Final Project

For this final project, I chose a lesson plan on multiplying polynomials, that I have previously done for my English Language Learners class. I made alterations needed to fit the needs for this assignment. I began the lesson by giving the students the vocabulary needed and asked them to work in groups and come up with a definition for each term. The groups typed in their definitions on their iPads, which were sent directly to the Smartboard, and the class could then decide on the final definitions that they all wrote down.

Now, that the students had the needed ground work, I would explain that we are going to learn how to multiply polynomials. I would write several examples on the Smartboard, and model a couple for the students. Next, I would ask them to help me multiply the rest and tell me exactly what to do step by step. I would then pose several questions to the students to get them to think and notice what happens when we multiply a monomial x monomial, monomial x binomial, binomial x binomial, and binomial x trinomial.

Since, all the students have iPads, we can make great use of them. There is a website called National Library of Virtual Manipulatives, contains a list of virtual "hands-on" tools for students to use while using a computer during a lesson or while doing homework. All students would go on the website, and hit the algebra tiles manipulative. This tool teaches students how to multiply polynomials using algebra tiles. The students would work individually on several problems and then I would open the website on the Smartboard, so we could discuss as a class what they have learned. While, the students worked individually, I would have walked around to assess informally if they understand the concept.

Next, the students would research a polynomial multiplication video with their groups on SchoolTube, to get a different way of instruction, in case they did not understand when I explained it. Students should now be ready for a real life application. They will be given a problem, and asked to work it out using polynomial multiplication. I would be walking around offering help, but the students can also use the virtual algebra tiles, the videos, or any methods we have learned in class thus far to come up with a solution.

In this final part of the lesson, we would have a large group discussion to organize and clarify all that they have learned in the lesson. Students would be encouraged to ask questions, which other students or I could answer. Everyone would make a list of the recurring themes or patterns they have noticed when multiplying polynomials and email it to themselves.

For homework, students would be asked to write a short poem, story, or song and create a video for multiplying polynomials. We would watch all the videos in class and take a poll, on Kwipoll, which allows teachers to take a poll of the class, and the winning video would be uploaded on SchoolTube. This should get the students excited and while making the video they will gain a better understanding of multiplying polynomials.

In this lesson, the students used a variety of technology that made the lesson more interesting and relatable, rather than solving problems on a piece of paper. Students were exposed to different approaches of teaching and learning, so that if they did not understand it one way, they could try it another way. Students were able to make connections and in the end all should have understood how to multiply polynomials, which was the objective of the lesson.

Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqNRFBNdTiUGdGVIWmpEdXZJSEZ4b2Qyc3A2WjJaeWc

Effect of Technology on Education

I strongly believe that technology can make a big difference in a classroom. Students are exposed to all different kinds of technology in their everyday lives, whether it is their cell phones, computers or television, so bringing that into the classroom can make the material they are learning more relatable. With the variety of technology available today, any lesson can go from boring to something memorable and exciting. Let's face it, if students do not find the lesson interesting, after a while they will simply zone out.

Recently, I came upon an article, "Technology can change education," that confirmed my belief. The article begins with the sad truth that many companies can not find qualified workers here in America and therefore they need to go overseas to find trained workers. This is new to me, because I thought the companies have moved overseas because labor is cheaper, which still holds true, but we simply do not meet the expectations of those companies. The quality of education is slowly declining, and we must find a way to help our future generations succeed. Incorporating technology into the lessons, might be the way to go, after all, we want to prepare our students for the 21st century jobs.

The author of the article, Robert Bennett, describes a program he saw at Malcom X Shabazz High School in Newark, NJ, that he believes is the way out of this crisis. The classroom contained no textbooks or blackboards but a smart-board, students sat in round tables and talked a lot. This was a physics class, and the teacher put up the problem on the smart-board, went over it and explained what they needed to know in order to find the solution, and gave them four minutes to work on it. As the students worked on the problem in groups, the teacher walked around and helped them with the steps to solve the problem. Once time was up, each student entered his or her answer into a key pad. As the teacher touched the smart-board, a pie chart came up, showing what percentage of students chose which answer. The teacher was able to see the names of the students and their answers, so she called on some of them to go up and show how they arrived with that answer. The rest of the students were able to comment and give feedback to the student. When all students agreed on an answer, the teacher gave them another problem to work on and this time when she checked the pie chart, everyone got the correct answer!

