Perhaps the most important resource I need in carrying out my GAME plan is that of time. It is very important that I set aside time to review my current lessons, and research how they can be modified to include more activities that relate them to real world problems. Another resource I will need is a classroom set of TI-Nspire handheld devices with the accompanying Navigator system. These devices make mathematics very interactive and dynamic for the user, and they allow students to turn in activities completed on them by submitting them to their teacher using the Navigator wireless system. This system also allows the teacher to upload assignments to the handhelds for students to open. Another resource I will need to complete my research on the latest digital tools in instruction is access to journals and articles on the use of technology in the mathematics classroom.
Some additional information I will need in carrying out my game plan is some of the career interests my students have, so that I can look into how our standards may relate to them. I also need to find out what some of the leading research journals, websites, and other resources are for integrating technology into instruction. Some of the steps I have taken thus far in carrying out this GAME plan is beginning to do research on digital tools in the classroom by looking at how I can best implement the use of TI-Nspire handhelds into my instruction. I will also look into ISTE’s website to decide on a research journal that I will subscribe to in order to look into techniques to use with technology and instruction.
Thanks,
Bryan
Bryan, I really like the fact that you are thinking about your students' career interests. All too often in education teachers focus so much on pushing the standards and do not take the time to really think about how or whether the material relates to the real world. There simply are some things we teach that are utterly useless to students once they become adults and work for a living in a trade or profession. There are other things that do apply,and those are the ones we in education should focus on more, in my opinion. Anyway, it is encouraging to see that you are taking into account what your students want to do later in life and looking for ways to base your instruction somewhat on that. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteJournal and periodical subscriptions, if you get many of them, can get fairly expensive. One option is to look into whether your local library picks them up. If your city library doesn't, are you close to a University, by chance? If so, you can likely find them there.
I have recently discovered that iTunes has a really impressive educational section that contains seminars from leading professors from colleges all across the country. The lectures cover a wide array of subjects. There might be a few that fit what you're doing and would therefore possibly be of use for your students to hear. You could either play the audio during class or require them to listen to a lecture as homework. These are free, so you wouldn't run into any issues there.
Bryan,
ReplyDeleteSummer is coming and hopefully you will have a bit more time to do the resaerch you feel will help you execute your GAME plan.
Have you looked delicious.com? It is a cross between google searching and your favorites list. I have found it helpful in streamlining my research for technology to enhance my instruction.
Also, www.explorelearning.com is a great math & science simulation website. You can sign up for a free 30 day account, but after that there is a fee.
Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI really like that you identified time as the most important thing that you need when looking at your game plan. That is something that I know all of us will need when looking at our plans. However, if you are like me, time is something that you are often searching for. Time is so hard to find when you are teaching during the day and contrary to what most of our students think we have lives outside of school. It is good that you are including that in your plan. This idea makes me want to rethink what I need for my plan as well.
The other thing that stuck out to me in your posting was your use of journals and articles. I think that we often get too worked up in the things that we have going on at school that we often do not have time to look at these important resources. With the summer coming up this is a perfect time for us to start using these resources. Thanks for the reminder.
Erinn
Carri,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is important that we prepare students for their future careers. There is a balance that we must find in order to push the standards so that we may inspire students to careers they may never thought of before.
Thank for you the tip about the journals and itunes. That is a great idea. I live very close to the University of Georgia, so that may be an avenue I can look into.
Thanks,
Bryan
Tammy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the ideas. I have just begun looking into delicious.com, and I have liked what I have seen so far. I will look into explorelearning.com to see if it can help me in my classes.
Thanks,
Bryan
Erinn,
ReplyDeleteIt is important that I schedule time to do my research, because if I don't it likely will not get done. It is importnat that we make time to continue to learn deeply about the content we are teaching.
Thanks,
Bryan