Emerging Technologies for MS Math

Collaborative technology within a classroom and/or building is becoming more and more commonplace.  However, my interest is in how  to use those tools to connect globally, outside the walls of our brick and mortar school.  I am huge on travel and learning about other cultures.  I think there is a lot to learn from those who live differently than we do.  However, how do I do this in an educational setting?  After reading into the different resources for teachers, I decided to finally give Twitter a chance.  This is not a new phenomenon in the educational setting, but it's new for me.  I opened a Twitter account at a PD day...and that was the beginning and end of my Twitter experience.  I didn't see the benefit in that moment.  However, more and more resources are available now and I'm finally going to give it a fighting chance.   One of the many resources I stumbled upon was a blog written by Tom Barrett.  He points out ...

Part 1: The job of motivating students is not an easy or lighthearted task.   Each student comes with their own preconceived ideas of a subject and/or the teacher which all plays into how motivated they will be to learn.   This impression can be changed but not easily.   Rhett Mcdaniel of Vanderbilt University talks in his article Motivating Students about intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and how to model those types of motivations for your students (2018).   One of his strategies is simply getting to know your students.   This fosters into relationship building.   Mcdaniel goes on to explain that incorporating your knowledge of the students, their concerns and background, in addition to your personal interest in their lives, into your lessons and activities will “inspire their personal loyalty to you.”   With that loyalty comes intrinsic motivation and a platform for growth. Another strategy offered is to set reasonable pe...

In my building, and probably within my district, I am among the few that are not part of the Google fan club.   It is not because I have anything against Google or Classroom, in face I find Google to be innovative and creative with their products and interfaces.   I am a creature of habit and stick with what’s comfortable.   That being said, I know I need a change.   As I change grade levels next year, Google Classroom is among one of the many new things I will begin to learn. This research is definitely helping ease my mind for that transition.   One of my goals for the upcoming year is to increase student collaboration.   Google has created a collaborative culture.   Therefore, in order to start simple, I will have students work together in Google Docs to brainstorm for projects, pose questions, and contribute to discussions.   Christopher Pappas, in his article Google Classroom: A Free Learning Management System For eLearni...

Researching what devices should be used in schools seems a bit useless when in a district where the device is chosen for you.  However, I took this opportunity to to expand my knowledge in case change happens in the future.  Right now, my middle school students are 1:1 with iPads.  When they move to HS, it is a BYOD culture.  For this reason, I did my research on using smartphones in the classroom.  (*Side note: this will mostly apply to MS and HS only) Now, before you stop reading because of the absurdity of letting students bring their phones to class, let me assure you I was there too.  In fact, my school has a policy in place that does not allow phones in the classroom.  However, I think schools should reconsider.  Meg Ormiston from TeachHUB.com reminds us that most students have invested a lot of time in learning how to navigate their cell phone, understanding it's capabilities and limitations.  More importantly, using their cell phon...