The school was suppose to close down three years ago, but instead it was transformed, and in my opinion successfully. Students now consider school to be fun, and they spend their days doing puzzles together. They are out performing students in suburban schools and are headed for college, which is not seen often in inner city schools.

This is just one example of many, that shows how technology can affect education. In today's society, and with the demand in the job market, it is essential to integrate technology into everyday classrooms. It can truly make a difference, and help students succeed, and be better prepared for the future.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765570717/Technology-can-change-education.html?pg=1

Importance of Technology

I found this video to be very interesting, and really raise awareness of how important technology is in schools. It is sad to see that we only have a 70% graduation rate because students feel that they are not getting anything from school or because the information is too hard. Today, 2 out of 3 jobs require education beyond high school. So what happens to all the students who drop out? Students need to be prepared for the 21st century jobs, and the only way to do that is by incorporating technology in the classrooms.

Research is showing that relevant technology will inspire students to learn and engage in the lessons. Most students already engage in some kind of personal electronic communication, whether it is texting or social networking. Why not use that knowledge to good use? In schools, with 1:1 laptop programs, not only has achievement improved, but also engagement, participation and motivation.

Technology can really enhance lessons to make them more interesting and relatable to the students. I know that I would rather do some hands on activities, that I am interested in, rather than listen to the teacher talk for forty five minutes. Students can listen for only about 20 minutes until they begin to zone out, therefore the lessons must vary to keep their interest and keep them involved.

Interactivity #5

I interviewed a middle school math teacher, in the Montclair School District, about the impact of national technology standards in the school. She has seen the standards before, and was familiar with both, The National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S) and The National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). The school, as well as the whole district have begun to implement the NET-S for students. The standards at the school, are used "mostly in technology classes (required each semester for each student), but also used in all subject area classes as appropriate." 

The teacher aligns many of her lessons according to the standards. Recently, she gave the students a scavenger hunt for the TI-89 calculator, so that they would explore all the features the calculator has to offer. Also, the school just got brand new Macbooks for them to use, which she uses in her lessons for applications such as the Geometer’s Sketchpad. She went on to tell me, that the students really engage and participate more, whenever technology is used.

The district has a technology mission plan which states, “If we are successful integrating technology, all students will use technology to gather information, solve problems, share their expertise, and develop the life skills needed to function in the 21st  century.” They have planned out  3 year goals, which show great motivation and they are as follows: (MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR TECHNOLOGY 2010-2013)

 Goal 1

Students and staff will have seamless access to information technology in their schools.

 Goal 2

Students will develop the technology and information literacy life skills needed to succeed in the growing technological world.

 Goal 3

Staff will utilize technology to enhance the educational goals of the district.

 Goal 4

Parents and community members will understand the effectiveness of technology in education.

The school website has a section set aside for technology as well. The importance of this technology infusion is clearly stated, and how students will benefit from it. The school understands that technology is the way of life, and is doing everything to prepare their students for the future.

I was not surprised at the teacher’s familiarity with the standards, because I have seen the way she incorporates technology into her lessons.  The teacher sees the importance of technology in education and tries to infuse it in her lessons as much as possible to make them more interesting. 

As a future educator, I see the importance of NET-S and NET-T. If the district I work in, is not implementing the standards, I would try to voice my opinion on the advantages of using technology in the classroom. Not only does it make lessons fun and interesting, but also enriches every lesson and gives students a deeper understanding. 

Spreadsheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqNRFBNdTiUGdFpRLUMwbUNxUVhYTUdVbWF3U3R6aWc

Montclair Public Schools

District Technology Plan :

http://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/WebPageFiles/24/techplan10-13.pdf

SchoolTube

SchoolTube is a media sharing website for students and educators. It is free, safe and endorsed by premier education associations. Teachers and students can upload videos and share them with the rest of the world. Any student videos must be first approved by a registered teacher. These videos can showcase academics, sports or any club events. Teachers can share media right from their classroom and learn from other teachers how to integrate technology into the lessons. Parents can keep up with their child's school and also show off their child's talents and accomplishments.

Mathematics is often one of the subjects that students do not find very interesting. Therefore, teachers must try their best to engage their students. I came across a lot of fun and interesting videos done by teachers on SchoolTube. One that especially stood out to me was a rap song done by a teacher called, "Super Base", which teaches students about exponents and bases. It was a remake of Nicki Minaj's song "Super Bass" and the teacher got all her students involved in the video. It is very fun and would definitely catch any student's interest.

Link to SchoolTube video:
http://bit.ly/se1kWl

Math Anxiety + Technology = Success

Math often causes anxiety in students. They fear the subject and become frustrated or lack confidence. This has become such a big issue that researchers have created an anxiety scale for math. Students may feel nervous, helpless, hopeless or panic.  This fear usually comes from unpleasant experiences with mathematics.  Poor teaching causes limited learning, which results in math anxiety.

The anxiety can be overcome with a positive attitude, asking questions and practicing regularly. Though a more effective way could be incorporating technology into the math classrooms. When students are able to relate to what they are learning it becomes easier to understand. In addition, technology is  great for visualization and hands on activities because it will help the students grasp the concept better. 

In the article Math Class Takes a Surprisingly Fun Twist, we can see the perfect example of how technology can lessen anxiety and actually make math fun. The classroom is described as: "The walls have magnetic paint and are coated with a material that effectively turns most of the entire room into a giant whiteboard. The tables, too, are whiteboards, and there's an iPad for every table. Two giant TV screens also grace the walls, among other features" (tech times). The students are encouraged to write on the walls, walk around, work in groups and be creative. The goal of this environment is to help students feel comfortable and not fear math. 

The teachers in that classroom work with a technical instructor, who steps in whenever students say they do not see how math is relevant to their lives. The technical instructor shows them exactly how it is, using a fun technical approach. The teachers have seen great improvement in their students and the change of attitude toward math. Some students even go as far as saying math is now their favorite subject. 

Everyone is exposed to technology in today’s society, therefore using it in the classroom is the perfect solution to reducing math anxiety. The anxiety may be compared to stage fright since they both are a disabling condition, causing humiliation, resentment, and even panic. But when technology is incorporated into the lessons, young children see math as fun, they will enjoy it, and, the joy of mathematics could remain with them throughout the rest of their lives.




http://www.tstctechtimes.com/math-class-takes-a-surprisingly-fun-twist-1.2786566#.T3YRcRyLXXE

An iPad for Every Student

In the ideal classroom, all students would be provided with the best technology possible. But, often that is not the case. Therefore, when we hear about schools, who are lucky enough to have those resources, we want to know if it in fact brings success. In September, in Zeeland, Michigan, every high schooler in the district received an apple iPad. It is used for classwork, testing and communication. After just two weeks into the program, administrators called the iPad program a game changer.

The use of technology has made education a part of the students' world, rather than being separate. In literature class, students follow a narrator who reads, The Scarlet Ibis. They are able to highlight in the ebook and students participate more directly. When studying for quizzes they use a flash card app, and students can coach each other. Since everything is now on the iPad, students can not use the excuse anymore that they have lost their paper.

When students or teachers are absent, instructional time does not need to be lost, because teachers can upload their video lessons for all students to view. They can then download assignments over wi-fi. The only downside is, that without an actual keyboard, it is hard for students to type long essays. Also, printing is limited.

The district set aside $1.3 million for the program, which comes from the $20 million bond issue voters approved last year for school improvements. In the winter, middle schoolers were supposed to receive iPads and next fall grades 3-5 will. Kindergartners through second graders will be able to use a cart of the iPads, also next fall.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-09-20/schools-education-ipad-students/50480836/1