Concept Map Link:
In my philosophy of distance education, I believe that students have to develop critical thinking skills by collaborating, creating, and taking risks. “For the learner, without exploring, thinking, analyzing, creating, and experimenting, powerful, higher-level learning is not possible” (Moller, 2008). I am constantly working towards finding new ways to allow my students to develop these critical thinking skills. In my use of technology, I have been moving from static to dynamic continuum. I have lessons that are still static in nature. For example, when I teach my students about slope, I might use a video that shows someone using different examples of slope in our everyday life. I have other lessons that are in the middle. For example, I have a lesson where students collaborate in small groups to create a power point show to demonstrate their knowledge of how to calculate slope by teaching the class using several examples. I also use lessons that are more dynamic. In these lessons, students use items, such as, rulers, books, calculators, string, cardboard, etc. to create slopes and calculate the amount of each slope, compare different slopes, etc. I am still working at creating more lessons that are dynamic in nature. I have found only a few interactive games online that would benefit my class for math that is dynamic in nature.
Moller, L. (2008). Static and dynamic technology tools. [Unpublished Paper]
Sabrina,
ReplyDeleteIt can be hard to find dynamic technologies that work in all situations. You are right that you have to have a static back up when the technology fails.
Here are a couple of math sites a colleague just shared with me:
http://www.carrotsticks.com/
http://www.khanacademy.org/
Both of these can be changed to static if needed (especially Khan's notes).
Thanks,
Erica
Wow! The concept map was outstanding. I too am evolving into more of a dynamic technology implementer in the classroom. The students tend to be using this outside of the classroom more through a lot of the gaming consoles and websites. I do believe that they are more engaged and actually learn more of the abstract knowledge ideas through the use of dynamic technologies.
ReplyDeleteSabrina, I reiterate what Roxanne said... WOW your concept map was fabulous. Being the instructional technology coach for our district serving grades 6 - 12, I am trying very hard to help our teachers integrate technology into their curriculum using any means possible. I agree with Roxanne also that students are usually more tech savvy than the teachers and I wonder if when they are coming into our classrooms are they powering up or powering down?
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