Saving time and trees

I am not sure this digital age is saving time or trees. Communicating through email ends up taking more time because of all the unnecessary emails. Phone tag is not fun, but there are times when it is hard to make sure the other person really understands what you are trying to say. You cannot convey the expression on your face. I spend time rewording things to get my point across. As for paper. It is way to easy to print. I am not sure we are saving any paper.

Carlene

As I work on the online course, I find I enjoy some of the activities but the amount of reading is killing me. (and some trees) I cannot read that much on the computer screen or highlight so I end up printing everything. What a lot of paper. I might save everything to give to a student in the next cohort. If they have to read the same thing it will save a tree or two. But I have to be organized enough to keep it all. A book would have been easier for me the reading A Hero's Journey online. It may have costs less than the paper and ink I am using.

Technology and students

Teachers will be more accepting of student's work that uses technology when they use it more and more. Students show more interest in an assignment when they are not just writing reports. Powerpoints are used by many students. I have seen movies that they really enjoyed making and showing. I am sure if you just told them they could use any technology they were comfortable with we would be surprised with what they would come up with.

Video

I went to school yesterday and asked people to read a poem for my public service announcement and surprisingly only 2 people did not want to read a line on tape. I myself have no desire to be video taped. I guess most people are used to being video taped today with so many video cameras. I can remember when I brought one to school and all the students were fascinated with the camera. doesn't seem that long ago but I guess it was. Then I had technology they were unfamiliar with, now they can do things I cannot do. Things are moving faster than what I have been able to keep up with. But I have learned many a thing from my students at school.

It is hard to convince a teacher to use technology that the students may know more about. Once they get used to the idea that they can ask for help from the students, they usually are more relaxed.

Carlene

Digichat

Just finished a digichat with 4 poeple and I am not sure I completely like it. When you have 4 it seems like you never know when to jump in. By the time I finish typing, they have gone on to different things. It would prbably help if I didn't look at my hands when I type. It is much better that email.

Now that school is over for the year I thought I would have more time but I still want to do summer things and I guess I am just taking longer to do assignments because I have more time. Surprising how you can waste time when you think you have lots. I can understand how students feel when you give an assignment weeks ahead of time.

Hope yet

I was very glad to see that ANGEL has a repository. I think we can use this like a wiki to share ideas among Algebra teachers. We can start with just the Courtland Math Teachers and let it grow from there. Getting teachers to share ideas and resources will be new to some teachers and old hat to others. I think Pam Bailey and I will have to start it and then see who will join us.

wiki

last year I worked with Pam Bailey on setting up a wiki for the Algebra I teachers in the county. We took the idea to Jackie Getgood because in order to post lessons, worksheets, etc. we needed more room then we could get free. The cost would not be much. The reponse we got from Jackie was that she wanted all the posts to come through Pam because she thought some teachers may post bad ideas. Bill Flarities (sp) gave us the password to Hanovers math page but it had not been updated in 2 years and was only a list of SOLs and an outline of when should be taught. We gave up on the idea.