watch videos, learn math?

So, I wasn't in class last week (to say the least, it was not a fun week; two trips to the emergency room, not a lot of sleep and a severely bruised foot from a half marathon... and I wasn't even the sick one!), so I didn't really get to participate in those discussions or activities.  I did watch the TED talk about the Khan Academy and their innovative new math program that they have online, so that is what I am going to talk about today.  When I started watching him talk about the videos that are posted online to assist with all different levels of math I realized that I might have actually used some of them (or something similar) when I was trying to pass calculus a few years ago.  I was in my last semester of undergrad and I only had to pass one more semester of calculus to get my degree, but it wasn't going to let me have it without a fight.

I had always thought that I was good at math and all the way through Algebra and even into Pre-calculus I had no problems.  I took a few years off because I was done with the math requirement for the university I was attending at the time.  Then I transferred schools and ended up with a requirement for a whole year of calculus before I could graduate!  I wasn't worried until I realized that I was totally lost in class (it didn't help that I couldn't understand a word my professor was saying!).  I got a tutor and joined a extra study course that met once a week.  I was determined to beat that course!  Sometimes the tutor helped, but I still didn't understand the concepts the way he explained them and the study course was helpful, but when I had questions at home I had nobody to ask.  That is when I discovered all these online videos explaining calculus concepts and going through examples.

I loved those videos and since I was going through them on my own I figured things out on my own and never felt like I needed to nod along even when I was lost.  You know how after someone explains something for the second or third time you say you understand even when you might not because it was too embarrassing to ask for the third or fourth time?  Well, online you can replay that video as many times as necessary with nobody there to judge you.  And when I would get stuck on a different example, I could just go back and watch it again! I even started to use it for classes like Intermediate Economics and Finance with similar success.

I think these are great ways for students to learn in their own way, at their own pace with great results!  I think we should be working towards using this kind of method in all school math programs.  I will probably introduce my kids to something like this early on to take advantage of those young brains and instill math success early on!    

debate went great!

We're done (with the first talk)!  And it went well! What more could I ask for?  
(except for maybe a nap...).  

I wasn't sure how the debates would go and how involved people would get.  I was pretty impressed by how fired up students got defending their sides of the issue.  And I loved watching the "cattle" aka students in the audience listen to the arguments and change their minds throughout.  There were pretty convincing arguments from both sides and I had A LOT of trouble committing to a stance in both of the debates.  I guess that is usually how I am.  I tend to the see both sides in any situation and could argue either one.  It was interesting because in this situation that was kind of the point.

With our topics, the whole idea was about ethics and knowing where you stand on these issues.  Hopefully, it made people think and when the time comes for them to actually take a stance they will have the facts to make an informed decision.

All I wanted to do was go first and get it over with when we first got to class, but when the other team said they had a student set up in another room waiting for their presentation we agreed to go second.  I think it actually worked really well because we got people up and moving.  By that time in the class period everybody has been sitting for a while (even with the break) and I'm sure there was more than one person who had zoned out (not that I do that... ever!).  I think we brought everyone's attention back and the interaction really made people focus on the topic.  Sometimes, with these "think -pair- share" activities after everyone is tired and done paying attention there really isn't any incentive to participate.  You don't have to share when you are done, so you can just pretend to think and pair.  With the debate, you had to be prepared to actually present information, so there was some incentive and even urgency to prepare material and be ready to debate.

Overall, I was very happy with the debates, our team and our topic! Go Team Not Afraid! : )  

flipping the classroom

What is Flipping the Classroom?  Sounds dangerous... but I am sure if done correctly it could be done with no harm to anyone involved.

Initially, when I thought about this idea I saw the "flipping" as occurring between the teacher and the students.  I thought it was more about teachers stepping back and letting students dictate more of the learning and activities.  Now that we have talked a little more about it I understand it to be more about leaving the lectures/reading/content for outside of class and discussing, doing activities and assignments during class time.

