It is hard to believe that the course is almost over! For that matter, it is hard to believe that it is already November!!
Despite the fact that there were no required readings or discussions this week, it was a very busy week for this course. This project final project was definitely very extensive. I have to admit, that it probably didn't help that I didn't really get a good start on it until Wednesday evening.
In my mind, prior to our live meeting on Wedesday, I was still pretty confused as to what was expected for the project. I knew what course I was going to do it for, and I had an idea of what assessment tools I might want to use, but didn't really have anything written up, yet. The live meeting was definitely very helpful. Now I understand, from the student end, why the LiveLessons we do at Connections Academy are so useful!
Even with the early confusion, I am fairly pleased with how my project turned out. I am hoping to get some helpful feedback from others in the class this week, so I can make some improvements as needed.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Final Project
I think I'm ready to post my final project now. I ended up publishing it as a website with Google. I have created my project based on the pre-algebra course that I currently teach. Generally, the assessment tools I've used in my project are not ones that I had even thought of using before in the course, although I am definitely seeing the benefit of starting to incorporate them.
You will see on my site that I have used a pre-course survey, a wiki, a virtual gradebook, and a live conferencing software.
Here it is!!
Enjoy :-)
You will see on my site that I have used a pre-course survey, a wiki, a virtual gradebook, and a live conferencing software.
Here it is!!
Enjoy :-)
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Week 6 Reflections
This week somehow seemed more relaxed than the last two. Maybe it wasn't that this week was relaxed, but that the past two were so busy!
In past weeks, I've tried to get the readings completed as early as possible (preferably by Monday evening), so I could try to get posts in on the discussion board early in the week. With some longer readings this week, I just knew that wasn't going to work so well. I instead ended up just taking my time. This really helped with my understanding of the material. Of course, this may have also had something to do with the quality and organization of the readings.
Another thing that I'm sure helped me out was printing out the readings. In earlier weeks, I was only printing out the shorter readings (not wanting to use all of the ink or paper for the longer ones). This week I decided I wasn't going to sit staring at the computer screen long enough to read everything. I was staring at a computer screen all day at work, and I didn't want to spend all evening that way, too! I know from past experience (and from more confirmation this week), that I have a better time digesting what I read when I'm looking at it on paper.
Anyway, in terms of specifics for this week, I did have some trouble with the precourse survey. I was finding it difficult to come up with relevant questions to ask to help with preparing for a math course. That is partly why I chose to create the survey for my PreCalculus class instead of PreAlgebra. For PreCalculus, I could come up with more thoughtful questions (and would probably get more thoughtful responses from the students). Despite the trouble with coming up with what to ask, the Survey Monkey website was pretty easy to use.
In past weeks, I've tried to get the readings completed as early as possible (preferably by Monday evening), so I could try to get posts in on the discussion board early in the week. With some longer readings this week, I just knew that wasn't going to work so well. I instead ended up just taking my time. This really helped with my understanding of the material. Of course, this may have also had something to do with the quality and organization of the readings.
Another thing that I'm sure helped me out was printing out the readings. In earlier weeks, I was only printing out the shorter readings (not wanting to use all of the ink or paper for the longer ones). This week I decided I wasn't going to sit staring at the computer screen long enough to read everything. I was staring at a computer screen all day at work, and I didn't want to spend all evening that way, too! I know from past experience (and from more confirmation this week), that I have a better time digesting what I read when I'm looking at it on paper.
Anyway, in terms of specifics for this week, I did have some trouble with the precourse survey. I was finding it difficult to come up with relevant questions to ask to help with preparing for a math course. That is partly why I chose to create the survey for my PreCalculus class instead of PreAlgebra. For PreCalculus, I could come up with more thoughtful questions (and would probably get more thoughtful responses from the students). Despite the trouble with coming up with what to ask, the Survey Monkey website was pretty easy to use.
Precourse Survey
As part of Module 6, we were asked to create a precourse survey to help gather information from students to help personalize the course.
