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.

Back to School iPhone Apps

I recently downloaded the iPhone graphing calculator to check out after reading about it in the Ormiston text.  I was surprised on it's capabilities for $1.99.  As a math teacher I do not think it could replace a TI-84 plus calculator for upper level math classes, but can do a lot more than I could have imagined.  I was so impressed with this application I wanted to see what other kind of apps are out there for our students to work with. 

The iPhone has many great applications for students to download and some are free.  I was reading the Time magazine article "Top 10 Back-to-School iPhone Applications".  I found a few to be very useful for students I teach and for us graduate students as well.  The Evernote application allows for students to record lectures and make notes directly into the iPhone and they are linked to the web.  You can then search your notes and tag notes and photos.  This is a great place to keep all of your notes to be accessed anywhere you need, no more notebooks and pens needed.  This application is free.  Another application that sticks out for me is the gFlashPro app.  This costs $4.99 to use ad free but seems well worth it.  You can create flashcards in Excel or Google Spreadsheets and view them with video and pictures on your iPhone.  What a great way to get rid of index cards and have an interactive learning tool your students can make and share with each other via the web.  Lastly, the MyHomework application is a great one for our students to use.  It is a free app that keeps track of all of there homework and can use color coding due date system.  This is a great tool to get student's organized.

Here is a link to the Time Article "Top 10 Back-to-School iPhone Applications"

First Time Blogger

I use a blog in my classroom, but more for updating the class on assignments and interactive homework help.  I have never used a blog to write about my thoughts and ideas before.  I plan on having my students blog about their learning in my classroom next year.  This will be good practice for me and to lead by example.

I originally created my website on Google sites but switched over to Weebly.  I never used Weebly before but I really liked the turn out of all of my classmates' websites.  I like how Google sites easily links Google documents and many of it's other features, however I really like the visual aspects of Weebly.  Please give me any feedback to make my site better.