I tend to agree that this is not a new concept, although the invention of powerpoint may have changed the face of it and it got a trendy new name.  I think some classrooms would definitely benefit from this and I think that quite a few classes (especially in some disciplines) have already been embracing this idea for years now.   I definitely think that some classes need a new idea if they are still assigning reading and then lecturing over the material during class time.  That is a waste of everyone's time! The classroom should be a place to discuss ideas with others and clear up confusion.

So, overall... good idea, but maybe with a little modifying.  

Pinterest; creativity integrated

I think Pinterest could be a great tool for education.  A virtual brainstorming tool to bring ideas from all over the internet to one place!  It is a great way to find ideas that you haven't thought of yet.  I could see it being really useful for service projects.  Groups or individuals could pin ideas for projects before deciding on one.  It could also serve as a place to put new ideas to improve a project while they are working on it.

Sometimes Pinterest can be a little bit distracting, so I could see students losing track of what they were supposed to be doing.  At the same time, while students are on Pinterest for other reasons they could run across a good idea for their project and pin it right away without the risk of forgetting it!  Basically, it would integrate creativity instead of separating it between academic and personal endeavors.  

scavenger hunts, twitter and teaching

So, last week I sent my undergrads out onto campus for a scavenger hunt during class.  Okay, so it was on that day when it seemed like there were buckets of water falling from the sky and it never seemed to stop, but that wasn't my choice.  They were troopers and barely even complained!  I was pretty impressed.   I would have been much worse as an undergrad if I were sent out into "The Great Flood" to complete an assignment.  It was our first chance to use the twitter account we had set up for this class.  Part of the way they earned credit for the assignment was tweeting pictures of their group with the people they were supposed to be interviewing.  It went pretty well!  Just a few mishaps and technological problems, but they were minimal compared to what I had expected.  I attribute this to the fact that they are all so familiar with twitter.  All but two of my twenty or so students already had active twitter accounts prior to starting this class.  They knew more than I did, that was for sure, but I am working on that.  : )   

Over the past few weeks, I have realized that I wasn't nervous about interacting with the students or even teaching them, but being the center of attention and lecturing.  After last week's teaching perspectives it makes a lot more sense.  I think that I kind of thought of "teaching" as equivalent to "lecture" which is absolutely not my style (my dominant was Nurturing and Lecture was the bottom for me).  So far, we have done activities and group work in the discussions I am teaching and I have loved it! This week we are supposed to present material and I didn't know how I wanted to do that because I dreaded the idea of making a powerpoint and standing up front while students stared at me with glazed eyes and took notes.  Now that I am starting to realize what it is that makes me anxious I also realize that there are much better ways for me to present this material in my own way.  I am actually thinking of modifying the carousel activity from last week, so that the students can put the information together themselves.  Maybe they will even remember it better this way! 

my relationship with technology

Generally, when faced with new technology I have the urge to run very quickly in the other direction and pretend that I never heard anything about it.  Now, if I could just have the information directly implanted into my brain I would be new technology's biggest fan.  Once I know how to use something then I can't remember how I ever lived without it.  That is why I am taking this class!  It will force me to learn new technology that I will be glad I know later.  

When I first started my graduate program here at UGA, I was worried about the fact that many of the my core classes would be taught online.  I wasn't familiar with the online format and didn't see how it could be as effective as a traditional class.  It took me most of the semester, but by the time it was over I realized that I had really started enjoying my online classes! So, it might take me a while to adopt a new technology, but I know that once I understand it I usually love it! 

I believe that while some "oldies are goodies" others need to move forward with the times.  Fighting progress is futile and, frankly, a lot of unnecessary work.  Education is about teaching the next generation, but they can teach us as well.  By at least making an effort to utilize current technology you can pull in students who would otherwise check out.  Now, not all technology belongs in the classroom, but it all deserves a chance.  Some will stick and some won't.

Anyway, I think that is about all I've got for tonight.