Blog #7: Integrated Spreadsheet Learning

Review & Evaluate a Spreadsheet Integration project

Give a brief description of the project.

In the project entitled "Wildlife Sampling" by Judy Young, she works with 7th graders as they learn and apply concepts of estimation and proportions. Mrs. Young does an excellent job at taking a mathematical concept, and making it very real for the students. She starts out the lesson with a relevant problem to solve, using a current events article from the newspaper. She recognizes that many students are probably interested in issues like agriculture, fish and game, and water for power, irrigation, and recreation. By integrating all of these ideas as she presented the problem, she was very likely to engage most students' interest, and therefore improve motivation. They took some time to discuss the problem as a class, so they were all on the same page. Once the students understood about the salmon population, and how that related to important issues that affected the students personally, they moved on to the activity, which was counting fish in their "rivers" and estimating the population from samples. Students were divided in to groups of 4, and they used a Dixie cup to scoop out goldfish crackers. These fish were then tagged, by replacing them with a pretzel fish to stand out, and then the counting continued. Students really enjoyed this process because they got to snack along the way. Mrs. Young used a spreadsheet template on a smart board to guide them through the process. Once the date was collected, they worked in pair to create spreadsheets on various computers. After that, they were able to discuss conclusions as a class, and once again tie it back to the real problem at hand.

Overall, this lesson was great! Students were engaged and their interest was high. It integrated ideas of math, science, and even history, which helps to create workable knowledge instead of simply understanding an isolated formula. It was creative and hands on, and students had to take responsibility for their own learning to record data and make a spreadsheet, which integrated technology. I think she did a great job, and her learning objectives were definitely met.

• How would you adapt it for your grade level and/or discipline area? In other words, how would you change the lesson to fit your students’ needs?

With this lesson, I could use the main concept as a model for problem solving in my social sciences classes. For example, if I was teaching a social science class at the same 7th grade level, they would really be able to grasp this concept of counting and estimation. I would have to change the lesson to match my discipline area, however. This could be accomplished by instead of talking about wildlife, talking about voting trends and patterns in American History. We will have previous discussed some voting laws, and the history of voting importance and practice. By the time we got to a lesson like this, students would understand the voting process. Therefore, the purpose of this lesson would be for students to compare voting trends from an earlier era, such as the 1930's, to the current year, and the most recent presidential election. Keeping the same format, students would be divided into groups; however, half of the class would be responsible for collecting data from the past, and half would collect data from the present. Their bags would contain the correct sampling population for their specified time. The medium of snack foods could still be used through M&Ms, skittles, or some other type of candy that varies by color. Even though this is a social studies class, I could speak with the math teacher and make sure students could understand the math involved, and it would be a good way to integrate curriculum. After they counted and "tagged" voting populations and figured out their data, they would still make spreadsheets in partners, but one partner would bring the information gained from the past, and the other from the present. Their spreadsheet would contain both sets of data. Then, the most important part would be to compare the date and make inferences on what it meant for voting trends today. Are we more involved? Less involved? What are factors that could effect that. It would be a real life problem that would introduce them to ideas of citizenship and voting rights and responsibilities.

With an older student base, this project would have to change to keep their interest level up. They would have to pull actual research themselves, rather than relying on research from myself. They could draw further conclusions, and reflect and elaborate on them through some type of written project. The actual counting and spreadsheet usage, however, might be a fun way for 9th graders to participate in a hands on activity, even though it may be a bit easy. It can be supplemented with enough content and real life application that it will be relevant to their learning.

Using Netiquette Rules in the Classroom

The internet is a very powerful tool at the hands of our students. They can literally access the entire world, and they have power to learn and explore in a whole new way. Because the internet is so powerful, it is vital that students understand proper etiquette, and adopt a set of rules to live and search by. I have compiled a list of some of these important rules to use in my classroom. My students will be presented with these netiquette rules, that can be found HERE, so we will all have clear expectations of how to use and when to use the internet. This will help students understand the great potential and power of the internet, while be safe and smart about the process.

The link:
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dzwz749_0crq588gk

Blog #5 JIGSAW

The jigsaw method is a very effective collaborative system that can be used in almost any classroom. It provides students with the opportunity to work together and feel important in presenting to their group and becoming an “expert”. There are, however, some disadvantages that need to be considered.

