Thing 12: Slideshow

Thing 11: Photosharing with Flickr

Fliker provides much opportunity for both my students and me to explore and use already taken pictures to create a geometric patterns project. I can see asking students to go to Fliker and find specified symmetries and creating a portfolio illustrasting the topic. This would provide to be much easier or less complicated than having them take the pictures themselves, load etc. Also, this will require them to work on their copyright skills which can be an issue with online. Students are never realy sure it seems to what needs to be copyrighted and how. The picture above was taken by David Burns titled Geometric Patterns loaded for sharing purposes onto Fliker. I could also use the picture to spark a discussion about patterns we find.

Thing 10: Creative Commons

I found this very interesting!! I have never heard of Creative Commons nor have I ever noticed the CC on any websites that I visit but that means nothing since I do not always pay attention to everything on the page. I enjoyed browsing the OER Commons and found much use for some of the items within my subject area. One that I found that my students could have used last semester was an interactive exploration of triangles and their sides/angle relationships, 30-60-90. I despise re-inventing the wheel if someone else has already created something that I like and is willing to share!! This is one of those sites I have bookmarked and sent on to others.

I do use quite a bit of digital images, audio and video clips in my classes. Some of them are from sharing sites and others have been created by me or another member of the staff. When we create these, the school owns them as they are normally placed in as part of the curriculum content to be used throughout the semesters. We all know that they are property of the school! But even when we create something that is not for the school itself, we do have a tendency to share our materials with one another. We hope to help one another out and like I said before not re-invent the wheel.

Thing 8: Wiki World

Is there a wiki in my future?? The verdict is still out there on that one. I can see more of a usage for it in certain areas where as my specific class area of high school math not as sure. Maybe as we get into more of the curriculum and I can see the whole scope beyond just the new standards, I will see more of a wiki space for my students. As a teacher in general, I can see a wiki for math teachers to share or the school having one to create a community (which at one point we did and now we have twitter too). With that being said, I chose to investigate the math sites. I wanted to see how others were using the wikis. Were they informational? Did they involve sharing/discussion? Did they repeat? Did they have meaning? These were questions in my head along with would this work for me. Below are the three that I looked at along with the comments or thoughts:

Small Stones: This was very organized – like a book with all the information located on the lefthand side of the screen. You could easily maneuver between the weeks within the course. There was much information inside each link and was formatted such that the students could review what was going on for the week. Many tools were used in the “text” itself such as slideshows of the problems of the day. The one thing I think that was missing was possibly a discussion. I am sure that this feature would be more used if the students did not meet in class everyday. Then they could ask questions, etc. Couldn’t it be used at night where they could ask questions and possibly answer each other back?

Math12V Outcomes: This site is used as more informational for students to read. The wiki gives students what is needed to complete the portfolio. That is about about all. I was not really impressed with what the wiki had to offer. There needed to be some interaction. I did like the hall of fame aspect of it. Maybe I was missing a part of it – it just seemed a little more 1.0 vs. 2.0 other than that it was a wiki space.

Primary Math: This site was a great tool for elementary teachers. I really liked how it had information and was easily navigated. The tabs at the top along with the sidebars makes it easy to see where you want to go and to go back and forth between things. Also, at any point you were encouraged to make a submission. If you wanted to make a submission, it easily can be submitted. One thing I did not see was the open

Thing 8- Stretch

Let me begin by saying that I love Wikipedia!! I have been looking at the site and the information it has provided for quite sometime. I always use it as a resource and have sent my students to it for some factual math understanding. I can say that I never really use the discussions section of wikipedia. However, that could be that I am looking mostly at math items that tend to be black and white. So need to questions unless there is still no understanding of the material itself.

Now that I have said that I investigated an article, Euclidean Algorithm , which I found very approriate being that I am doing the technology development for a Geometry course. I thought okay this will help me with a different background of geometry and explain some items that maybe I have taken for granted as is. The article seemed very well written and thorough – going point by point talking about the algorithm. As for questions and revisions, this section was a little harder for me to follow. I felt lost trying to figure out what was being discussed. I can tell you that someone did ask a question as to why the wording gave an algorithm of zero when in actuality there is a rational expression we can use. The author took much time to discuss this with the individual in great lengths. Also, the article was reviewed by someone in particular -giving examples of what could be better and how.

I still love my wikipedia!!

Thing 5/7a: RSS Reflection and Finds

Okay, so I spent a little more time with my RSS than probably was necessary because I wanted to check everything out. Then I began thinking of ways I can use this for classes, my parents business and for my husband to keep up with the college football season. One can say that I have officially seen the light of the RSS – I am an official RSS pusher. In fact, I have already set-up my husbands for the upcoming football season (I was trying to be a help while he is getting his MBA). I would hate for him to miss out on the newest Va Tech queries. 

As for me, I like that can look at one spot for all my favorites even my daily horoscope (like to see if my stars are aligning in my favor or not for the day). As I have been checking the RSS, I found one article of great interest to me becuase it does point out something that we are learning here in the class. In the NY Times, Blogs Falling in an Empty Forest the author Douglas Quenqua makes a claim that the you really have to keep up with your blogging and make it of interest to others. If you do not, it is like a tree falling in a forest where nobody hears it fall. The author gives examples of those that have succeeded for a while but then take a turn or just do not keep up with it, like it is a passing fancy. This is not the only place in which I have read this – in another blog on Students 2.0, the blogger points out or asks why do people abandon their blogs. Is it a passing fancy? These are questions that come to my mind: How useful are blogs then? Will these be replaced as soon as I begin one for my class? If not that day, then I am sure shortly thereafter. In past reflection, I can see the uses for the blog but now, after reading the above I am starting to 2nd guess myself. Should I?