I have created my survey to go along with the PreCalculus course that I teach at Commonwealth Connections Academy.
Click Here to take survey
I have created my survey to go along with the PreCalculus course that I teach at Commonwealth Connections Academy.
Click Here to take survey
Monday, October 26, 2009
Bloom's Taxonomy
In module 5, we looked at the the article, Studying the First Amendment: Exploring Truth in Journalism, by Christine Casey. We were asked to categorize the activities according to Bloom's Taxonomy. Here is the table with the activites as I categorized them.
Week 5 Reflections
I have to say this week's assignment with Bloom's taxonomy was confusing. I wasn't exactly sure what we were expected to do. I read over Casey's case study several times trying to work things out. It just seemed to me that the article wasn't very organized (for example, there were 4 different activity 1s). The combination of the article not having much structure, and the fact that I haven't done anything with Bloom's Taxonomy since my Sophomore or Junior year of college did not help.
Despite the confusion, I did like the activity. It was one that really made you think. I guess that's the point of Bloom's Taxonomy. There were some good activities described in the article, they just need some clarification if they are to be used in the classroom. There were also some good discussions based on these activities.
I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one confused with the article and the assignment. Of course, the confusion did make it tough to get in posts on the discussion board. Most people posted thier ideas and work later in the week. Usually, I like to try to get posts in early. Then there is time for discussion during the week. I am sure many of us were feeling this crunch though.
Despite the confusion, I did like the activity. It was one that really made you think. I guess that's the point of Bloom's Taxonomy. There were some good activities described in the article, they just need some clarification if they are to be used in the classroom. There were also some good discussions based on these activities.
I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one confused with the article and the assignment. Of course, the confusion did make it tough to get in posts on the discussion board. Most people posted thier ideas and work later in the week. Usually, I like to try to get posts in early. Then there is time for discussion during the week. I am sure many of us were feeling this crunch though.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Week 4 Reflections
This was definitely another busy week!
My work schedule was different this week. Our school has set up an after school tutoring program where we have teachers available to the students from 4pm-8pm, instead of the normal 8am-4pm. This week, I was one of those teachers.
As far as the group midterm project, that was definitely a new experience for me. I have to say, I was glad to trade topics with Shelley. Originally, I was going to be doing reflection assessment tools, and she was going to be doing course tracking tools. Being a math teacher, I'm not too familiar with reflection assessments. Shelley wasn't familiar with course tracking tools. I think the trade worked out well for both of us.
Towards the beginning of the week, I have to admit that I was a bit concerned. At that point, communication with the group was a bit slow (as far as what I was seeing). As we got further into the week, our communication did pick up, and we got everything pulled together.
I must say I am relieved to have the project completed. I've never done a group project online, and I have to say I was never a big fan of group projects when I was in school. I guess that's probably because then, I tended to be the one finishing things that others missed or were too lazy to do. In this case, it was different. Everyone in our group put forth the effort, and I think we came out with a good final product.
My work schedule was different this week. Our school has set up an after school tutoring program where we have teachers available to the students from 4pm-8pm, instead of the normal 8am-4pm. This week, I was one of those teachers.
As far as the group midterm project, that was definitely a new experience for me. I have to say, I was glad to trade topics with Shelley. Originally, I was going to be doing reflection assessment tools, and she was going to be doing course tracking tools. Being a math teacher, I'm not too familiar with reflection assessments. Shelley wasn't familiar with course tracking tools. I think the trade worked out well for both of us.
Towards the beginning of the week, I have to admit that I was a bit concerned. At that point, communication with the group was a bit slow (as far as what I was seeing). As we got further into the week, our communication did pick up, and we got everything pulled together.
I must say I am relieved to have the project completed. I've never done a group project online, and I have to say I was never a big fan of group projects when I was in school. I guess that's probably because then, I tended to be the one finishing things that others missed or were too lazy to do. In this case, it was different. Everyone in our group put forth the effort, and I think we came out with a good final product.
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