1. Describe how you see the use of a class web site could support your future teaching. Describe at least 3 ways how you see the use of a class web site could be used to support your future teaching. Provide specific details for each example.
The incorporation of a class web site can support and enhance student learning and participation in the classroom. A specific way in which teachers and students can utilize a class web site is to find daily assignments and due dates. For example, if a student is sick or on a family vacation, they can search the class web site to determine what assignments or projects they need to make up in order to stay on track with the rest of the class. Another way class web sites can support teaching is by posting class handouts, instructions, or rubrics on the web site. By posting this information students can easily access it and refer to it when needed. Class web site also present teachers with a way of conducting assessments, such as selected response quizzes and essay responses. This provides teachers with a quick way of collecting student information and efficiently assessing the students. Teachers can selected what content to be assessed and create the questions.
2.Identify what you see as the top 2 ways students could use a class web site to enhance their learning and provide some justifications for your selections.
I feel that the two most prominent ways students can utilize a class web site to enhance learning are by referring to the specific class handouts and rubrics as well as exploring the interactive web site links provided by the teacher. By posting class handouts related to the material being studied in class, students can access the information whenever needed and can refer to the web site if they loose the hard copy. Students can refer to the rubrics on the web site so they are aware of the expectations and objectives of an assignment of particular project. Providing links to educational web sites can promote student learning in a variety of ways. For example, students who are struggling with math can explore fun and interactive math sites that aid the student in learning math facts. This is a fun way to engage students in math in a relaxed setting and can be done at home on their own time to promote learning in struggling areas.
3. Think about the page types and features of the Teacher Web system. What do you feel where the 2 strongest features or page types within the Teacher Web system? Why do you see these as the strongest?
I feel the two strongest features of the Teacher Web are the web resources page and class handouts. By incorporating a multitude of web resources that students can access, teachers are allowing students to develop their researching skills and technology abilities. These sites contain fun and interactive games, videos, and other information appropriate for students. The web resources are selected by the teacher and may pertain directly to the lessons being taught in class. If the teacher sees a student struggling in a certain area they may ask the student to explore a related web resource that can assist them in a casual and fun manner. The class handouts page allows the teacher to share documents, such as graphs, rubrics, and project instructions, with the students. This page clearly displays information and material that can be useful to the students when completing assignments and projects.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Engaging Students with Concept Mapping Activities
Concept maps are a useful resource for teachers and students to engage in visual thinking and use students’ creativity to display ideas, concept understanding, and overall knowledge of a particular subject or area. Teachers can incorporate concept mapping into the classroom in various fun and interesting ways. Concept mapping activities can increase student organization, researching skills, and writing abilities.
An innovative idea for using concept mapping is when studying habitats, have the students create a concept map depicting the main habitats. Students can insert the various animals and plants that live in each particular habitat. The students can then write a description of the habitat, addressing the animals that are able to survive there and the climate of each habitat. Another interactive to way to engage students by making a concept map is during a government lesson have the students create a concept map of the three branches of government, executive, legislative, and judicial. Students can then move the terms and powers to the correct branch of government. The students can add additional symbols or pictures that represent each branch. After creating the concept map, students can write a brief description of the responsibilities of the three branches of government, also explaining the check and balances system. Teachers can use concept mapping in math lessons as well. For example, students can match various pictures with the correct fraction or other appropriate equations. A fun way to promote and improve writing skills is by having students create a weekly journal entry using a concept map. Students can use pictures and symbols to represent how they are feeling that week or any exciting events that have occurred. Then students can write an explanation of each picture and express themselves and any thoughts or feelings they may have each week. This is a great way for teachers to check up on students on a personal level. An additional use of concept maps is creating book reports. After completing a book and participating in a class discussion, students can make a concept map, depicting the main characters, setting, plot, and theme of the story, using symbols to help express each category. Then students can write about each of the areas.
1.) Concept mapping can greatly effect and promote student learning in various ways, such as improving writing skills and displaying understanding of concepts. When studying government, students can create a concept map of three branches of government and place symbols and pictures representing the powers of each particular branch. Then students can write a description of each branch, describing its roles and responsibilities. Another way to incorporate concept knowledge and writing is by having students make a concept map of habitats and the animals which live there. Students can write about each habitats climate, vegetation, and the animals found there.
2.) The amount of time spent learning this application would range anywhere from 5 hours to two days, depending on the teachers prior experience with computers and the amount of time spent exploring it in one setting. However, I feel that it is worth all the time and effort. I think that concept mapping is an extremely beneficial tool for teachers to incorporate in their classroom. Concept mapping allows students to display their thoughts and knowledge in a visual and interactive manner.
Here is an exapmle of a concept map:
An innovative idea for using concept mapping is when studying habitats, have the students create a concept map depicting the main habitats. Students can insert the various animals and plants that live in each particular habitat. The students can then write a description of the habitat, addressing the animals that are able to survive there and the climate of each habitat. Another interactive to way to engage students by making a concept map is during a government lesson have the students create a concept map of the three branches of government, executive, legislative, and judicial. Students can then move the terms and powers to the correct branch of government. The students can add additional symbols or pictures that represent each branch. After creating the concept map, students can write a brief description of the responsibilities of the three branches of government, also explaining the check and balances system. Teachers can use concept mapping in math lessons as well. For example, students can match various pictures with the correct fraction or other appropriate equations. A fun way to promote and improve writing skills is by having students create a weekly journal entry using a concept map. Students can use pictures and symbols to represent how they are feeling that week or any exciting events that have occurred. Then students can write an explanation of each picture and express themselves and any thoughts or feelings they may have each week. This is a great way for teachers to check up on students on a personal level. An additional use of concept maps is creating book reports. After completing a book and participating in a class discussion, students can make a concept map, depicting the main characters, setting, plot, and theme of the story, using symbols to help express each category. Then students can write about each of the areas.
1.) Concept mapping can greatly effect and promote student learning in various ways, such as improving writing skills and displaying understanding of concepts. When studying government, students can create a concept map of three branches of government and place symbols and pictures representing the powers of each particular branch. Then students can write a description of each branch, describing its roles and responsibilities. Another way to incorporate concept knowledge and writing is by having students make a concept map of habitats and the animals which live there. Students can write about each habitats climate, vegetation, and the animals found there.
2.) The amount of time spent learning this application would range anywhere from 5 hours to two days, depending on the teachers prior experience with computers and the amount of time spent exploring it in one setting. However, I feel that it is worth all the time and effort. I think that concept mapping is an extremely beneficial tool for teachers to incorporate in their classroom. Concept mapping allows students to display their thoughts and knowledge in a visual and interactive manner.
Here is an exapmle of a concept map:
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