Integrating Problem-Solving and Educational Software - Chapter 11

There are many benefits to using problem-solving or educational software.  With my daughter being in high school, her school does not have enough books to distribute to all the students, therefore, they must use notes given by the teachers and internet to help in their learning process.  One of my favorite websites is www.purplemath.com.  This website gives step by step instructions to solve problems.  This site reminds me of the way I learned to do math and which made me really want to work with numbers.  I have been able to find assistance with everything from elementary mathematics to calculus.  I have also been able to find some assistance with College Algebra when the professor would only show us how to solve the problems using a calculator and no other way.

Selecting the correct software can be difficult.  I know when I am using software with my students; it depends on their level of understanding.  Purple Math has become one of my favorites because it gives step by step instructions on solving problems.  There are other websites I have used and recommended to students depending on their level of understanding of what they are currently studying.  If the students have an idea of the concept, there are other sites which might be more helpful to the students without having them go back to the elementary level for learning the concepts.  A teacher should have a list of sites in order to be able to give it to the students when they request additional information and are unable to understand the explanation being provided.

When integrating problem-solving or educational software into a lesson, I would use the software as a means of enhancing on the concept.  It would not be where technology took over the lesson and the students were expected to know the information.  The lesson would be taught to the students and technology would help students to better understand what has been taught.  Hopefully, it will answer the questions students are embarrassed, or afraid, to ask.

Integrating Multimedia as a Tool - Chapter 9

The number of students who may use multimedia for their projects varies.  When assigning a project for students, the teacher must determine the number of students working together on the project.  The number of students can be anywhere from 1 up to 4 working on a particular project.  Depending on the size of the project and what the teacher is expecting from the students, makes the difference in how many students are assigned to each project.  Preferably, I would rather have 1 or 2 persons working on a project in order to see what they do or do not know.  It will help me to understand what I would need to put more emphasis on in order to be sure the students are understanding the concepts being taught.  An example of this would be having the students to do a math project when working with geometric figures.  Have the students create at least 10 geometric figures on a poster board using a centimeter scaling system.  With these measurements, the students are to show their work finding the perimeter, area and volume.  The students are also to create 3 3-D figures from the list of 10 selected.  The final step for each of the figures is to know where this figure is seen or used in everyday life.

There are a variety of applications available for creating a presentation.  The question is what application is easily accessible to students.  Many students might not have the most modern of applications to use when doing a presentation.  The students must be given several different choices and with their partner, they must decide which application is best for their group.  Some of the more common and accessible applications would be PowerPoint, Google Presentation, Jing, VoiceThread, etc.  Because many times the students are more familiar with applications, give the students an opportunity to make suggestions.  This will give the teacher time to explore the application before making a final decision on whether it will be appropriate for the presentation.

Although all the students need to be familiar with the technology portion of the lessons, there should still be limits placed on the amount of time and use of technology.  Some of the research should be done without the use of technology. When putting the sources together, technology would be wonderful, but student need to understand what to do if technology is not available.  Have the students read books, periodicals or watch documentaries to receive additional information.  This will be a method of using old lesson planning and modern learning to keep the students alert.  I feel it is important for students to be able to find alternate ways of researching projects.

Think Sheets: Using Technology for Higher-Order Learning

Many times I have an issue with anticipating the possible questions students may ask unless I happen to create a project of my own.  Once I create my project, it will give me a chance to think of possible questions by the students, and I will be able to encourage questions from the students.  Many times, the students are embarrassed to ask questions because they down want to feel like they are stupid.  By letting the students know it is okay to ask questions, it makes the students open up.

In order to help students solve problems, I would give them a basic step process in order to help them solve problems.  Some people do not realize how to solve problems because they have never really had to do it on their own.  So, it is easier to teach if they are given a step by step procedure and walked through a couple of examples.  After giving a step by step procedure to the students, I would also introduce different forms the students may use to possibly help them with problems.  I know while I was growing up, one of the things that helped me was learning to do ‘Logic Puzzles’.  Not only did this help me solve the puzzle, but it helped me to think logically and put things in order.

I have always used an inquiry-based approach, but I have never used technology in the process.  Because I have always encouraged the students to participate by asking questions, my problem would be to think of ways to insert technology to help the students understand the lessons being taught without the technology taking over the lessons being taught.  The use of technology could give an animated or real life example of the problem or situation to be solved.  Some people are more visual than others, and this is another means of learning for many students.  They will be able to hear what you are teaching them, but it will also give them the opportunity to see what is happening as you are teaching.

NTeQ: Designing an Integrated Lesson

If one was to talk with 10 teachers, more than likely there would be 10 different responses to how to plan an effective integrated lesson.  My way of integrating a lesson might not be the most effective, but it is one I have thought of and tried to plan for classes I have had to substitute teach for long term assignments.  I would make a list of the common core requirements for the appropriate grade level.  After making a list of the appropriate common core requirements, I would create the lesson plan for the students.  As I am planning the lesson, I would then look to see where it would be most appropriate and useful to the students to use technology.  To make the lesson more interesting to the students, I would relate the work to the trends for the age group being taught.  I have noticed the students are more apt to pay attention if they can relate the things they enjoy to the lessons being taught.

