Telecollaborative Learning

Telecollaborative Learning...well I am to blog about a project that I have found that I think will be useful. To be honest I am having the hardest time actually finding one, everything I've been trying doesn't work or is just weird, so hopefully I can find one soon...........

So, a telecollaborative project is an internet based project that is supposed to involve people from around the world to solve common problems. I think I have found one, but I am still a little unsure.

The site that I have finally chosen is called "Statistics: A curiosity factor" and can be found by clicking on the link above [when you get to the link, click on projects, on the left hand side and then scroll down to the title Statistics: A curiosity factor].

What is this site?
Well this site is intended to familiarize students with statistics, i.e. data collection, and the analysis of data collected. This could be used in a grade 9 math classroom under the Data Management unit. In this project once students have familiarized themselves with some surveys and the like, they are to create their own. In this survey it is the students choice, and they are to get 25 people of different age and location to participate. Once completed they will graph the data and discuss their findings with classmates.
Okay so that is the gist of the project.

What is the common problem?
Well I believe the common problem was to inform people around the world of statistics and its uses.

How would I use this?
This is something that I think I would use in my class, but as this particular project is outdated my class wouldn't actually be allowed to participate.
BUT, this would be a good opportunity to start a new similar project, in which the data used by students would be taken from participants from other countries.

Technology and Health

Are all of the technological advances that society is creating, harming our youth? Don't get me wrong, technology is a wonderful thing, but I don't like the idea of our youth depending upon it. I've found too many high school students depend upon their cell phones, MSN, and their play stations, or x-box's. And because they do, it spreads onto their siblings at younger ages, and now middle level kids are becoming in the same boat, and it's even starting to spread to elementary students.
Now I have no proof of this, nor have I conducted any students, I am just going off what I have noticed as an educator.

There have been studies taken though, regarding the obesity and other health issues of the youth of our society, and one of the causes named is kids lack of activity because they are playing on their game boy, or computer, etc. I see this as a problem. First I think technology is great, and that young kids should know how to use it and the like, but too many of them get dependent upon it, and then what we are seeing is some students stopping all or most physical activity so they can play with their toys.
As I am still a university student, I have not found the time to research any further into this topic, so I ask you your opinion on this topic. Is technology harmful to our youth's health?

Medieval History

Sounds like an exciting topic doesn't it??? Well, it is, but I am NOT looking forward to the midterm that I am writing in 2 hours. I am actually starting to stress quite a lot because this week I have been prepping for interviews instead of studying for this exam...not necessarily the best choice (at least that is how it feels right now)... = (

So...one thing that is frustrating me, is the the usage of names. It seems that all the royal families like naming their children after themselves or their own fathers...and this results in many King Henry's only distinguished by the Roman Numerals that come after their name...and in France we have what seems to be an infinite line of Kind Louis'!!

This really has nothing to do with education, let a lone technology, but it is my current focus, and occupying my mind, so I just had to blog about it...back to studying!

Technology and Mathematics

I have a question to pose. Being a "math geek" I always think of technology in a classroom in terms of a math class. As I am learning all of these neat/cool things from Alec, I would love to incorporate them into my classroom when I eventually have one. But I am stuck...I am unsure of how to implement these sorts of things...?

I have worked with a smart board, and that was great, both the kids and I had a great time!! =) But it was more centered around me, just because you have one big smart board, and I used it for instructing and giving visuals. This worked great, but I am thinking that there is more that I could do to get the students involved. **Now there is a problem here though, because some of the schools that I would like to teach in do not have enough computers for their to be a lab open to anyone but the computer classes** So now we've come to another predicament.

I am really struggling to find ways to adapt this into my classroom...and one of my main problems is that what if I have to teach the students all about the technical side of what I wanna do? then I've lost actually time for doing it, because if anyone knows anything about the math curriculum...it is unrealistic in time (I have yet to meet a teacher who can teach the given curriculum in a semester, and have the kids following along)...

So I guess my question is rather large, and I am just more so looking for ideas...!!

Ecmp class...

I am going to be honest...I took this class because I was hoping it would be interesting, but mainly slack. After all it is my last semester of university. Boy was I wrong!!
This class is BEYOND interesting, I am learning so many things that I just had no real idea about. Flickr accounts, blogging, dream weaver, blue dot, adobe photoshop, tuxmath, and SO MUCH more.

Because I am enjoying what I am learning and I am having a blast completing the projects for this class, it doesn't seem like much work is involved at all...it feels like I am just "playing around" and need to be studying or something!!!! =)

So, in the end this class I guess you could say is slack...because even when you are working, it doesn't feel like work!!

Las Vegas

I still find it hard to believe that I went to Las Vegas. Well, this is one of my favorite pics from that Trip...this is me and my other half standing outside the Wynn Hotel. I actually am already looking forward to our next trip!!

This is one of my favorite pics of me and my other half from our first trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. The trip was a blast, and I can't wait to go back!!

Scott Collegiate

Yesterday was my first day volunteering in a math class at Scott Collegiate. I was helping out in a Math 10 and 20 class...and it was very interesting!!
If you don't know anything about the classes at Scott, I will try and enlighten you.
They work on the quarter system, instead of having 2 semesters like most schools they have 4 of them. In this system each class is 2 hours long, because it lasts half the time. How things generally work in a math class, is the kids are giving their contracts and outline for the year and they have certain things to complete...they work at their own pace and get help when they need it.
So there is very little classroom "at the board" teaching. Instead when a student is ready to move on to a new section, you give them a "mini" lesson on that section...ranging from 5-10 minutes depending upon the student.

It was really exciting to be in there yesterday and give numerous "mini" lessons to different kids, and start to build that trusting relationship where they can start to ask me for help.

I am really thrilled about working here for the next while, because I would love to teach there in the fall next semester...and there is a possibility that they'll be needing a math teacher either part-time or full. So I am hoping that working there and getting to know some teachers, the students, and the admin, will help me to get a position there if it opens up.

Now, aside from my personal aspirations of this blog, I have another thing that I would like to bring up.
In society and in education we are to "educate" our students...me being in math I am to teach them how to factor before they are able to graduate. Now, I am DEFINITELY not saying that math in unimportant, but I am thinking that in this school, and with this particular clientale that they need other types of education. They need to know about money, about consumerism so that they can go to a store and buy groceries on a budget, and make sure that they are getting the right amount of change, and so many other applications. To be realistic, there are a lot of students (and not just at this school) who are not math minded or even school minded and therefore will not be moving on to any form of post-secondary education...so I pose the question to anyone out there...why do we not teach these children, the skills that they need to be a contributing member of our society? and why don't we teach them the social skills they'll need? how to retain a job? how to get a job?
Why isn't anyone doing ANYTHING about this??

Wow, nother point...this brings me to a point at other schools, any school has children like this, and what kind of help are doing for them, by forcing them to factor and read Shakespeare, or anything else, when what they really need is to learn how to function in our society...?? Does this not make sense to be a goal of our education system, so we can eliminate welfare and unemployment rates as much as possible, by giving the upcoming generations the skills to function in society??