I was lucky to be placed in the group learning about Blendspace for this assignment. I had never heard of Blendspace, but was fascinated by the abilities. In the sense of "Organizing Your Online Life" it was meant for teachers, or anyone curious of learning from multiple angles. An elevated Google search on an educational platform would be my best description. I chose to learn about it from a teacher's perspective and leave the student on the receiving end, rather than inclusion since my fall field assignment is limited in technology tools.
Navigation on the Blendspace.com website was very user friendly. Logging in was already linked to Google email accounts; no additional usernames and passwords to create. As you develop your canvas which your topic of interest changes can be made with ease. When looking for math games the YouTube sites were endless, Google sites and images were plentiful for use and decoration, my Google Drive pages were easily accessible if necessary to include the focus assignment.
When I asked a few friends that are teachers if they were familiar with Blendspace.com most were not. One used it for brainstorming, which is what I think I will do. Those without knowledge of it asked for the share page to be sent to them. Blendspace offers a way to integrate tech into the classroom directly and indirectly with its options. I am very thankful to add it to my bag of tricks and happy to share with others.
My first sharing experience was in class with Anthony and Liz who are both very knowledgeable in their subjects. It was very exciting to see their eyes light up when the results displayed for their own first topic of choice!
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Lure of the Labyrinth... Math Game...Don't be fooled by the "Save Your Pet" lure...
As a future math teacher I chose Lure of the Labyrinth, http://labyrinth.thinkport.org, to explore the world of gaming overlapping with math skills. After choosing to dive in like a future student, I did not read any rules and attempted to figure it out on my own. No such luck! I am game-illiterate beyond Tetris and Ms. Pac Man. After getting lost in the maze and having to click the back arrow enough times to navigate out, I decided to read the home page from the standpoint of a teacher...
The game is intended for pre-algebra middle school students. It claims to be easy to play without reading the rules, so I tested my children out, since they are much more familiar with computer games than me. The home page claims to include proportions, number sense, geometry and variables. With our collaborative efforts, we did not experience this material. Selecting a pet at the beginning was the highlight. As a reward for giving it a try we looked around for another math game to find... Math Man, http://www.mathplayground.com/mathman.html. This was a much faster, more interactive Pac Man-like game with order of operations involved. Yes, it is much more simple than geometry, but the fact that calculations were being performed accompanied by laughter and celebration seems much more worthwhile than frustrating navigation. I am very curious to read about Lure of the Labyrinth from a gamer's opinion.
To be more open-minded about video games, I read Good Video Games and Good Learning by James Paul Lee with search for positives. I agree with the motivation from challenge in the games. A sense of ownership was referred to and that supports our intent help students feel empowered. The ability to strategize could be enforced through games. Perhaps I need to further explore the educational gaming world before shutting the door.
The game is intended for pre-algebra middle school students. It claims to be easy to play without reading the rules, so I tested my children out, since they are much more familiar with computer games than me. The home page claims to include proportions, number sense, geometry and variables. With our collaborative efforts, we did not experience this material. Selecting a pet at the beginning was the highlight. As a reward for giving it a try we looked around for another math game to find... Math Man, http://www.mathplayground.com/mathman.html. This was a much faster, more interactive Pac Man-like game with order of operations involved. Yes, it is much more simple than geometry, but the fact that calculations were being performed accompanied by laughter and celebration seems much more worthwhile than frustrating navigation. I am very curious to read about Lure of the Labyrinth from a gamer's opinion.
To be more open-minded about video games, I read Good Video Games and Good Learning by James Paul Lee with search for positives. I agree with the motivation from challenge in the games. A sense of ownership was referred to and that supports our intent help students feel empowered. The ability to strategize could be enforced through games. Perhaps I need to further explore the educational gaming world before shutting the door.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Computerized Testing
Today in class we discussed computerized testing. We were able to test our own skills on a test site "Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium." I chose 10th grade math to explore within a comfortable setting. Immediately I was irritated by the calculator the covered my problem and had keys in irregular locations. The first problem addressed a comparison a cars traveling at differing speeds and distances. The answers required the cars to then be placed on a number line to visualize the comparison. On paper this problem would take less than a minute. On the computer the time tripled or quadrupled and mainly in the navigation category, not the knowledge bank. How will computers effect the ability for less technical students to exhibit their skills and knowledge?
The second problem was a simple equation that had no negative influence from the computer. If the entire test was like this I would have no relevant argument against computerized testing. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
The third problem I attempted, before running out of time, was a graphing problem that would be very easy to visualize with graph paper. Extensive time was necessary to create the grid, plot the points, then reread the problem because by then my frustration had overcome my cognitive problem solving skills and I had forgotten what the problem was asking. When I regrouped with the necessary visual in front of me the problem seemed simple. It disappointed me to know I was close to giving up and that the same feeling would likely overcome many high school students taking computerized tests. I think it would be helpful to have an interface that can be offered to the masses with more similarities to simple paper.
