Web 2.0

As one of the assignments for Technology and Education class that I am currently taking for Grad School, I worked with several of the "Web 2.0" resources available to teachers.

I used bubbl.us, animoto, glogster, and voicethread for my project.

I would have to say that bubbl.us, for making concept maps,  was may favorite one to work with and then glogster, for making a poster, was my second choice.

Animoto and voicethread were my least two favorites to use. I can see how they could be useful if the students were to use either to discuss the mathematicians or how a mathematical idea was developed through time.

In fact, I shared my concept map with another teacher and they like it well enough that I gave them the web address so they could create their own concept maps.  (After all, we have to share with each other. Right?)


Here is my concept map for polygons:

Link to my voicethread project

Link to my animoto project. 

Link to my glogster poster on triangles.

Week Two - Should Students Play Games In School?

If we think back to our own days in grade school and remember the things that we enjoyed the most, for many of us it was the time we got to play on the monkey bars or swing on the swings or even playing dodge ball. It therefore seems almost impossible that someone should say that students should not be allowed to play computer games in school, as for many of them the computer is their playground.  There were many life lessons learned on the playground by most students and that is still true today.

There are going to always be those who claim that there is too much entertainment going on in the American classroom today, and at times I am one of those who not only says it but screams it.  However, I do believe that when used appropriately as a supplement or to reinforce  the lesson that is currently be covered there is nothing wrong with the use of games.  The games cannot be used as the sole means for the student to achieve success in the class, however.  I have seen students improve their vocabulary with the use of a teacher made Jeopardy board that is specific for the course and some student have used alge-blaster to improve their skills in solving equations and other mathematical skills. 

The goal that all educators should have is for their students to be successful in life as well as the classroom, and with the tech-no savvy student of today the "old folks" like myself sometimes have to be pulled into the 21th century and realize that sometimes technology can reach the students that a blackboard and chalk cannot.

The one thing we all have to realized is that the "old ways" still work but we should also be open to trying the "new ways" too.

Week One - Introduction

Hello Everyone,

I was beginning to think that I was going to have to wait until tomorrow when I was at school to do this blog.  Misery is a computer course when your computer does not want to work!!

Hope everyone is off to a great start.

After this class I have two Math classes and one more Education course to finish my degree.

Best of luck to everyone!