Since my last post, we have been released on FE break and Spring break. That sounds like a laid back life, but TRUST me, life has not slowed down- life is trucking along like an 18 Wheeler!
In ED 308, we have been working on our Module Development assignment, which is an extension of out Course Outline. We had to choose one module from our course to develop in a Blackboard setting. I am really pumped about the assignment because my local high school is really getting into the online course environment and I think this is great experience for my (hopefully) future job!
My course is Intermediate College Algebra, and the module I chose to develop is on Linear Inequalities. I have not been organizing and getting information into my online course, as I have been trying to get all the logistics on paper! I am working on the in-depth rubrics as we blog.
An item of interest I have come across is in developing my module is that technology is so VAST. We really are in the age of the digital native. I know that my future students will have probably learned their ABC's on an ipad, and will have been exposed to technology for the entirety of their lives. They will know more about this technology than I will ever dream of knowing. Which reminds of something that Dr. Cowan used to tell us in ED 305- give your students the resources they need to succeed, don't do it for them. I find myself limiting student creativity because I can give example of how I was taught to do things. However, I should just tell them what needs to be done, and allow them to find a way that suits them.
A problem or concern I am running into while developing my module is that I cannot find specific quality content that is specific to the topic I have narrowed my module down to. I could place videos in blackboard and ask the students to watch a small portion, use snaggit to capture only the parts that I need, or create my own. Some suggestions or other ideas would be appreciated.
Students have been doing assignments on their tablets lately and I believe this is very useful, especially if you're an online student. You can be able to go wherever you need to go and still be able to keep track of your assignments. However, I do agree with you for the fact that this is just a way for students (this applies to young students) to learn technology. In my opinion, I do not mind students who are ranged between Kindergarten through high school using tablets or smartphones in order to do research papers, complete online assignments, or to check grades. What I am not okay with is students using these devices to cheat their way through some assignments; however, making scavenger hunt assignments does not count as cheating.
ReplyDeleteStudents need to have examples for most assignments, in this case you are teaching algebra. My professor from Biology class named Mrs.Kelly had provided examples using fun videos and lab materials to help use learn exactly what we are about to discuss. The videos she uses are known as The Ameba Sisters and Crash Course on YouTube, and one of my favorite lab experiments was using fake blood samples and determine which blood can save a person's life.
My recommendation would be to provide video examples with step-by-step process, The Organic Chemistry Tour may have some examples that could help. Here is a link from that YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6sbjtJjJ-A
I hope videos like these are useful.