1. If there were only 5 computers in the classroom, not all students could be actively researching at once. This is where the jigsaw method comes in to play. When students are divided in to their expert groups, each group could have one computer, so all the students that were assigned to research the assassination of President Lincoln could work on one computer, and the group that is assigned to work on his speech at Gettysburg could work on another computer. That way, there is sufficient resources for each topic to be developed. If every student had to research every topic, there is no way that there would be enough time. This way, time is saved, and things are done more efficiently. You could even have half of the expert groups working on the computers, and half working in the library. Then, they could switch, and things are still being done in an efficient way.

2. A huge advantage of this method is that all students play an important role. Theoretically, one student could not sit back and do nothing, because they are responsible to get their group the information. If they slack, their entire group misses out on that information. That sense of responsibility and accountability is huge in group work. Also, this way, more information can be researched. Instead of struggling through one or two topics, students get to hear their fellow student experts on their topic, and are exposed to and learn a wider source of information.

3. There are a few disadvantages to this system as well. Stronger students can still dominate, and if a student slacks and doesn’t do his work, the entire group loses out on the chance for information. It would be hard to motivate each student to the same degree so that a fair amount of information is being shared. Also, it would be easy for a bright student to get bored, or want to do it all themselves, not trusting the group. There is also a chance that information could be relayed incorrectly, as it passes from computer to student to group. Despite the possible disadvantages, however, this system is still very efficient and provides a unique framework teachers can utilize for creative and innovative learning.

Blog #4: Google for Educators

Being able to recognize and utilize tools and resources is the sign of an effective teacher. Google for Educators is full of helpful tools that can be used to elevate the level of efficiency and communication not only for teacher-student relationships, but for student-student relationships as well. I was amazed at the breadth of the available options. One of the greatest things about this system of resources is that it is all free, and all can be accessed at any time through the internet. Nowhere else can you have such an expansive, free educational resources system.

One of my favorite tools was the Google Notebook. Pieces of paper with scribbled notes are easy to lose, and hard to organize. With this application, students would have complete access and control of information they found. It all would make organize research for a paper much easier, especially if it was a group project. If I assigned any sort of research paper or project, students could use Google notebook to record websites, download pictures and graphics, and keep progress recorded in a place that all members had access to. This would increase accountability between the students, as they would all have responsibility to update and record certain research.

Another helpful too I will use is Google Maps and Google earth. As I teach students about history and world events, it will become so much more real to them as they see it visually represented. If we are talking about a specific area in Europe or the Middle East, the students can use the Google Apps to find the area, pinpoint it, and explore the images of the location. This may be as close as some will ever get to some really amazing places, and I want to be able to give them the greatest experience possible.

One other tool that I would use to help facilitate organization and communication is the Google Calendar application. Students, parents, and teachers can all have clear communication about when assignments are due, scheduled days off, and upcoming projects. Also, students working in groups could create calendars to organize study groups and project sessions. For whatever reason, everyone can be up to date and receive real time updates on deadlines and schedules.

Google Docs is another tool that would be invaluable to the classroom. I remember as a student, being assigned group projects was such a headache because one student would end up “typing the paper”, but really doing all the work, from research, writing, editing, and printing. With Google Docs, all students have equal access and opportunity to update, create, and comment on the progress of a document. I will use this tool a lot in my classroom. Whenever projects or papers are assigned at a group level, they can be created using this tool, so that all students have access to the project. No longer can there be the excuse that they had no chance to help. They each would be able to give feedback right from home or the classroom. Changes can be recorded and saved, and the entire process would be so much smoother.

I look forward to using each of these tools in my classroom. I think that as I start to use them, it will get easier to understand how they work, and when to use them. It is really amazing to me that these great resources are free to use, and can be accessed at any time, from anywhere. I look forward to the chance I will have to integrate them in to my teaching in the future.

Letter to Parents

Dear Parents,

Welcome to another school year! I am Heather Davis, and I am so excited to teach your children social studies this year. With the start of a new year, I am very excited to have each one of your children in my classroom. We are fortunate enough to have a very diverse population of students this year, some of those with special learning needs. I am writing you this letter to make you aware of some of the legislation in place to protect the learning needs of each of your children, and to assure you of the equality and fairness in our classroom. A number of teachers in our district have worked together, and this letter is the result of our collaborative research and efforts.

