Fair Use in the Classroom

This is a good video to watch to understand Fair Use in your classroom.

Search Engines- DuckDuckGo

After completing the same search in eight different search engines, I can see which engines are most useful.  I usually only use Google and maybe yahoo to do my searches.  After doing an exercise in my graduate class I can see that other good search engines exist.  The engine I have never heard about but I am going to be using more often is www.DuckDuckGo.com

DuckDuckGo does not collect or share personal information.  This search engine does not save your search history, store your I.P. address, or tie your cookies together.  This means you do not get targeted advertising and targeted searches.

I found this search engine gave me some of the best material I needed.  This is a website that should be shared with others. 

Here is some info from their site:

DuckDuckGo is a general purpose
search engine like Google or Bing.
  • Get way more instant answers     Zero-click info above the links (red box).   • Less spam and clutter     We ban those useless sites with just ads.   • Lots and lots of goodies     Special searches (tech), syntax & settings.   • Real privacy     We don't track you!  (Illustrated guide.)

Please Help my Students!

Here is a link to help my classroom become a 21st Century Classroom.

http://www.donorschoose.org/jbehnen

Good Video to Show Students to Explain Digital Storytelling

Digital Stories

Digital Storytelling is a great way for students to showcase their knowledge on a particular subject and show their creativity and technology skills.  I think digital storytelling is one of the best ways to get our digital native students engaged in learning.  Students are most likely already using the tools to create these digital stories at home already.  Digital stories can be created for all subjects and the best part is that they can be uploaded for others to view all over the world.

I thought it would be difficult to create a digital story for mathematics, but having our students find mathematical concepts and vocabulary words in real life will help them to understand abstract concepts.  Mathematics is not a subject where students can always show their creative sides.  The integration of digital media into the mathematics classroom allows students to have a personal relationship with the material and have ownership in their learning.  It also allows the students with a math phobia to become more comfortable with math, by interacting with the material.

Please see the below link for more information:
http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/index.html

TI-nspire CX CAS Calculators

I am currently in a 10 day workshop at Steven's Institute for C-TEAMS in math.  Curriculum topic study to enhance achievement in mathematics and science.  We are studying the algebra curriculum in K-12 with vertical articulation.  The workshop has received the new TI-nspire CX CAS for us to test out.  These calculators are built on a Computer Algebra System and they are incredible.  They have a color screen that is built on a computer platform.  The calculator can factor polynomials, solve for roots, use the quadratic formula, factor numbers to prime numbers, etc.  This calculator can solve equations, integrals, and solve other calculus level problems.  This calculator can seriously do it all.  It also has 3-d view graphing and everything can be saved to a computer for future use.  The other thing that is great about this calculator is the classroom lab station.  These calculators link to the instructors calculator via the computer.  The teacher can then send questions out to each user and each user can respond within the calculator and the teacher receives their answers.  This calculator could be used to take tests, quizzes, etc.  It has a student response system built in.  These calculators are about $140 each but well worth the purchase.  It is something I am interested in getting a grant or a donors choose project to fund.  If you have the chance check these calculators out!

WebQuests are Great!

I was not aware of what a WebQuest or even heard of the term until Dr. Z's Seminar class, I took Summer I.  I was looking at some other classmates WebQuests they created while taking Using the Internet in Education.  I was intrigued by what I saw.  The first thing I noticed on the syllabus for this class was the creation of a WebQuest.

I was surprised on how long it took me to decide on an idea for my WebQuest.  I wanted to create something I could actually use next year in my classroom in September.  After sitting with my laptop watching HGTV, I finally decided on creating a bedroom.  I was surprised with how long it took me to create my WebQuest, but I really loved doing it.  QuestGarden is a very user-friendly program.  The rubric that is created within QuestGarden is very helpful.  I always include rubrics with my students projects, but they seem to lose them.  Using QuestGarden, everything is available in one place online.  I plan on buying a subscription to this site, most of the projects we do in my class can be in a WebQuest which would provide me access to these and the availability to share with colleagues.  I think my students will be excited to work with a WebQuest.