't. It's not perfect, but at least they have to write something down and show the group. They usually do bad the first time and then they try the next because they don't want to be the one in their group getting all the wrong answers all the time. Just a thought. It's much easier with vocab. because they just have to write one word.
ReplyDeleteCourtney,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the comic strip to me in passing while at DEN. Sorry I didn't attend to what you were saying more at that time. This tool sounds so cool! I agree with you that the rich conversations students engaged in about vocabulary is much more important than the comic strip final project! I hope you are not as frustrated with your project. It sounds like you are doing really good.
That's a good idea Kris. I'll try that! I just need more whiteboard markers - haha.
ReplyDeleteHolly - It's ok, no biggie, we were all busy. I'm not too frustrated - I just hope I'm doing ok incorporating the technology. :)