When I Become a Teacher PhotoStory

Link to WebQuest

Road Trip to Sturgis WebQuest

iPad Review

Math Ref Free is a free version of the great math reference application, Math Ref. This app gives you just a sample (over 600) of the over 1,400 helpful formulas, figures, tips, and examples that are included in the full version of Math Ref. So, if you're a student, teacher, or need math for work and want to try before you buy, this app is for you.

Because I have an iPad I sampled many different math learning apps.  Many where pretty simple... they give you an equation and you tap the answer and instantly know whether you are right or wrong.  Most of these where geared more towards younger students learning simple addition and subtraction, and multiplication and division problems. I did not find any clear instructions in these apps of course it was the free version I was using and the full version would potentially be more clear.

Since I want to teach secondary math I found the Free Math Ref app to be a great resource for myself as a teacher and for my students. I am constantly looking up formulas and rules in math. These are so abundant memorization is just not possible. With the Math Ref app these formulas and rules are at the tip of your fingers. Students could use this to find the particular information that they need in order to complete an assignment. Without directly telling students what formulas to use they could use the Math Ref app to gather the information that they need.

I must also add that I believe the iPad can be used in many different and exciting ways to stimulate a love of learning in our future students.

Lesson Plan and CSO

QARs + Tables = Successful Comprehension of Math Word Problems

The QAR framework supports comprehension of a word problem that relates to a graphic or table displaying data.

CSO:  select and use appropriate statistical methods to analyze data, develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on models 

By recognizing a variety of question types, students understand that a correct response might require analysis, manipulation, or computation of numerical information rather than identification of a number within the table.
CSO:  create grade-level real-world appropriate story problems using multiple strategies including simple ratios, justify the reason for choosing a particular strategy and present results.

Answering questions that relate to a graphic or table involves a complex, multistep process that includes understanding the question, determining how a response can be mathematically formulated, analyzing the graphic, and offering a response that rests upon sound mathematical principles.
CSO: formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them

Identifying the type of QAR supports mathematical reasoning skills and expands upon successful test-taking strategies.

The Altitudinist

 The Altitudinist: Higher level thinking is everything to you. There's too much emphasis on factual recall in schools today. The only justification for bringing technology into schools is if it opens up the possibility that students will have to analyze information, synthesize multiple perspectives, and take a stance on the merits of something. You also value sites that allow for some creative expression on the part of the learner.


Your Role

___Efficiency Expert

___Affiliator

___Altitudinist

___Technophile

Your Impressions

WebQuest	Strengths	Weaknesses
Gorillas	Allows students to address a specific issue and think about possible solutions creatively.	Does not encourage much higher thinking because the problem and many solutions are already presented. Students should think of other possible problems instead of just focusing on Gorillas.
Shakespeare	Students have lots of opportunity to be creative. Also working with other students to create skits will encourage higher learning.	There is so much information available about Shakespeare. Maybe students should compare him to another author during that time to get a better appreciation for Shakespeare instead of just analyzing the facts.
Earthquake	This activity is fun and students will enjoy the hands on and competitive aspect of it which will promote higher thinking in order to have the strongest structure.	Higher thinking is important when determining the design of your structure but success also has a lot to do with the materials and construction.
Foreign Country	This activity gives students the opportunity to express the facts creatively using technology.	This activity seems to have too much emphasis on gathering facts about a specific country and then presenting them.
Waves & Sound	This WebQuest promotes higher learning and allows students to go on a journey of learning without just directly stating what they are expected to take from the experience.	This activity make seem boring to many students.

Bernie Dodge, Department of Educational Technology, SDSU

StoryBird

My Mommy is a Teacher Too! by jcrandallcrawford, jglaspell2201 on Storybird

RED LIGHT TO SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR SEX OFFENDERS

The argument that Mr. Magid is trying to make is that it will not do any good to limit sex offenders' access to social networking sites. Though his opinions and feelings to support this argument are abundant and clear, his evidence seems to ONLY be abundant. Every peer-reviewed study conducted by the Crimes Against Children Research Center and other scholarly organizations, as well as the report of Internet Safety Technical Task Force, has concluded that the risk of online predators is greatly exaggerated (Magid, 2009). To say "greatly exaggerated" does not give me a clear comparison about the actual risk level of online predators. Mr. Magid continues to speak about his own knowledge of sex offenders. I'm not aware of any cases of a predator harming a prepubescent child whom he met on the Internet, and there are very few publicly known cases of sexual contact between a teenager and an adult they met online (Magid, 2009).  He says "I'm not aware". His unawareness of theses cases are probably intentional. Abuse of prepubescent children is confidential and not made public whether the Internet was involved or not. Magid continues with some "evidence" that involves numbers. A January 2009 analysis of Pennsylvania cases by the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use found, during a four-year period, that "only eight incidents involved actual teen victims with whom the Internet was used to form a relationship," compared to 9,934 children who were sexually abused in a single year in that state (Magid, 2009). Use of dates, times, and numbers to enforce his argument can easily be interpreted as facts by the average reader. Although with the information literacy strategies I have learned in my Instructional Technology class,  I am aware that this "evidence" can not be validated.  When I click on the link "analysis" I am directed to another posting by Mr. Magid. Also, I am always very weary of the validity of sites with advertisements and pop-ups.

This is a very controversial topic and I am not completely sure how I feel about it. Do I believe sex-offenders give up their right to social networking?...not so much.  I believe anyone can be rehabilitated. To limit rehabilitation seems counter-productive for society as a whole. Although, what role does social networking play for the rehabilitation of a sex-offender?  Um, seems like very little. Unlike Mr. Magid, I would choose to not try to sway emotions about this topic with unvalidated "evidence".  I am only talking about my personal opinion. With the controversial topic: Sex Offenders' Right to Social Networking... I don't believe any facts or statistics could ever completely change how a person really feels about this subject. Personally, I DO agree with Mr. Magid's argument for the most part. The process of trying to eliminate sex-offenders' access to a social networking site seems like more trouble than it is worth. Trouble that could take focus off of sex-offenders that are not registered.  Also, just the word "sex-offender" has such a broad meaning across different states. This label may not always be just. It is my most honest and personal opinion that parents are the most responsible for their children. It should not be the job of society or teachers to control what happens when our children are on-line. Proper use of social networking sites should be enforced by parents. Parents should be involved and aware of all aspects of their children's lives, and then should act and react accordingly instead of displacing blame somewhere else. Although this is just my opinion.


Reference

Magid, L. (2009, August 13). Social-networking ban for sex offenders: Bad call? [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-10309421-238.html