The objectives are needed in order to inform the students what is expected of them for a particular lesson, a particular unit or for the year.  The objectives are a way of alerting students, teachers and parents of where the students should be throughout the school term.  For me, the objectives keep me focus on teaching strategies.  Sometimes, what I am teaching leads me to other things, and I need a reminder in order not to go too far off course with the students.  I have to remind myself the students are only able to take in so much and not to overload them because they began to shut down.  The main thing is to keep the students engaged in the lessons.  Once their focus is lost, it is hard to get them to refocus.

Getting the students to engage in information processing is possibly one of the hardest things to do.  We must teach a variety of students and have all of them actively engaging in the lesson.  One way of doing this is to find things the majority of the students will be interested in outside of the classroom and using those as an example to teach the lesson.  For the students not interested in the same thing, the teacher should recognize the difference or what might interest those students and talk with them individually while the class is doing classwork or group work.  This will allow the students to get the individual attention needed to keep them actively engaged in the lesson and allow the teacher to make a connection where one did not exist.

I do not feel a different lesson plan is a necessity when having students use computers.  Rather than creating a whole different lesson plan, the teacher should be aware of a way to incorporate computer usage into the current lesson plan.  Technology should not be the whole lesson but a part of the lesson to enhance what is being taught.

In my opinion, the computer functions given by the state should be something to enhance the objectives.  The computer functions should not take the place of the instructional portion of the subject.  If the computer functions are taking the place of the instructional portion of the subject, then, there is not enough emphasis being put on learning.

It is possible to use the computer for every objective or lesson, but the question is whether it will be wise.  Once technology is inserted into the lesson, the students tend to focus more on the technological portion and not the actual lesson being taught.  Teaching students is important.  The technological portion of teaching is easy for the students to comprehend, so, I don’t feel it is as important to focus on technology.  If one was to put a computer or technological device in front of a student, it would take them possibly 10 minutes to figure out how to make it work, what are the advantages of the device and how to use the device for the particular subject being taught.  I feel students are capable of learning the technological portion with little or no instruction.

EDTC 5010 Chapter 3

Until I actually sat in the classroom again, I did not realize how much technology was being used in the classroom.  With my children, I knew they were using technology in the classroom, but I would make them look up information using other methods.  They were not allowed to use technology until they were able to show me they had used other methods of research.  I needed to be sure my daughters understood what to do if their electronic devices were to go down or if they did not have access to one at that particular time.

It is important for teachers to keep up with the different technological tools because many times this is the only thing the students will understand.  The more teachers know about new technology, the better chance they will have of reaching students.  Of course, all new technology will not be used in the classroom, but it helps to be familiar with it.  By learning and studying new technology, a teacher never knows which will be beneficial in the classroom for the students.

The mobile devices can be moved or used anywhere.  The desktops should remain stationary in order to get the most production from them.  With the desktops, it takes up more room.  To have a desktop for students to use and expect them to be able to continue with their daily assignments would be hard to do.  With the mobile devices, the students will be able to do assignments and do the necessary work being required by the use of technology.

It is important to do research on technology before purchasing it.  This will give the buyer time to find out about upgrades and compatibility.  If the devices are compatible with various hardware and updates are being done regularly, the cost will be justified because there usage will pay for itself.  If the device does not have regular upgrades or compatibility, the cost would not be justified.  How can you justify spending thousands of dollars on technology which can only be used for a year or two?  This would not make sense to anyone and not be good for a learning environment because the students will constantly have to get familiar with new technology while trying to continue to understand the concepts they must learn.

EDTC 5010 - Chapter 1

In today's society, the focus of our education program has changed.  Students are now learning information using modern technology more than ever.  My feelings on the use of technology is mixed.  I feel students should know how to use technology, but I do not think technology should take the place of books and teaching in the classroom.  I feel the 2 should be combined to help the students be well rounded.  I noticed if the students are given a choice, they select the technology and forget about everything else.

An idea classroom setting for me would be to have an inquiry based class with technology used secondary.  The technology would be used to explore in depth the concepts being taught in the classroom.  The technology will be used to complete projects, but the students would have to be able to answer specific and create thinking scenarios created based on the concepts being taught.  While in the classroom, I find I can get a better understanding of what the students are misunderstanding by having them ask and answer questions.

I think the tutorials and drill practice software is wonderful when helping the students.  It is an opportunity for the students to practice what they are learning.  If the software or worksheets being used are computer based, it will give the students an opportunity to receive feedback immediately.  Hopefully, it will help them to ask more questions and understand better where they went wrong while doing the exercises.

For each exercise, it is a work in progress.  No matter how effective a project or exercise is, there is always room for improvement.  Depending on the class being taught, the teacher should be flexible enough to make adjustments in order to be able to reach ALL the students in the classroom.  If a student does not complete the work because they do not want to do it, that will be the problem of the student, parent and teacher.  If a student does not understand the work because of the teaching strategies or a learning disability, the teacher needs to think of other ways to communicate with that student to help them understand the concepts.

Although it may seem strange in this day and age, not all students are able to have access to computers.  Every exercise created will need to be computer accessible, as well as written.  If a final project will need to be completed on the computer, the teacher must allow class time for students to use the computers at school to work on the project.  By doing this, students whose family cannot afford computers or internet service will be able to complete their work without causing embarrassment among their classmates.  Middle school is hard enough for students without adding their situations.