I teach Algebra II, Geometry, and Analysis/Trigonometry to high school students in the Math/Science/Technology program. My district has provided the students and teachers with various forms of technology that can be used within our classrooms, and I am continuously looking for the most effective ways to integrate it into my curriculum.
Substitution: I currently use “Kutasoftware” for my math classes. The website provides very useful worksheets that can be printed and used to help students get extra practice working out various math problems. The website breaks its lessons down by math class, and then by specific curriculum topics within the class.
Augmentation: In my classes I have used a testing program called “Examview,” which is a great test generator for various math textbooks. Teachers can create their own tests and the students can take tests on the computer. I also use an online program called “InQsit” for testing my students. The teacher creates the test for the students, provides a link to the test, and then students take the test online. One other resource that I use in my classroom for practice tests is the online assessment program for the actual textbook that is used for the Analysis/Trigonometry class that I teach. Students are all given a username and password for their textbook, and they have access to the practice tests after every lesson and at the end of every chapter. These programs are all great to use in the classroom because the students can get immediate feedback on their assessments.
Modification: In all of my math classes, we are able to incorporate the use of the graphing calculators in order to enhance lessons. Calculators are available to all students within my class, but some students do not have access to this resource when they go home. Therefore, we have started to use online graphing calculators in the classroom, along with an online program called “Geogebra.” These programs allow students to dig a lot deeper into various math problems.
Redefinition: I would like to begin using shared Google documents for notetaking within my classroom. I think that this could be very beneficial to use with my students as a review before an assessments, or as a unit summary.
I think you're on to something with your "R" task. However, as written, sharing notes seems a bit lower on the spectrum. What could be different that could not be done without the technology (or very impractical without it)?
ReplyDeleteLet me just say bravo to you for teaching math, I think that is wonderful. I enjoyed reading your post. I really like the InQsit because you can create your own tests. Sometimes the books don't provide a test, so this will be a good assessment tool.
ReplyDeleteThank you Erika! I love my job:) It is fun to learn about all of these different technologies that are available to use in the classroom. Taking this class online is great because it gives me a chance to look into a lot more options for the curriculum that I teach.
ReplyDeleteDr. Siko,
ReplyDeleteI took a little time to really think about some of the other options that technology provides for use in the classroom that were nearly impossible to do prior to technology, and I came up with a view different ideas. The first thing that came to my mind was using technology for the students to actually make a review presentation of a unit to the class. This presentation could be with a PowerPoint, videos, or other technology programs. Technology also provides the instructors with programs that allow for them to record their notes in class as they lecture on a topic, which could be posted online after a lesson. This would be very beneficial to absent students, or students who would simply like to hear the lesson presented a second time!
Hi Alicia,
ReplyDeleteI've never used either of the programs you mentioned in your Substitution or Augmentation methods, but they both sound great! I could easily see you using the Kutasoftware as a Modification method. Just by the students being able to use this software as opposed to the traditional paper pencil method shows technological progress. I'm sure you could use the Examview and InQsit using the Redefintion method, but I'm not quite sure how. What are your ideas? Do you think other software would benefit the redefinition method more than those two?
As Dr Siko mentioned in his comment, I think your redefinition is somewhere lower on the spectrum. But you seem to be on to something with your last reply. Using the Google doc as a wiki to create a review presentation for the whole class could allow students to work collaboratively and create their own assessments as review. Not sure if that is entirely redefinition either because I suppose it would have been possible with pencil and paper 30 years ago, but I have trouble finding ideas that can truly redefine my lessons.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with you Matt and Gwen, this is so hard trying to find a true redefinition example!! I thought I was on to something, but the more blogs that I read, the more confused I become. Everything that I come up with seems like it is either a modification or substitution to something that I have done in the past without technology.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think about using technology to have students investigate lessons on a particular topic presented by another instructor on YouTube? Maybe the students could view these lessons prior to class as an introduction to a new concept. The teachers could then give a formal presentation of the lesson in class. I definitely would have never be able to access other instructors' videos prior to technology:)