LP City!

Though one of the topics this week is spreadsheets, I am more excited about NetTrekker d. i. What a great data base for educators! While searching this database for lps dealing with the use of spreadsheets in my area (math), I discovered many other extremely useful lesson plans. It’s reassuring to know that these plans were reviewed and rated by educators and that the standards they address are listed on each site. Add to that the fact that they are complete—background information, grade level, objectives, materials needed, processes for tackling the task outlined, and methods for assessing the task. You can’t beat that! As for spreadsheets, I am pretty familiar with using them. However, the Google online spreadsheet opens up more possibilities for using spreadsheets in my curriculum. They are easily accessible, provide online storage, and allow me to be a collaborator. Spreadsheets also tie in nicely with my subject matter. So, I can now add a few more tools to my ever growing technology knowledge cache.

No More Erasers!

This week I will discover a variety of search engines and how to use them more proficiently. I will also investigate more online word processors. We often hear about the massive amount of information that one can access on the internet—but the trick is in knowing how to do just that. I look forward to trying out some of the new engines and to incorporating Boolean logic into my searches. Hopefully as I experiment, I will be adding new and exciting bookmarks to my DropBox.
I think one of the best tools invented is word processing. I can recall how during my summer college jobs I threw mounds of envelopes and paper in the garbage because of typos. Add to this great tool the fact that it can now be done online and with or without collaborators and sharers. What a fantastic way to share, learn, and communicate! As a math teacher, I can incorporate this tool when assigning research on a famous mathematician or mathematical concept. I can also use this tool as a way for a student to explain the step by step process he/she used for solving a problem. I can use it as a way for students to evaluate themselves. Since there is always more then one way to solve a problem, students could record their method on a word processor and through collaboration share and argue their methods for solving. There would be much less paper usage as well as red pen usage (they really hate that red pen!). I’m sure that as I commence my exploration of search engines and discover new sites with mathematical models, simulations, and applications, my ideas for word processing usage in my curriculum will expand.

So That's How!?!

I have always believed that technology should be incorporated into my teaching. It seems that the trend in teaching mathematics has always been to teach the processes, throw in some word problems (the word problems presented in many algebra texts haven’t changed much since I was a student many years ago), give written quizzes and tests which deal with the processes and proceed to the next chapter. But what do processes mean if a student has no idea why they are needed or where they are applied? The problem for me with incorporating technology has always been: there’s so much to choose from—where do I begin—what’s good—what fits in with my objectives—where do I find it………...
Now into the second course of the Masters program, it seems that the journey towards addressing these issues has begun. There is so much involved in planning a lesson. Standards must be addressed, objectives and goals must be defined, strategies for presenting must be planned, and then there is assessment and evaluation. Standards and objectives have expanded to meet the demands of the 21st century. MATC now has Core Abilities which are to be demonstrated by our students in our classrooms. These include: Collaborate with Others, Respect Diversity, Demonstrate Responsiliity, Think Critically, Apply Math and Science. Integrationg (key word--integrating) the proper technology into lesson plans can aid in addressing standards, objectives, and core abilities. I look forward to discovering the "hows", "whats", "wheres" of the integration process.