Exploring Problem Solving with Software, Apps, and Games

Chapter 7 - Exploring Problem Solving with Software, Apps, and Games

Focus Question: How do teachers use technology to promote problem solving and inquiry learning among students?

Today's student-centered classroom engages and challenges the mind of the students. Problem solving is therefore an integral aspect of this learning environment. The reality is that problem solving and inquiry learning demand situations that engage students. In such a framework, students are required to understand the problem, use solving strategies, and to check results. (Maloy, Verock-O, Edwards, Woolf, 2010). How do teachers use technology to promote this? The identify standard and open-source software applications that are available on the school computers; they evaluate educational software and applications (apps); they compare and contrast different types of problem solving and inquiry-learning software, they analyze educational games and simulations as learning resources, they discuss with their peers so as to give and get examples of digital games for learning. A lot of work goes into deciding appropriate technology for our students. In identifying the most appropriate technology for problem solving and inquiry learning, teachers integrate these into the learning experience. It is done through mathematics, through Language Arts and all possible subject matter to establish an appropriate levels of competency in our students. Teachers can draw on technology applications to simulate real-world environments and create actual environments for experimentation, so that students can carry out authentic tasks as real workers would, explore new terrains, meet people of different cultures, and use a variety of tools to gather information and solve problems. Working on "authentic tasks"(Brown, Collins, and Duguid (1989)

There are some perspectives on Technology Mediated Learning.

Technology provides the information and tools to promote problem solving and inquiry learning. It provides the content, the materials, and the various avenues that students can follow.

Tech Tool link: MathBuster

A Child's review on MathBuster

 

I explored a few math learning games and apps but children find Math Buster appealing. You can play free, but there are membership options available.

Summary and Connection

There is a vast variety of problem-solving and inquiry-learning software available. There is a software for anything you mind can imagine. For everything, you will find positives and negatives. The question is, do the positives outweigh the negatives as far as technology is concerned? If that question is yes, then the technology is worth using.

 

Resources :

Brown, John Seely, Allan Collins, and Paul Duguid. Situated cognition and the culture of learning. Champaign, Ill.: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1989.

Cerri, Stefano A.. Intelligent tutoring systems 11th international conference, ITS 2012, Chania, Crete, Greece, June 14-18, 2012 : proceedings. Heidelberg: Springer, 2012.

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A.,& Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Transforming Learning with New Technologies"

Chapter 6 - Fostering Online Learning with Educational Websites and Apps

A child, actively engaged in online learning 

Focus Question: What are the advantages and complexities of online learning and virtual schools?

Glenn Edwards’s son became very ill, and unfortunately, this illness at the beginning of his seventh (7^th) grade school year caused his absence from school for an extended period. In order to prevent his son from being held back a year, Edwards and his wife opted to exercise the only logical option, virtual school. Like many other parents, they had concerns as to whether their thirteen year old son would become a “free-flowing genius” or “an overweight moron starving for interaction with real people”. The reality is that there are advantages and disadvantages to online learning and virtual schools and since this might be something I pursue at some point, it warrants closer scrutiny.

First, let us outline the connection between online learning and virtual schools: “Online learning is the delivery of educational experiences with computers and other technologies through organizations known as virtual schools”. (Maloy, Verock, Edwards, Woolf 2010). Then there is blended or hybrid learning, which involves both face to face contact and online learning, as is the case with my Statical Methods class. Quite frankly, I am a face to face “kind of girl”. I do not enjoy the online aspect of this course.

The advantage of to the school districts is that it costs them less. The biggest advantage to the parent and the student, is scheduling as the parent and child determine the learning schedule. More and more Florida Families are choosing this option. I am aware of Nursing professionals who work a few days of the week, and commit the remaining ones to facilitating the education of their home-schooled children. The plus is that there will be no tardies but some virual schools require excuse if the students are absent on certain days. It is not a “free-for-all”. Students work two to three hours per day and have no home work. It is said to be less intense. Additionally, parents who are concerned about their children and bullying say virtual school keeps their children engage in school, and away from the dangers of drugs and potentially negative or dangerous experiences. It is worth considering; however, not before reviewing the disadvantages.

According to critics, the disadvantage is the loss of in-person, student-teacher communication, and limited opportunities for students to interact with other students. To the family, this option works best only when there is at least one stay-at-home adult to supervise the child’s studies and assist with his assignments. Of course, computer literacy is necessary for both the parent and the child.  Physical Education is important to growth and development and since there is no online version of this subject, the parent is responsible for building a daily exercise and play routine. The fact is, online learning requires commitment and dedication. Not many parents can stick to the challenge. I am aware of one such parent; she is an Education by profession, and she withdrew her eldest son from the public school system and committed him to online learning. The process lasted only a few months, as though he was home with an adult, his grandmother, she could not give adequate help and guidance. His mother would return home, tired from a hard day’s work, only to take up the task of nurturing her son in the evening. This exercise became unbearable and soon, he was re-enrolled into the public school system. Virtual learning is not for everyone.

 

 

Tech Tool link: Delicious.com

 

 

This website is a very useful and free one, once you have completed registration. It is a web-based social bookmarking tool that organizes all your bookmarks in one place. Additionally, you can sort and  share these bookmarks. Also, while using delicious, you can view another webpage, capture the page, and save it to your delicious account. The video above outlines in detail the steps to take in using this technology. 

