Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Math and Technology

Technology has the opportunities to teach math in a completely new process. Conceptually, we can teach without students fully understanding the process first.They can learn it by see the concept visually, then applying the rules through a computer program.

TED, the idea blog has a video about Conrad Wolfram talking about teaching kids real math with computers. It is an excellent video, it is seventeen minutes longs but should be watched by anyone who teaches math or doesn't like math.

Another good video is from TED, Dan Meyer, Math Class Needs a Makeover and here is his blog which is full of math lessons that shows he practices what he preaches.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Cyberbullies and Digital Parents

Every now and then I run across an article that hits me. Here is one from Yahoo that makes even a techie parent of real good kids, ages 13 and 14, sit back and think, "Am I doing enough to monitor my kids?" Take a look here.

Monday, December 6, 2010

LaCUE (Louisiana Computer Using Educators)

Last week was the Louisiana educational technology convention. I presented a session on Friday so I was able to go that day. My coworker and I presented a session called The ART of Integration which about integration the arts into the content area. K-8 is required by the state to have one hour of arts instruction per week. It can be visual arts, music, theater, or dance.

Integrating the arts into the classroom has many benefits. Here are just a few:

•Apply Gardner Multiple Intelligences
•Address different learning styles
Engage Learners
Reignite passion for teaching
Make something old new again
Authentic and meaningful to students
Allow for differentiation of instruction

I showed the Bucket List which has some Web 2.0 tools perfect for integrating the music such as podcasting sites like Vocaroo, Podomatic, Podbean and Audacity (which is downloadble sofware) but I also showed image sites that manipulate photos to emulate artistic styles like Impressionism, Mosaics, Contemporary, etc. such as Be Funky, Picnik, Big Huge Labs, etc.

An excellent resource is located in Resource section of the Bucket List. At the bottom is a list of local, state and national museums websites that teachers can access for actual and virtual tours, information, establishing partnerships, etc.

To make sure teachers have the art resources, there is a section marked PE and Arts. In this section, there are links for music instruction and links for visual arts instruction. There are also several links to websites that have arts instruction integrated into the content area. These websties, like the Kennedy Center Arts Edge allow you to search by grade level, type of art, and content area.

The best part of all of this is that everything is free or are mostly free. Yes, there are some excellent resources that are not free that I haven't mentioned but teachers don't have the money for other stuff.

Since the conference, I found this post of 50 Amazing Museum Exhibits You Can Enjoy Online.
It doesn't have to take a lot time, effort, or money. You don't have to become to that "crazy art teacher" and may be pleased with your results.