Our government has passed three major pieces of legislation that all parents should be aware of. The first is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This act provides special services to children all over the nation, and assures that each state follows specific regulations and guidelines to ensure every child receives a fair education. My fellow teacher, Jia Acree, agrees with me on the importance of making sure every child gets a fair chance. In the past, that was not always the case, but with this act, more children then ever are able to have a fair classroom environment. Another teacher, Jessica Burns, has done some research on this topic, and she said that up until the 1970's, many children with disabilities were not allowed in the classroom. We are happy to inform you that your children will be treated fairly and will receive an equal education opportunity.

Another important piece of legislation is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and it was signed in to law in 1990. The research of Crystal Fronk says that the primary function of this act is to prevent the discrimination of people with disabilities. This act does not only prevent discrimination in schools, but also by employers, state and local governments, and at public facilities and telecommunications. This has an impact on education because it will never allow your student to be discriminated against. Another teacher, Rylee McClellan, states that a person with a disability who is just as qualified as someone without, then the person with the disability will have an equal chance to succeed. As parents, you can rest assured that laws are in place to protect the education of every one of your students. As Will Wardwell puts it, the ADA is "ambitious in its scope and, for many Americans, life-changing."

One other important act is the Assistive Technology Act, originally passed in 1998, and amended in 2004. The ATA specifically deals with the use of technology, and assures that those with special needs receive the training and tools they need to succeed. This reaches the classroom as well. According to Janelle Ottersberg, Congress acknowledged that the use of technology has "come to play an important role in the lives of U.S. citizens." For this reason, states need to have available funding to help make this goal a reality. Fellow teacher Tanya Rush adds that this act "increases the overall knowledge and advances in technology and helps enable people with disabilities to advance in the technical world." What this means for you as parents is that your children will have the technology resources they need to succeed in my classroom this year. This act reaches every single state, and as Jocelyn Stearns points out, each state receives the necessary funding to distribute to all those who fall in need of the Act's provisions.

This year in our classroom, we will do everything we can to ensure each child receives an equal opportunity for the best education possible. As educators, we look forward to teaching every one of your students, and helping them feel engaged and excited to learn. Thank you so much for your continued support, and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about any of the aforementioned material.

Please see the following websites if you would like more information on any one of these pieces of legislation.

Assistive Technology Act: http://www.fctd.info/resources/ATlaws_print.pdf
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act http://idea.ed.gov
Americans with Disabilities Act http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/)


Thank you for your time, and I hope you all enjoy the year as much as I will!!
Heather L. Davis

References Teacher Research Websites
http://jiamarieacree.blogspot.com/
http://cfdraw.blogspot.com/
http://heatherdavis202edtech.blogspot.com/
http://jocelynstearns.blogspot.com/
http://ryleemcclellan.blogspot.com/
http://timyoungblood.blogspot.com/
http://trush-trush.blogspot.com/
http://willwardwell.blogspot.com/

Assistive Technology in the Classroom

Everyday in our country, there are millions of people who need some type of assistive technology to go to school, work, or just to live independently. Especially in our public school system, there is a need for assistive technologies to help give each individual child an equal opportunity to have their learning needs met. Fortunately, our government has also recognized this need and the importance of funding for assistive technology. A monumental act was passed that affected assistive technology programs in every state. On October 25, 2004, President Bush signed the Assistive Technology Act of 2004, setting a landmark precedence for Assistive Technology programs all over the country. The text of the actual law can be found on this site. The AT Act of 2004 was actually the final in a series of Acts set on helping with assistive technology. Previous acts were declared in 1988 and 1998, but in 2004, the most grandiose leap was made to ensure that vital funding never goes away for AT programs. For this reason, this act in 2004 was not the first provided funding, as every state had previously had Assistive Technology Act Programs due to the earlier acts; however, under the original language, funding for these vital programs was due to cease in 2004, according to RampWeb, which can be found here. The purpose of the AT Act of 2004, specifically, was to amend previous acts, ensuring that the funding would not be stopped. Millions of people could rest easy, knowing they would not be losing their independence or much needed services and devices. Because of the previous nature of the 1988 and 1998 acts, supporters had to lobby Congress every single year to ensure the proper funding was given. Now, with the passage of this act, that funding will stay available, according to Access World, whose words can be found here.