Thing 4: Blogging Begins with Reading

Blogging – how does it  facilitate learning?! How can it not facilate learning is more the question that comes to mind. Okay, I know that seems a little out there! Everything we do at some point or another is an opportunity to learn, especially at different points of our lives. As we get older somethings have become rote and we do without thought but at one point it was learning. How would blogging be any different? Blogging gives us an opportunity to grow and experience thoughts/ views beyond our “little worlds” and it gives us a voice that we otherwise may not use in certain situtations. I personally like it from other readings because I can get from it what I want to to get from it. In addition, I can respond to the readings by asking questions and commenting getting a better understanding or adding in my two cents. 

As I read through many of the blogs (yes I found myself wanting to read them all but had to limit my time), several really caught my eye and made me think. The first one was Teaching Brevity  because I can so sympathize with this individual. I hated hearing and still do “How long should it be?” when it comes to writing assignments. I can understand in math, to a lot of students this would be new and would need some direction but writing is writing. My standard reply is you write enough so that you feel you have fully answered the question. For each student that would be different based upon the topic. Some topics I can succinctly but my thoughts together while others I sort of have to round my way to them so why would a student be any different. I like how everyone thought it to be a traditional standard yet no one really knows how to “go around” addressing it.

Students, Information and Schools had me laughing. The only difference between now and then is that students have the technology where they really do not have to copy the information by hand. Why not simply write copy and paste?! There is times I wish I could do that Of course, I would cite my information correctly. Students do have all this access at their hands and they need to be shown how to use accurately and how to get them to think and produce on their own. 

Thing 2: Thoughts on Web 2.0

Can one be addicted to what Web 2.0 has to offer?? I would not say that I am addicted, just yet. I am sure on my way to being there though!! One could say that I am not as bad as my high school students in some areas but in others, I am probably worse than them. When I told my peers (both teachers and not) that I was taking this class, many of them think of Web 2.0 as a “program” such as Windows instead of what it really is. I have spent time explaining it to them – I am not sure all of them understand. Then again, many of them do not actually understand what I do as a profession, online teaching. Web 2.0 has changed my direction in life, after my master’s and learning about “online schools”, I became enthralled and just had to be a part of the cutting edge. I was no stranger to technology having always used in my traditional classroom. I was the teacher who would be willing to pilot a technology program in their math class and use the computer lab to do intergrated teaching with online programs.

With time and after a brief career in corporate America, I delve deeper into the world to the point where my teaching occurs 100%  online to students across the state. I headed in this direction because I saw an opportunity to help students really understand material and have them learn in a platform that would be benefical for them in their future ( as to what the workforce skills are looking for.) Does this replace the traditional classroom? No, that is still an integral part of learning. However, technology is a leader in the community and I want my students to have the tools necessary to be productive but to also add to the world around them. With many of the students coming up to the high school level, they are being more tech savy and I need to be able to reach them no matter the mode!! If we can create a conversation blogging, create podcasts – more power to all of us.  With Web 2.0, I do know that my students will have some understanding of it and that they have the most to benefit from it. They are the upcoming generation that needs tools in their toolbox and I want to be the one to provide them. Then that means, I have to be willing to learn using the same tools and be able to create them. Besides, I have a 2 year old and another on the way, I want to be able to be “cool”, converse with them and just be plain clued in.

Beyond my job, I have already professionally joined forces with other states to learn from their virtual schools through SREB (Southern Regional Education Board) to see how they are reaching the students with Web 2.0 and how I can apply them to my class. Of course, we share pedagogy just as we would sitting in the classroom. Almost all of my professional development and meetings occur online through different media. I am trying to keep abreast but it is not as easy as with technology changing at every moment!

Thing 1: Reflections on Lifelong Learning

Step 1: Get a blog. Yeah – done!!! =) I have always wanted to blog – my 77 year old grandfather has one on finance and is showing up all of his grandchildren when it comes to the 2.0 experience. I decided that I would be the one to take him on being that I work in the online environment. This one is for you grandpa!! 

As I go through this learning experience, I am sure my mind will be come boggled; I will be left going huh; and I will have played so much that I in fact lose what my original goal was. I tend to get way excited when learning new technology things that  I can use in my online classes and show my parents to help with their business. I will have to constantly remind myself as I am working, making notes, and learning of what my goal is. My goal is what I can bring to the table to best help my students learn and actually function in society using 2.0 tools not only socially but in a more professional manner. I can tell you that as I set-up this blog, I have already lost what my goal was going to be with this!! Thank you notepad for letting me write down my thoughts =) 

Playing around (as I have already done with the blog just so I can see what all it has) is what I tend to do best and allows me to really learn the material. I guess you could say that is what makes it stick for a time. If I can follow-up what I have learned by sharing it with other teachers and students then I am golden. The material is there to stay!! Of course, I may have to dig it out if not used on a frequent basis but it is there hidden among the nooks and crannies of my brain. Really anything that expands my toolbox and others is what really gets my blood flowing and a flutter in my heart.

So ready or not – here I come!!!