Introduction
Over these last 2 years I have expand my connections to organizations and affiliations that relate to Mathematics and Technology in Education. These include becoming a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, ISTE and GLEF. In addition I currently subscribe to magazines that provide useful links and stories to keep me updated with current trends and ideas. These magazines include Leading and Learning in Technology, Edutopia, i.e.(Interactive Educator), American Educator, Discovery Education, Technology Pathfinder for Teachers, and Mathematics Educator in the Middle School. I find that reading these magazines inspire me with new ideas and provide incredible resources for me to use in my classroom. I have found the book Schools That Learn by Peter Senge to be a very powerful tool that has helped me grow in my thinking and understanding of the Constructivist Learning Model. In addition, I have found the book Teaching Mathematics through Problem Solving published by the NCTM to be very helpful by allowing me to see why and how this concept works. It provides the framework to structure your classroom and the Do's and Don'ts for a well balanced learning environment. I have developed a greater understanding of my students and their learning by enriching my own understanding of these successful models in education. I would highly recommend these resources to those looking for new ideas in education.
Since becoming a member of TEAM I have become a leader in my district by helping others grow in their knowledge of resources that are available to educators. I have brought new ideas back to our district from conferences and made those changes happen within our building. One example is the purchase of 6 new Smart Boards for our classrooms next year that came about because of connections I made through the NECC Conference. I have helped others learn how to use the Smart Board and to save and post that work to the eboards. Another major influence that I brought to our district was the North Star Approach to Education. Four teachers from our building; Rachel, Erin, our Assistant Principal Amy and I attended a conference in Dedham, MA because of my involvement with this program. We look to incorporate this philosophy into our curriculum as a means to inspire our students and their learning. I have also been working with different teachers in my building to incorporate online interactive activities within their classrooms. Many of these helpful websites can be found on the grade level eboards from our school or on my Interactive Math Sites web page. I have also been a leader by getting teachers to create web pages that organize the newly structured Math Standards for NYS and provide links that relate to the topic being covered. This was a project that I started for myself and when I showed other teachers what I had done they saw the need to create the pages for not just 7th and 8th grades but also grade 3-6. Erin has also begun to organize the English curriculum. I feel that TEAM has made me feel confident about my knowledge of the technology tools available and because of that confidence I am able to be a leader within my school and community.
Projects
Digital Photography (see Article Reviews)
During the Summer 2005, I took an online Digital Photography Class. In this class we were asked to read and reflect on a variety of different articles on digital photography (G1-6). I was amazed that I could learn as much as I did through self discovery and practice. I came across many different articles that provided me with a wealth of information, some which were beyond my understanding at the time. I was able to use those reading to expand my knowledge and was able reflect on what I read to show that understanding (G1-4). I was amazed that when I went back and reread some of the articles, that the pieces now seemed to fit together and the concepts didn't seem so difficult to understand (HM8).
Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire; you will what you imagine; and at last you create what you will.
- George Bernard Shaw
NECC 2005 Dreamweaver Page
I attended the 2005 NECC Conference in Philadelphia. There was so much to see and do. I made many connections and found many new innovative ideas for technology in the classroom at this conference. I created this page in Dreamweaver to highlight some of the best practices in education that I came across there (G1-1). I became more comfortable in using Dreamweaver through this project and have found this page to be an invaluable resource to me in my classroom and school settings. I have been able to refer others to links off this page and have used many of the links countless times to find information that helps me plan more interesting and exciting technology based instruction for my students (G2-1). These technology rich lessons enable me to structure my learning environment to meet the needs of learners with diverse backgrounds and abilities (G1-7).
Interactive Math Sites
Over the past 2 years in TEAM I have come across many useful math sites. I use these sites on a regular basis to find links and activities to enhance my curriculums (G2-5). I created this page in Dreamweaver and by doing so was able to expand my knowledge not only of Dreamweaver but of valuable resources to both myself and my students (G2-4). I met with the other math teachers in my district and together we came up with additional links that we felt would be beneficial to also include on this page (SV). I continually update this page with new links that are found by me or one of my colleagues to be relevant. It is a site that not only I use but have referred other to when I am asked about technology resources that I have found. By creating this page I have developed self-sustaining, lifelong learning skills that will enable me to continually modify and enhance a site that has become an invaluable resource to me (G1-5).
"Technology integration in the curriculum improves students' learning processes and outcomes. Teachers who recognize computers as problem-solving tools change the way they teach. They move from a behavioral approach to a more constructivist approach. Project-based learning takes place utilizing interactive multimedia and telecommunications technologies. Students are engaged in their learning using these powerful tools."
From "Why Do We Need Technology Integration" - GLEF
Reflection/ Research Paper – NECC 2005
I wrote this paper after I attended the NECC Conference in June 2005. I feel that within this paper I was able to communicating with clarity and precision (HM2). In it I discuss 3 of the most influential exhibits that I came across at the conference. I compared and differentiated Tammy Worcester’s 50 Quick and Easy Power Point Activities, the 3M Digital Wall Display, and The North Star Approach to Education, 3 different technology resources for teaching and learning (G2-5) . I brought all of these ideas back to our district and each of them were in some way incorporated into our building. As a technology teacher who uses Power Point as a learning tool in all of my computer classes Tammy Worcerter’s book has been an inspiration for many projects or provided enhancements to project that we create. In October, we invited the 3M rep to come to our district and make a presentation on the Wall Display unit. Although the 3M boards, the Cadillic of interactive white boards, was considered too expensive for our district at this time, it excited our board enough to motivate them to purchase 6 Smart Boards for our school building next year. The last exhibit that I wrote about had a major impact on me and one that has continued to inspire me and others in our building since the NECC conference. The North Star has become one of the influential forces in my life and I reference this in another reflection. This paper demonstrates that I can explain verbally and in writing knowledge of the applications of technology in the classroom (G2-3). I tried to accurately highlight the pros and cons of adopting these new technologies by bringing up questions and problems that others might ask or face when adopting any new type of technology (HM11, HM13).
Find the way and the way will follow you. - Winnie the Pooh
PG & S Logs
Through out TEAM, we were responsible to do many different readings in Peter Senge’s Schools That Learn. During our 1st year we needed to write logs that articulated our understanding of those readings. I feel that this log is a good example of my ability to do just that (G1-6). In this log on Chapter 1 which was about the common structure of Junior High and High Schools I discussed the ideas that stood out to me. As you read this reflection you can see that I was able to think and communicating with clarity and precision (HM2). Even though I saw my classroom fitting into the faults of our current educational system, I was able to think flexibly about the flip side and the benefits of changing the structure of our Schools (HM7). By doing these reading and reflections I was able to change my thinking to try and find the best way to set up a classroom and learning environment that is more inline to benefit our students (HM 16, MM).