The second problem was a simple equation that had no negative influence from the computer. If the entire test was like this I would have no relevant argument against computerized testing. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
The third problem I attempted, before running out of time, was a graphing problem that would be very easy to visualize with graph paper. Extensive time was necessary to create the grid, plot the points, then reread the problem because by then my frustration had overcome my cognitive problem solving skills and I had forgotten what the problem was asking. When I regrouped with the necessary visual in front of me the problem seemed simple. It disappointed me to know I was close to giving up and that the same feeling would likely overcome many high school students taking computerized tests. I think it would be helpful to have an interface that can be offered to the masses with more similarities to simple paper.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
website, too... no, really... lack of content at this time
https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/mrs-rachel-kreuzer-s-website/
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
John Dewey - Constructive Learning
"My Pedagogical Creed" written by John Dewey is full of inspiring information for teachers. He breaks down education to be dependent on reaching within the student to connect their psychological and sociological qualities to the subject being taught. As teachers, we need to approach the opportunity as solving a puzzle or mastering a maze... blindfolded in some instances. Integrity will be necessary on our part, as well as the willingness to accept failures as if they are simply wrong turns that can be fixed through proper navigation... recalculating... The lucky chance that we have as teachers to help students discover the endless tools of knowledge within each of them and point them in the direction to apply this metacognitive wealth is truly rewarding.
Dewey defined school as a social institution. I agree with the importance of recognizing that many social behaviors are developed at school and learning to be aware that together everyone is an equivalent piece of the school community. However, I feel Dewey's opinion that the teacher is not needed to install moral values and social guidance and has lost some value in today's society. Parental and family involvement has dissolved in many homes, leaving the opportunity for teachers to eliminate some of these vacancies. This is supported by Dewey's belief in education as a most effective instrument of social progress.
John Dewey is often identified in the technology arena of education. Interesting that he published many of his ideas before the turn of the 20th century and passed long before iPads were considered in the classroom. Despite this time warp, he has suggested many ideas for education that are still innovative. Putting the student in the center of the learning process as focus and not the sponge was a starting point. The importance of application and hands-on experience over memorizing facts has been discussed by many educators, but missed on the many avenues that are continuously pushing standardized tests to determine knowledge levels. This approach does not include Dewey's "learning by doing" philosophy. I plan to support his idea that the students are the center of the classroom and as teachers, we are present to facilitate the educational process that they can develop through their creativity, schema, and with guidance to obtain constructive learning.
BYOD, Bring Your Own Device to school sounds ridiculous to me. The ability to teach amongst the many life distractions in the classroom only grows when incorporating approval of, "Look at my new toy." As strong enforces of social justice, let's help the students dig deep into their internal google and create, explore, and test the solutions their internal hard drive has to offer!
Dewey defined school as a social institution. I agree with the importance of recognizing that many social behaviors are developed at school and learning to be aware that together everyone is an equivalent piece of the school community. However, I feel Dewey's opinion that the teacher is not needed to install moral values and social guidance and has lost some value in today's society. Parental and family involvement has dissolved in many homes, leaving the opportunity for teachers to eliminate some of these vacancies. This is supported by Dewey's belief in education as a most effective instrument of social progress.
John Dewey is often identified in the technology arena of education. Interesting that he published many of his ideas before the turn of the 20th century and passed long before iPads were considered in the classroom. Despite this time warp, he has suggested many ideas for education that are still innovative. Putting the student in the center of the learning process as focus and not the sponge was a starting point. The importance of application and hands-on experience over memorizing facts has been discussed by many educators, but missed on the many avenues that are continuously pushing standardized tests to determine knowledge levels. This approach does not include Dewey's "learning by doing" philosophy. I plan to support his idea that the students are the center of the classroom and as teachers, we are present to facilitate the educational process that they can develop through their creativity, schema, and with guidance to obtain constructive learning.
BYOD, Bring Your Own Device to school sounds ridiculous to me. The ability to teach amongst the many life distractions in the classroom only grows when incorporating approval of, "Look at my new toy." As strong enforces of social justice, let's help the students dig deep into their internal google and create, explore, and test the solutions their internal hard drive has to offer!
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Give me some numbers.......
As I am thrilled to pursue my dream to teach high school math, the amount of verbiage required to get there is incredibly challenging. The little bits on math that arises out of pure randomness at this time is like fireworks on the 4th of July! Along with the writing, I am learning some new tricks. I have created/shared a Google Doc, Google Sheet, and as you can see created a Blog. Thanks for visiting! 83594750246340103-30894 Sharing some random yet beautiful numbers!
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