After a hard fought battle with Google Docs, my paper is finally done. It can be a bit tricky to work with open source documents, but the benefits outweigh the costs. It is great working on a paper and having a number of different people able to make comments or pose questions right on your document. In this case it was only Glen and myself who had access to the paper, but it would also work in a larger group setting. It is a different writing style in google docs when it comes to APA format, you have to make a few changes to the way your present your document, all the while keeping APA in mind. I decided to go against using headings for my paragraphs due to the size of the overall paper and since it lost something in the flow of the ideas. Referencing is also a little more difficult than in the past since you need to include URLs. You may note that these URLs can become awfully large in the process. Click on my paper and tell me what you think.
Well I have most of my paper finally on the run. I still need to work on my conclusion and embed more of the research links. It is not hard to do, it is just time consuming. I was working with Google docs but switched over to Microsoft Word for a while, I still find it a little easier to edit with. Tomorrow I need to print of the essay and edit on paper, like some others I still like to edit on paper rather than on a screen. I know, I know, I am killing trees. The last thing I need to put in my essay is some of the comments that my students have made about the math blog experience…some of them are quite interesting.
Well I finally had the first big use of my school blog. Friday was review day for my Pre-cal class in anticipation of the test on Monday. There were 5 students away. I told the rest of the students to check the blog this weekend for more information about the test. Some of them told me that they would phone, email, or text the ones that were away to check the blog. I posted the review from the class, the answers, and an outline of what to expect on the test. The blog is a great tool if you need to update students with information coming up. The key is to get them to check it all the time for updates. I have learned much from these tools and plan to expand my blog next semester to include all of my other courses since it is such a valuable communication tool.
Take a look at this little animation.doc and decide if this is a new web tool……..lol….it is not a tool but I thought it would make you laugh a little.
All I need now is the music from Cutting Crew to make this entry complete. We are getting down to the last few weeks of the course. It has been amazing to see everyone progression through the course. We all started at different points in our technology education and hopefully we have all learned something that we can put to use everyday. I have learned a lot about Web Tools 2.0 and I will keep putting these tools to use. Sometimes we can be overwhelmed by all the different software out there. We have to just pick a few that we understand and like and put these to everyday use. I am definitely going to keep blogging with my Math class. I will keep recording my lessons and will attempt to try other recordings that the students may use….maybe some review tools. With the success of this blog, I will definitely add my other classes to the blog next semester. I think that they will benefit from the updates. There is still one thing left in the course that I am working on……the paper. I love the term “work in progress” or “under construction”, it lets me realize that nothing is ever final, there is always room for improvement.
After school today I ventured out to Future Shop to look at all the cool techno stuff. I might as well have my paycheque deposited to Future Shop since I purchase a lot of stuff from them. My Bluetooth USB transmitter finally arrived into the warehouse. It allows the user to connect any Bluetooth device to their computer. I was specifically wanting to connect my hands free headset for my cellphone to my computer at school. Once set up, which only took about 10 minutes, I was able to use my wireless headset to record a short lesson on my Smartboard. Take a listen and tell me if it is clear. No more cords for me to trip over when I am teaching my Pre-Cal class, even though the students may miss me falling on my face. Cheers! One of the best things about taking this course is that it has given me the necessary knowledge about Web 2.0 tools, but more importantly it has allowed me to incorporate technology into my class that will benefit my students. What more can a teacher ask for.
The recording of my Pre-cal Mathematics lessons are going great. I have installed a newer version of the Smartboard software and it works even better than the previous version. It does a better job of condensing the size of the saved file, which in turn allows me to upload it faster to google video. Many of the students in my class have been accessing the lessons. They are looking at the lessons for two reasons, one if they missed the lesson they can get the exact information that the rest of the class received so that they are not at a disadvantage for being sick or just not being there. Secondly a number of students are using the lessons to help review what they previously learned. The Pre-cal Mathematics course moves at a neck-breaking speed and some students need the review to get full understanding of the topics covered. I only have one real peeve about the recording of my lessons, that is, the microphone. I am attached by a cord to my computer. I normally like to move around a lot when I teach but the cord has been limiting my movement. So today while I was out buying winter tires for my car (yes the snow is coming) I decided to pop into Future Shop to look at wireless solutions to my problem. I am able to buy a USB Bluetooth (wireless) device ($33) that will allow me to use my existing Bluetooth earpiece (for my cellphone) with my Smartboard. I just have to configure it to pick up my signal and then I will be able to use it to record what I am teaching without being hampered by a cord. The device will allow me to add any Bluetooth device to my computer, a mouse, a keyboard, anything. Sometimes the technological solutions are out there to our problems, you just have to take the time to find them. I will let you know next week how it works.
I just disconnected from SKYPE, I was talking to my nephew up in Dauphin. He is currently enrolled in the BUNTEP program through Brandon University. He is training to become a teacher…sniff…sniff…I am so proud. He was working on a project and needed some middle years math games. The great thing about SKYPE is that we can have a conversation that does not require paying for long distance, we can see each other, I can surf the Internet, look through my files and immediately send him information. I was able to send him links for great on-line math games plus I was able to send him some of my files of printable math games that he can use. It definitely makes the world a much smaller place but more importantly it give educators a chance to immediately help one another from a distance. We have entered the global classroom where distance is not a factor anymore.
I put together some thoughts and ideas related to blended learning. I made a podcast of these thoughts, all the while keeping my mathematics class in mind. Give a listen and tell me what you think. Blended Learning Podcast
I was looking at the slide show that NagraLinda (Lili) put on her blog and I decided to try a little slide show with Slide, the program works like a charm. I had some photos that I took this summer of all my lilies so I decided to post them. We are soon going to be stuck in the middle of winter so I thought the flowers would perk things up a bit. I hope you enjoy them.