 

Summary:

Technology has evolved so extensively, that there are so many conveniences at our fingertips. The reality is, however, we sometimes get overwhelmed by these technology and they are sometimes not for our good. In weighing the option of schooling a child in through the in class, traditional experience, versus the online learning through virtual schools, parents have need to take the time to weigh the pros and cons carefully, so that the choice is good for both their children, and the good of the rest of the family.

 

 

 

Resources:

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.

"Is Virtual School Right for Your Child?." Mamiverse. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://www.mamiverse.com/virtual-school-pros-cons-47131/>.

 

 

 

Chapter 5 – Teaching Information Literacy and Digital Citizenship

Focus Question: What are search engines and how do they work?
“A search engine is a software program that uses networks of computers to access information from its databases.” (Maloy, Verock, Edwards, Woolf, 2010).

 

Google comes readily to mind when we think of search engines. We use them daily to access information without giving a second thought as to how they work. As far as our experiences can tell, they are fast, and they give us the information we need. As the video explained, they allow us to access online information by locating webpages that have been linked to their database. The buck does not stop there though. Specialized resources become helpful to us as they narrow the focus of the search so that we access relevant information, both as teachers and as students. Information searching and retrieval requires us to know how to get the information as well as how to analyze it.

I never considered Electronic note-taking until now. I've always been one to use notecards which is be time consuming. I've recently found, however, that electronic note taking offers new ways to record and save the information I locate online. How convenient it is to be able to retrieve information on multiple devices, and be able to return to it at my convenience? Evernote, NoteStar, and OneNote are a few of these helpful electronic note taking tools. Evernote allows you to access material from various devices,  NoteStar is recommended for elementary and secondary students. I like the fact that all I have to do when doing my online searches, is to make NoteStar apart of my browser's toolbar, so that when I locate a web resource  that I'd like to save, I simply click on the NoteStar icon enabling data-recording prompts to appear. It is as simple as that. Not only does OneNote serve as a digital notebook, it allows for Audio recording as well. After one or two written keys, an audio marker is generated so that you can go back and listen to the audio again. Here's a great tutorial on using google doc for notetaking

 

                                                

Tech Tool link: Customizing your Web Browser with iGoogle
iGoogle replaces the standard Google search page with one you can personally design. The teacher may now open to find teaching resources and other information useful to him/her in the classroom environment. The site is www.google.com/ig. Pipes is the yahoo equivalent; that site is http://pipes.yahoo.com. These sites are useful to the teacher so that she can customize her page with the links that are pertinent to the teaching experience. You can add search engines as well as other data-managing software that will keep track of your to-do list, send RSS feeds of local and international newspapers, mail professional journals and send personalized reminders of upcoming events. I've found my new best friend!

Summary & Connection
There is more to the internet than search engines. This chapter focused on the meaning of information literacy; how well are you able to access the information that is readily available to you online? It focuses on analyzing ways to evaluate online resources, naming the four types of information problems found online as Misinformation, mal-information, messed-up information and most useless information. While it is useful for the teacher to teach her students to work efficiently with the web, it is important that they are taught that plagiarism is illegal, and that copyright laws are pertinent. There is such a thing as digital ethics and is important for both teachers and students to use technology appropriately.

 

Evaluating and Assessing Students' learning

Chapter 4 - Designing Lessons and Developing Curriculum with Technology

Focus Question: How can teachers evaluate and assess students’ learning?

An integral aspect of the teacher’s craft is lesson planning. Within lesson planning, teachers automatically design ways to evaluate and assess student performance. We are constantly evaluating students before, during and after teaching a lesson. It is important for teachers to establish an appropriate pace that suites the class, and not only to determine the extent to which the students have grasped the concept, but also to re-evaluate the teaching techniques used.

 

Technology provides various avenues by which the teacher can test and conduct performance assessments, both as part of traditional measures such as tests and quizzes and in performance measures such as digital portfolios and student writing.(Maloy, Verock,  Edwards, Woolf 2010).The use of technology is not to be excluded in the process of evaluation and assessment. In fact, schools have realized that it profits them tremendously to utilize supportive evaluative software from as early as kindergarten. According to the School District of Collier County Head Start Program, in the fall of 2012, all children entering Kindergarten were screened using the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS). This assessment is comprised of 19 indicators of school readiness as measured by the Early Child-hood Observation System. (ECHOS) and two sections of the Florida Assessment for Instruction in Reading (FAIR). These software accurately measure student performance while encouraging schools to perform educational practices.
It is said that there are three factors that influence how teachers think about assessment. they are Personal experiences, standardized testing, and Teacher Tests. Personal experiences impact much of what we do and who we are and it is not always easy to unlearn certain things. We need to utilize more broader ways of assessment such as portfolios, creative writing, group work, daily conversations, and so on. Standardized testing are over-rated. Every effort is placed on students sitting and passing tests like the F-CAT and others. Finally, there are the teacher tests;  these I feel are just as important as the other two.

Tech Tool link: Web Resources and Apps for Lesson Planning
There are websites and applications (apps) that when utilized could prove quite useful to the teacher and students. Websites include the National History Education Clearinghouse (NHEC, which could is great for the history teacher. It offers an impressive collection of online resources including a state by state database of history standards, customizable lesson plans, online discussion forums, and short updates on research and analysis in the field of history education. I am particularly interested in the apps, however. apps such as the my lesson plan, today in history, iBooks, math ref free, penultimate, keynote, cram. There is a wealth of technology that, when used correctly, can impact the modern classroom in vast and dynamic ways.

 

Resources:

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon. 

http://www.collier.k12.fl.us/headstart/docs/AnnualReport.pdf