Lesson Planning

After looking in detail at these four Web 2.0 tools and completing a Mathematics lesson plan which incorporates technology, I understand how difficult it may be for me to use technology in my every day classroom. I could see scheduling the computer lab for a WebQuest day or a project to work on with a group; however, finding a way to allow my students regular use of technology may be difficult. I have never attended a school that had multiple computers in the classroom so I never had the opportunity to use these types of tools. However, after completing a lesson plan on polygons using online activities, I see that I can maybe assign homework to be completed using an online tool even if I cannot get computers or a computer lab during class time. I will definitely try to incorporate technology in my future lesson plans such as the one completed in our class because technology is so important to today's students. Also, I can have students work on the non-technological portion of a project or homework in class and complete the rest outside of class on a computer. I now see many ways that technology could be incorporated into my lesson plan even though it might have initial challenges.

Glogster and Delicious

Both Glogster and Delicious seem like great Web 2.0 tools to help a teacher when trying to incorporate technology in the classroom. Glogster allows students to create posters/webpages where they can add text, graphics, videos, and more. Teachers can use this tool to present new topics instead of using PowerPoints, have students create an About Me page, or allow the class to reflect on a book or science project. Delicious has similar technical applications because it is a way for teachers/students to store web bookmarks that can be recalled from any computer. A teacher can create a WebQuest activity where students log into Delicious and have all the sites readily available. Also, students can store links to sites they are using in an on-going project so that they can access the sites from home or another computer without having to copy down the URL addresses. Both of these tools are ways teachers can differentiate their instruction and aid in a technological classroom environment.

However, I do not see much use for these tools in my future Mathematics classrooms. Glogster seems like a tool that students would use to explain art, literature, or an activity; however, it is not seem very applicable to practicing math problems or formulas. Also, using the tool, requires some artistic abilities and creative thinking where as Mathematics is more scientific. Students could experiment with this tool to explain a formula in colorful/pictorial ways; however, I do not see myself requiring the use of this tool in my classroom. Also, Delicious seems like a tool I would suggest as an option but not required. If I ever gave students a WebQuest activity during a day in the computer lab, I might have students log into one Delicious account so that I know they are using the correct sites. However, I cannot think of many Mathematics projects in a high school setting that require the use of multiple websites. This tool is more geared towards research based ideas or exploratory activities which are not usually mathematical. I might create an extra-credit activity for students to research careers that use Mathematics; however, I do not see myself trying to incorporate using either of these tools into the curriculum.

Applying Wordle and Twitter

Both of these Web 2.0 tools could be useful in the classroom; however, I do not see much of a use for them in a secondary Mathematics class. Wordle, since it is a tool to create word clouds, seems like it would be more applicable to a language arts or foreign language class. These students could create clouds of words describing a book or as review of verb conjugations. I could show my Mathematics students this tool for their personal use such as creating binder covers or to print off and use on a poster. However, I do not see how this tool could have much educational Mathematical use. 

In addition, Twitter could be used for reminding students about upcoming homework, tests, and activities in the classroom/school; however, there is not much use for this tool to do Mathematics work. This tool could also be helpful for teacher communication with parents such as updates on classroom plans, out of class activities like field trips, and reminders about homework or tests for their children. Since users of Twitter can follow one another, the parents in my classroom could create a following of one another, as well as me as the teacher, to communicate and collaborate about their interests in the classroom. Both Twitter and Wordle seem like great applications for some teachers to implement in the classroom; however, I do not see many uses for my field.

WebQuest

Today in class we completed a WebQuest activity. I remember doing this type of activity in high school; we would be given a sheet with instructions, go to several websites, and answer questions based on each site. I also remember thinking these activities had no purpose and were simply busy work. However, after the experience today learning about WebQuest, I understand that these activities can actually be educational. A teacher can use a site such as QuestGarden to design a page with a specific task, instructions, and evaluation. The students go to the site, group themselves accordingly, and follow the instructions. I particularly liked the example activity where students design their own ice cream flavor and market the product. Also, QuestGarden contains sample WebQuests that are shared for teachers to use as activities in their own classroom. For example, I found one for high school Mathematics where students plan a vacation for two using an allotted budget.

I feel that I could use an activity like the ice cream project or vacation planning in my future math classroom. For example, students could pick a product that is already sold, figure out how to advertise it better, and calculate the statistics on its optimal production/distribution. If students wanted, they could even send their ideas to the relative companies to see if the marketing departments might respond. While students are learning Mathematics, they would also be cooperating in groups and understanding how to use the internet wisely. Also, students might see how Mathematics can be applied to real world problems instead of just learning the material for no purpose. I could also find other example WebQuests online to diversify my activity or tweak my plan. The internet is a tool every student and teacher should know how to use by following safe guidelines such as website evaluation; therefore, a well-written WebQuest activity is useful for any classroom.

The Weather

Every morning when I wake up I wonder what the weather will be. After the past weekend of degrees in the 60's with sunny skies, every day I hope that this weather is what I wake up to; however, to my dismay, it is usually 30 outside. Most days I have class it is even snowing or raining. It seems like some sort of cosmic joke.

What is worse is that at Purdue, where my fiance goes to school, has had so much snow they had to cancel school for several days. He said that his roommate spent an hour yesterday trying to dig out his car. Snow has melted and refrozen so many times the white layers on the ground are like cement. Joseph can no longer ride his bike to class because there is so much ice/snow on the ground. His weather makes me feel as if I can handle 30 degree weather instead of 6 feet of snow, even though I pray for 60 again.

My Brother Coming Home

My brother, Nathan, is coming home from Holland on February 11! His wife and he have been there for a year while he was doing his post-doc. He got his PhD from Harvard Medical School in something I can't pronounce and went to work with his lab boss, Antoine, who is from Holland. They worked at the University of Groningen starting up a lab there. The reason he is coming home is because they are having a baby on April 11. Her name is Lucy Kate, and I am so excited to see her! When they get back next week, they will spend some time with my mom in Atlanta and then come here. I am planning to see them before they move to Boston where he will be working at the New England BioTech lab. I am excited to see all three of them!