Semester 4 Reflection:
I am proud of the growth I have made within technology over the last two years, and specifically the recent growth over our final semester. Since January I have improved using Xcel as I created a variety of graphs to represent my data for my action research paper and presentation. It took time to learn how to create the graph that best met the needs of what it was I wanted to share. I also put forth some time to explore prezi.com. This was a visually stimulating way to create power points. It would best be described as a power point on steroids. I ended up creating my final presentation on power point as my computer did not support this site, but I did learn a lot about it as I played around with it to become more familiar with the site. I also learned how to access youtube videos while using my school computer. This site is blocked at school, but with assistance from the technology department I learned how to use keepvid to allow me to show youtube videos to my action research students at school. I also recently learned how to use dropbox.com to create links to anything I have created, so that I would be able to share them on blogspot. I also have met classmates in the cloud as we created our teacher leadership template using live@edu. We were able to collaborate and accomplish our job without driving to meet face to face. I am learning to use technology to make my life easier.
Within the classroom I have started using a MAP math website with my math intervention students to help students improve their math skills. Once I provide the students with their MAP test score for each math strand, they click on the appropriate interval for them and work on activities at their ability level. This site helps meet students where they are at and helps students who have gaps in their understanding. Students access this site through our set of eight student tablets.
I have grown within the strand of technology by learning to use google docs/Live @ Edu (the cloud) and teaching others how to use it as well. I have shared this new learning with my advisory team members, and it is making our lives a bit more effective and efficient. I have just recently started to incorporate student tablets into my classroom and after training and exploring, I have begun using Compass software with my students. I continue to update my teacher webpage with new additions such as a voki and interactive questionnaires. I also continue to reflect and update my blog.
Reflection:
I feel I have displayed positive grown within technology in education. I have become so accustomed to using my promethean board that it is a part of every class. I have tried to incorporate the activexpressions or clickers in my math classes more often. The students seem to enjoy participating and it is a good way to check for understanding. I have one class of 20 struggling students that take much longer to vote. I do notice that some students get squirmy, louder, and off task while spending so much time waiting for others to finally cast a vote. I might only have students answer 5 questions in this class versus 10 questions in a different class. I am interested in learning more about the self-paced quizzes this year.
I have also grown in the use of my webpage over the summer. I attended a 4 hour workshop to make improvements. I update my webpage weekly with daily assignments for each of the math classes I teach and keeping up with classroom news to remind parents of Communication Alert Night, our cookie dough fundraiser, speakers, or anything they need to be aware of. Trying to increase the number of viewers I created a simple form for my students to fill out for extra credit. I showed students how to access my website and gave them written instructions as well. If they went out to forms and answered 5 questions, such as 1. What is your name 2. What hour do you have math 3. How were your first days of 6th grade 4. T/F My math book is covered 5. One highlight from my summer was... Many students participated and the number of viewers has significantly increased this year as compared to last. I also learned how to add math puzzles to my webpage and how to include a voki. A voki is a talking avatar that I created. They are just a fun piece that might motivate kids to visit my webpage. Overall, I am taking small steps to grow with technology in education.
Personal Baseline:
I tend to fluctuate as to where I belong on the technology spectrum. Sometimes I think I am a leader in our school in this area, and sometimes I get frustrated and feel like a true beginner. I have a Promethean board in my room which is used daily for either lessons, student notes, activote activities, or brainpop. I have found that having example problems clearly displayed on the board saves so much more time than writing them in chalk, erasing, and writing new examples. The time it took just to create a basic flip chart for each sixth and eighth grade lesson was very large, but it is valuable to have on my computer. This is my second year with a Promethean board, so some of my time is spent tweaking or improving the basic flipchart I created last year. While I use this equipment a great deal, and feel I have grown tremendously, I still recognize there are so many more possibilities and I have just touched the tip of the iceberg.
I also have a document camera which I use to show student work, model expectations, or show exactly where we are in our textbook. I have a scanner which I use to scan in handouts. I do know how to annotate over them, so I can manipulate them on the board. This is the first year that I have started to maintain a teacher website. I also communicate with parents through message center and email.
The Masters program I am currently pursuing has started to improve my technology skills as well. This is the first time I have taken an online class, and I am learning new technology as I create a blogspot, participate in discussions on D2L, upload my resume, or place assignments in the drop box. I have a feeling I will make great strides in technology within the next two years.
Questions:
How will technology play a part in my research?
In what ways can my students grow in the area of technology?
