Thing 12

1.  Google Form

Above is a screenshot of the survey I created and would use for my students at the beginning of the school year.  I found creating a survey in Google Forms to be easier than in Survey Monkey.  Google Forms seems to just be simple, clean and to the point for what I need.  And because I find this easy to use, it would be a good tool to quickly survey the class on their learning and their opinions of what was taught.  I might not use Google Forms for quizzing students since some of the work I require them to show Im assuming can't be done on the form.

Below are the results of my survey.  I enlisted the help of a few teachers and non-teachers since I am not teaching students right now.

2.  Rubistar

In the district where I teach each department has a rubric that is used when we give our students their CCR (Closed and Critical Reading) assignment.  This assignment is used to collect data on how well our students can process the information they read.  Students are asked to write in complete sentences and show all work for any computations.   So, what I posted in the above screenshot is similar to what I have been using in my classroom.

3.  Data Tools

 The data tools that are available in my district allow teachers to access basic student information (i.e. address, parent contact, email, etc), transcript information, class schedules with all grades(homework, projects, quizzes and tests) in their classes, MEAP data, CCR data and behavioral referrals.   Teachers also have access to SMI (Scholastic Math Inventory) and SRI (Scholastic Reading Inventory) scores that show a student's current math and reading level.   Our district also just purchased Next Navigator to  help us with accessing the CCSS with our students.   

In regards to FERPA and HIPPA, they are both important in protecting the rights and privacy of the student (as well as other individuals) and at the same time provide necessary information for the care and well-being of the student physically, emotionally, and intellectually. 

Thing 11

http://prezi.com/2691pp2elohd/copy-of-pythagorean-theorem-and-sohcahtoa/

Frustration is the key word in learning Prezi because it's something new and different than what Im use to using.  With that being said,  this is my first Prezi presentation and I know this won't be my last.  :)  I like the zooming feature of the presentation and like the fact that the youtube clips I inserted start immediately.   Most of my students are accustom to using powerpoint for their presentations so getting them to use Prezi should be interesting.  I'm pretty sure that they will learn this much quicker than me and would add that razzle and dazzle to their projects via Prezi.

This is a zoom shot of phschool.com website that I strongly encourage my students to use as an additional resource for their learning.   Being able to zoom in on different parts of a diagram or steps in solving a problem  while lecturing would help some students focus more closely on what is being taught.  It would allow for that connection between the explanation and visual to be more in sync.

Thing 10

Before

After

This picture was taken by me during my vacation in Vegas this year.  The picture is of the Hoover Dam taken from the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.  

I used Picasa because it was easy to use and since my district has gone Google, the students have easy access to this photo editing tool.  Students who aren't generally creative will find Picasa a great tool to express their hidden creativity in the projects they produce.

Some of the  features that I used in Picasa were the following:

-fun and useful image processing tabs

-addition of a caption

-I'm feeling lucky icon

2.

https://plus.google.com/photos/111139614319309478237/albums/5764125649969946065

Thing 9

1.  Since I am not in contact with any students during the summer, I gave my true or false quiz to my sister (she slightly protested) and a few friends.   Their knowledge and understanding of copyright law was just about the same as mine.  That being average.  They understood that the law doesn't allow a person to download music without paying for it but struggled in realizing that a person's creative work that has been written is protected by copyright.  Surprisingly, the question I asked about Creative Commons they all got correct.  Granted two of them guessed the correct answer but still.

Here is my quiz

2.

Took me FOREVER to figure out how to get this on my website but I did it!  And now that it's done, it  should have taken me minutes to do!

Thing 8

1. Graphic organizer using bubbl.us

2.  A word cloud using Wordle.

3.  How can this be useful for students.

In my district we currently use Thinking Maps (aka graphic organizers) with our students to help them better process the information that has been given to them.   It seems to be working because I have had students ask me if they could use a Thinking Map to take notes verses the note form that I would give them.  

I think using something like bubbl.us would get more students interested in using a graphic organizer because they wouldn't have to use pencil and paper and can easily save it in their storage drive at school.  I could see them using it to outline a unit prior to the unit being taught.   They would easily be able to go back and revise their organizer that would be the most beneficial to them as the unit material is being taught.

Thing 7

1.  Summary of two bogus websites.

http://147.129.226.1/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm

When you first look at this site it just looks bogus because of the way the site is designed.  Then when you start reading the "information" on the page your initial hypothesis about it being bogus is true.  Granted the site does state at the bottom that is is bogus but let's look at a few things.  1.  There is no such thing as the Atlantic Center for Disease Control.  A simple Google search proved that.  By the way, the Centers for Disease Control no longer maintains their page on public health hoaxes.  2.  There is no University of Santa Ana.  If there was, you would think by clicking on the name you would be directed to the university's main site.  3.   There is no information about the author and no link to gather further info about the author. 4.  When deleting some of the URL the remaining part sends you to the following page:http://www.ithacalibrary.com/research/.  5.  Obviously, anyone reading the facts that are listed would know that they are untrue.  6.  There is no additional information that a person could go to via a link on the page to get more in-depth information on the so-called facts.

http://www.stephenswork.com/funkyshoes/fun.html

Any shoe aficionado would instantly know that this is a bogus site.  Who would ever order a pair of used, funky smelling shoes from here?  Anyway, when I click on the place my order tab I noticed that there was no https to indicate that the site was secure.    I also called the 1-800 number and was told that the program has ended by a recorder.  And I also noticed that there weren't any pictures of the "funky shoes" that you could purchase.   The psychic readings they offer is just icing on the cake to this false website.


