MATH FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS 

   After class yesterday I feel it was actually helpful, on way was it help break more of the ice between students who did't know each other.  And some people seem to have had break throughs and figured out that they actually knew what they were doing they just needed a little extra push to get there.  What I like about this class the most is the fact nobody puts each other down, rather we all work together and strive to help one another.  Where in other classes during group work I feel that missing from the group, everyone is out for themselves and their own grade it seems.  

   The group I fell into was the yellow group, most of the class was in that group.  The one think I liked the most about my group was when we finally got comfortable we got down to who was good at what problem and had those people start explaining what they did first.  Expanding off that we were able to collaborate solutions and answers to our problems and confusions.   

   I think the questions were helpful, they directed the conversation, leaving little room to wonder off topic.  A lot of the questions we were able to answer and then ask more detailed questions based off the original question.  I can at least say for myself I didn't feel left out or like I was falling behind like I tend to during most a math classes.

Week 2 Podcasts

Week 2 Tec4Teachers          Podcasts 

What does Mobile Learning look like?

  Mobile learning for me is every where now, you can't get away from it.  It's in the phones our children play to the laptops and tablets the schools use now.  You can download a educational app on your smart phone now and while your waiting for a doctors appointment or just sitting at home your child could pick that device up and now it's turned into a learning environment for that child.  The tablets and laptops are like icing on the cake for some parents, they can't keep up with the device demand that schools are asking for now.  Parents went from looking at their children textbooks to trying to understand how to use their children laptops for homework.  Not only has the mobile learning changed for the students but also for the parents.  

What is a Podcast?

  Podcasts for me is still fairly new, I have listened to podcasts but I have never made one myself.  A podcast is like the radio but everyday people can make them and post them on the internet and allow the whole world to have assess.  The podcast itself is a online file that you can download to a MP3 player or your computer, iPhone, iPod, etc and it will automatically download new material as it uploaded online.  

What are the advantages and disadvantages to podcasting?

  Advantages- The number one thing I really like about podcasts are the fact YOU get to choose what you want to listen to and what interest you.  Unlike with the radio where you are forced to listen to whatever they play or just hit the scan button till you find something you are interest in, which can take up some time.  With some many people jumping on the band wagon with podcasts there are several websites that make setting up a podcast real simple and easy.  Another advantage to podcasts is teachers can teach home bound students more without having to go to the house everyday.  

Disadvantages-It all depends on you audience, if you are trying to reach out to homeless people then honestly podcasting is not the way to do it.  They don't have the access to the internet like others do and you better off making posters or going to volunteer at a local food bank or soup kitchen to reach them.  Also it could be a pain for some people to have to have access to internet or to use all their data up on their smart phones listening to you.  

What are the current results of educators who have used podcasting?

  Teachers can now not only reach their students in the classroom but wherever their student is at.  The student can now go home and review over the lesson and actually hear their teachers voice through the podcast and get a second chance at hearing the material.  Or the students can listen to it as many times as needed without having to have the teacher repeat themselves.  Which saves everyone time and frustration.  I feel that students are taking well to the podcasts and liking the fact that they don't have to feel rushed in the classroom to keep up with their peers, they can always go home and catch up and be prepared for class the next day. 

How would you begin podcasting?

  First off before you even start podcasting you need to see what all equipment you will need.  Most people can use their smartphones or labtops to record and edit their podcasts.  Macs book laptops come with Garageband for free to make podcasts.  Once you have gotten everything together you then need to figure out the nature of your podcast.  What is it that you want to cover, or what message are you trying to get across?  After that its time to record your message and edit it, then you can actually load it to your blogger account shockingly.  

Welcome to my new blogger! This is my first time blogging, I have read and looked over several blogs in the past. But personally I have never blogged myself. 

January 15,2015

 





ELE MATH FOR TEACHERS
    I feel when it comes to reflections its a wonderful way to just stop and take time out to look at what you have either accomplished or to see where things could have been better and learn form the mistakes.  Reflecting also makes students press pause in this fast forward world and take a few steps back and look at the whole picture instead on just a small part of it.  In the educational world reflect should hold a high importance to everyone so we can always be looking for the best ways to help each other and our students.  Technology has really helped in the battle to provide more information and resources to students and teachers.  It has made reflecting easier to record and keep track of day to day things.  Technology has also helped in teaching in general and provided more resources to the teachers finger tips while still providing students with equal education to each other.   If a teacher can't fully explain a concept they can always try to pull up a video that someone else has a better understanding of the information and explain it better for the students. Another thing about technology is children are crazy for it, all they want to do is play and explore.  By allowing students access to technology they can prove their understanding and show you in many different ways other than posters and paper work.  They have videos, blogs, journals, movies, powerpoint and ect.  to prove what they know and many students thrive in that.  Other students are still better at pencil and paper and thats not bad either, teachers can mix things up and keep their students on their toes when it comes to class work.  Doing the same thing over and over can get boring for students.    What I hope to gain from this course is simple really, I want a better appreciation for math.  Im not the best at it and Im really slow at it.  It make take me a while to understand the concept but once I got it I can run with it.  Its just understanding it takes time and not a lot of my teachers would put the time in for me to understand it fully.  We had a time frame to stay within and they didn't dare leave that time frame it seems.  After the first day I feel we have a great group of students in our class and we will all have fun and encourage each other to excel in this class.    Regarding the Ma and Paw Kettle video, honestly it blew my mind.  I never thought to think of math in that way and I feel as of right now I would get frustrated with a student if they did that with me. I am a big believer in practice makes perfect and if you practice the right way long enough you will get it.  

Expectations

We all have those wonderful expectations even through some of us say we don't.  Big Government is all about branding things with expectations and always setting higher goals and expectations for everyone to meet. Now not saying that expectations are bad, its good to have them and good to follow them through.  But a good question to ask is, do teachers and school systems take time about of their schedules to see what their students want?  

I feel its very important for teachers and schools to know about their students expectations and what they want to learn and what they interested in.  Because it could change the entire process of the classroom by knowing them.  I can see where there needs to be the test scores to hold each school countable but there are ways you can also make you students feel like they mean something other than just another number or test score.  

This video is by a senior girl in high school, I mean if I were her teacher I would be impressed with her video.  Just because a student can't write you a essay on a topic doesn't mean they know nothing about it.  You could ask them to create a video like this or using pictures and they could tell you all about it plus some.  Technology has broke down so many barriers between students and teachers, its given students more ways to prove their understanding while teachers have more resources at their finger tips.  I feel this is just the beginning for schools with technology, its not going away anytime soon so we need to make the most out of what we have.