Specifically, this Act states that under law, every single state receives a certain grant that funds an Assistive Technology Act Project or Program, according to Access World. The Projects in each state do numerous things for thousands of people, including providing services to people who have disabilities throughout their entire lives. With no age limit on the act, the smallest kindergarten child to the oldest senior citizen can both receive the help they need. Another push of the 2004 Act was to standardize assistance across all states, and Access World (found here), said that more consistent, reliable services are being provided across the board. Regardless of how you look at it, success is definitely the result for people with disabilities who need this assistance. The provisions are expansive, as the Assistive Technology Act Projects in each state are able to provide things such as low-cost loans for equipment and devices, actual demonstrations of new technologies that are more efficient, as well as the knowledge and resources to get this information out to the public. According to the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability, found here, some additional provisions of the act are to increase access to assistance, programs of repair and exchange, technical assistance and training, and public awareness of the severity of this need. Through the help of an Advisory Council in each state, these provision have far reaching effects, and are literally changing the lives of millions across the country.

So what does this mean for educators and future participants in the educational system? According to Deborah Buck, even teachers are covered under this act to receive the technology they need to help those students with disabilities in their classroom. A main goal of education is to try and provide an equal, fair opportunity to learn for each and every student that comes in the halls of your school. This act provides much needed access to technology to assist students in that type of fair learning environment. The supporters at RampWeb argue that this piece of legislation is a grand representation of the support Congress and the President are pledging, and also their commitment to help those who are in need of this type of assistance. With improvements like this to the law on the side of those in need, the possibilities are almost endless in assisting them to live their lives independently and truly achieve their full potential.

SITES
http://www.ataporg.org/atap/atact_law.pdf
http://www.rampweb.com/Accessibility_News/ATAP.asp
http://www.afb.org/AFBPress/pub.asp?DocID=aw060109
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/disability_Legislation/ata.shtml
http://www.ncdae.org/activities/papers/carol/atapnews.htm

Life Learning

Lifelong learning is a goal of mine that directs everything I do. Whether it is reading outside on a sunny day, strolling the streets of an ancient Spanish town, or searching the internet for a must-have answer, I love to learn. It keeps life exciting, and every day is full of exploring and surprises. To cultivate that love of learning in the minds of students would be an incomparable life achievement. My focus of teaching is not to simply relay content, but to create a culture of learning and exploration that ignites a spark in my students, and helps them discover that learning is fun. It is vital. It is never ending. And most of all, it can be an insatiable goal of successful people. One of the most important concepts to understand while fostering this type of learning environment is that every student is different. I need to recognize these differences, and apply my teaching style to each individual mind. As I work to know my students, I can become more successful in helping them find their own motivation for being a lifelong learner.

I have been interested in teaching since I was a student myself. I remember sitting in my ninth grade math classes, looking at my teacher, Mrs. Meine, and deciding that I wanted to live like she lived. She not only taught us math very effectively, but she taught us to use our minds, and to stretch what we already knew. I really felt her passion for teaching, and as a student, I responded to her enthusiasm for learning. Teaching creates opportunities to change the lives of developing minds, and it would be impossible to pass up that opportunity. While I recognize teaching can be such a challenge, I would want nothing more than to get the chance to pass on my love of learning to my students. I can think of no greater gift I could give back than that. And besides, there is nothing more dynamic than being a part of the exciting, miserable, dramatic, conquering, scary, and insane lives of American teenagers.

In my life, I have had some amazing opportunities to learn and grow. Coming from a family of all girls, I had a very different growing up experience, full of blow dryers, communal closets, and high heels. My dad, though, kept us doing plenty of manly activities, like football, hiking, and watching ESPN. Thanks to both of my parents, I have a healthy appreciation for all aspects of life, like reading, music, the outdoors, and art. Some of the things I am most passionate about are dancing, my family and friends, reading, history, and good movies. I am married to my best friend of 12 years, Josh, and we love calling Boise our home. The highlight of my education was a semester spent in Madrid, Spain, learning Spanish and traveling all over that amazing country. A tie for first would be finishing my undergrad degree last year, and now am pursuing my dream of teaching. Overall, I am so excited to become a teacher, and can’t wait to tackle this technology class of educational applications.