2.  Activities to help other learn about cyber bullying, personal information on the web, acceptable use of the internet and/or Netiquette.

 Since I teach primarily 10th and 11th graders( think invincible ) one of the activities I would like to do with them would be for my students to take the Netiquette quiz.  After taking the quiz I would have them work in groups to discuss what they already knew and what they didn't know about etiquette on the internet.

The other activity I would is to have them create their own brochure on cyber bullying and its effects, what they shouldn't share with other via the web and how to protect their personal information.   The hope is that they would draw most of their information from personal experiences as well as researching information via the internet, books, parents, network administrators, web masters and teachers.  Some sites that I really liked and would refer them to for background information are the following:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/brochures.aspx
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html
http://www.netsmartz411.org/

Thing 6- Differentiated Instruction and Diverse Learning

1.  Since I have been team teaching with ELL teachers, at least one Geometry class for the past several years, I have seen a change in how I teach my diverse learning population.  I have also had the privilege of teaching several Special Education students that were place in my non-team taught classes because my teaching style and the classroom environment was something that they felt at ease with and could learn.

Below are a few things that I do that I believe speak to differentiated instruction.

• Constant communication with  ELL teacher on how to tackle and teach certain material and modify when necessary.
• Giving multiple examples to students.
• Showing how to do a problem then giving students a similar problem to do on their own or with a partner.   Then walk around to room to see their work and if the answer is wrong, I  have them find their mistake.
• Gathering information from students through questioning or through them working in groups  to see what they might already know about the content I will be teaching.
• Using formula sheets and notecards they created to assist them with quizzes and tests
• A willingness to listen and accept when students find an alternative way to solve problems that works for their understanding.
• When students work in groups there are times when they get to choose their group mates.
• Allowing students to use their cell phone's calculator verses a in-classroom calculator. 
• Providing visuals for just about every definition, theorem, postulate and example in class.  
• Placing every student's name on a notecard and using those cards as my way of calling upon them to answer questions.  That way I avoid calling upon the same students all the time. (Thank you KB for this one)
• Giving students options of emailing their written projects to me verses printing them out.  And with the time limit of midnight that I give them it allows my procrastinators get in their work as well.
• Providing highlighters to all students and guiding them to what they should highlight in their notes.
• Modify what I teach for each hour depending on how the class learns even if I have back to back hours of the same class.
• Providing type written notes with blanks spaces for writing in formulas, some key words and room to solve examples. 
• Letting students come to the board (oddly they love to write on a whiteboard) to either work out problems or help explain a topic.  They are also given the opportunity to bring a friend to help them in solving a problem that's difficult.

2.   After looking at the tech tip areas I particularly like the Audio, Visual and the Curricular Supports (math portion).   I recognize that not all  students I teach are going to understand immediately the concepts discussed in class.  Graphic organizers (Thinking Maps in my district ) have been used to help students break down the components of formulas in math to helping organize ideas in writing an essay in English to historic events in History.  I know students have found it helpful in learning math formulas because they understand why it is used and what parts compose the formula.

Under Curricular Supports it was good to see online resources that could help reinforce and provide a different delivery of math topics.  This gives students  the option of how they want to receive the extra help they may need.   

With using audio and visual resources, students have another way of recapturing and understanding what was taught in class.  This is especially helpful for ELL students that are not only learning math but a second language (English) as well.  Below, are two examples of where the same topic is taught in English as well as Spanish.  The site phschool.com is the site that is tied into the math books that are used in my classes.   

http://www.phschool.com/atschool/academy123/english/academy123_content/wl-book-demo/ph-368s.html

http://www.phschool.com/atschool/academy123/spanish/academy123_content/wl-book-demo/ph-368ss.html

3.  I took a look at Math Support under the UDL Strategies and found several of the resources to be informational, fun and what I could use with my students.  These resources are what students would find interesting, fun and helpful all at the same time.  I tried my hand at math playground.com and took a look at one of the multiplication games.  And I discovered I'm not that good with using a space bar and arrow key as a joystick. :)  However, practicing basic multiplication  this way would keep students more engaged verses using old school flashcards.  I also took a look at thatquiz.org which allows the user to create his/hers own quiz on a variety of topics in various subject areas.   I like the practice it provides and allows the user to use a timer or not.  

4.  I used Vozme  to do my text to audio.  Although I found the female voice to be robotic sounding , I was pleased to hear that some of the words that my students have pronounced incorrectly were pronounced correctly here.   This site would be helpful for students (ELL, regular ed, special ed) who are having trouble with reading and pronouncing mathematical terms.  

http://vozme.com/speech/en-fm/35/3589da9f096d1c03f56fd775390888c1.mp3