Distance Education

There are many pros and cons to distance education that create this source of learning unique in its own way. Some pros of distance is the ability for the students to learn at their own pace. Most online classes do not have a specific schedule they need to base their learning on which can create flexibility for them. However, this could be a con since some students have a tendency to procrastinate and could create laziness or a large work load at the end of the year. Another pro can be the options they are given in classes they are provided with. Generally, most online courses provide students with a wide arrange of classes that can create diversity in their learning. This can also create more parent involvement in the student's learning. The parents can be there to guide the students, help them and are able to see what they are learning. Another pro is most distance learning is free, with no fees added. This can include the online school providing a computer with no cost as well. Like I said though, there are some cons to distant education one being the limited teacher-student interaction during the course. There has been courses where teachers have not been very involved in the students progress and education hurting the students learning process. Another problem is the student's inability to be with other students. This could create bad social skills that could hurt them in the future. Another con, is their possible lack of exercise due to the fact that most of the time they could be sitting in front of the computer. Even if they are involved in physical education classes there would be no way to monitor or know that the students are actually doing the exercises or sports they are told to do. Lastly, some distant education programs do not provide a diploma but a GED which could hurt the student in the future and their ability to go to college or get a successful job. There are many pros and cons about distant education that a student should consider before enrolling themselves in that type of schooling.

I think the students who would be ready to be part of the distance education are ones who do not procrastinate. They need to be able to do their work on their own and have self-motivation. I also think a student should be able to look up information about a topic on their own because there is a possibility that teachers may not be active in the students learning as much as a in-class teacher. These students should also be involved in groups, clubs or sports outside of the house that enhances their social skills and keeps them active.

To be able to teach in a virtual school you will need the dedication to your students. One aspect to being a good distance education teacher is keeping in contact with your students on a regular bases to make sure they are staying productive and understand all the material. I think you will also need to make sure you are descriptive in all the material and assignments you give so not a lot of questions have to be asked. I do not believe by being this type of teacher you can slack off or not care as much. I think this teacher should almost care more and really pay attention to the students so they are able to do good in the class because I think this way of learning can be more difficult than in the classroom for students.

Engaging Students with Concept Mapping Activities

Three techniques to use concept mapping in is through description, research and connecting topics. In descriptive concept mapping a student can take a main idea and connect it to relating thoughts and details about it. This can allow a student to learn more about a broad concept and break it down into pieces to see all aspects of it. A research concept map can be used by first starting with a question in the central link. This allows them to go out and find answers to them and connect to the question. This also can help a student realize that there is more than one answer to a question and really broaden the research they do. The final concept map that a teacher can use for their students is having them connect the topics with one another. This allows students to see how different subjects connect with one another. This is especially can be used at the end of a chapter or lesson to show how everything you have just taught connects and how it does connect.

One idea of a concept map I could use for my future pre-calculus class is a Pythagorean Theorem map. They could use this as a main idea and break it apart. This could include what the formula is, what it is used for and how we would use it in the real world. Another concept map I could use as a teacher is taking a whole chapter from the student’s math book, once we have completed this part of the book have them, as a class, show how all that we have learned connects with one another. You could also take a story problem and create a concept map to visualize all the information that is coming out of the problem and help you solve it to get the final answer.

There are many benefits to having your classroom create a concept map. One is their ability to break down a topic and see all aspects of it. Not only will it show them all the details of the subject but help them organize the information in a logical way. A concept map can also help them memorize all the information. By seeing where all the information is placed they can understand the material better especially for visual learners. Many students cannot learn from auditory or kinesthetic styles so this can be a great way for the visual learners to truly see what the information is and where it is placed based on all the information that is presented in class. Concept mapping can help students in many ways to help them understand all the information taught in class.

One subject within my classroom I would use concept mapping in is geometry. There are a lot of formulas for the area, circumferences, radius, volume and perimeter of shapes so a student can use a concept map to organize all the information. Through a concept map they can see the different shapes and the formulas that go with it. Not only will this help visualize the information but can help them memorize it better. One subject I probably would not use a concept map in is calculus. There is too much information and details about the subject that if I made the students make a concept map it would be too busy and hard to read. It also has way too many formulas that it would be hard to read and could make things more confusing for the students than make it easier for the students.

Reflections on Using TeacherWeb

1. Describe at least 2 ways that the use of a class web site like TeacherWeb could be used to support your future teaching. Provide some specific details for each example.

One way a teacher website could be helpful for a teacher is by being able to post the students grades through it. They can use an easy devise that will allow them to sort out their grades and keep track of them but also allows the parents and students to have easy access to them as well. Another bonus to a teacher website is the ability to stay organized in the worksheets they give, a calendar they can post online and announcements. A website gives the teachers the ability to take all the information they have about the class and organize it properly.

2. Identify 2 ways students could use a class web site like TeacherWeb to enhance their learning. Provide some details for each way identified.

Students can benefit from a teacher website by having the ability to practice the material they are currently learning. This includes through the games, review worksheets and practice tests. They are also able to know what is coming up in the class through the calendar and announcements. The students can learn more about the subject through the online resources provided by the teacher.

Blogs and Wikis in Education

Wikis and blogs have a vast arrange of opportunities to use within the classroom. One exciting and interesting way to use a blog is by having classrooms across the world interact with each other. This creates the student to be more excited and motivated to learn the subject and lesson at hand. This can also create the students to hear different perspectives on what they are learning due to the diversity between the two locations. Another amazing feature that the blog can provide is ability to hear every student’s ideas and thoughts on a subject. When doing a discussion within the class about a topic only a few of the students will be able to be heard. On a blog every student can write their thoughts on the subject. Wikis also have innovated ways to be used as well. As a math teacher I can create a wiki that allows students to go online and help each other solve a problem. If one student is unable to solve a problem another student could help them by putting a step by step process on how to solve it. It is through this communication that will allow them to do better within the class.

RSS can also be a very helpful tool for not only the teacher but the student as well. One way a teacher can benefit from RSS is through the ability to view student’s weblogs easily. Instead of having to check all the students weblogs every day the teacher can collect their work through the aggregator in his/her feed. This can cut the time for the teacher and still allow the teacher to make comments on the students work when needed. This can be beneficial for the student in the many project and assignments they receive. Students can use RSS to receive information on a project they are doing. So let’s say that Fred is working on a World War II project he can use RSS to provide him with needed information to finish the project. RSS is a great source of organization and getting the information needed.

Using blogs and wikis have many benefits and disadvantages in a classroom. One benefit of using a wiki within a classroom is the easy access for all students to communicate with one another. If the students are doing a group project using email can become a confusing and limited source. When using email only the students who are sent the information will get it and when responding only the one person who sent it will get it back. This is why wiki is so beneficial. When on the wiki every person within the group is able to see the information on the page, this includes new information that is added through time. However, since each student has access to the page it can be easy for someone to mess with the information on it, including erasing important documents. This is where trust will need to be demonstrated within the group. A benefit of a blog is their ability to have ownership and identity of their education. Most blogs allow a student to personalize their page and give their thoughts and ideas on a topic. Not only that, but a blog can provide a student to be more responsible of their own education due to the fact that most of the time they will be doing a post while at home. One problem of the blog and wiki is the fact that some students will not have easy access to a computer. There will be students who do not have a computer at home which could create difficulty to keep up with the posts the teacher wants them to do. Overall, wikis and blogs can be a very useful tool for the classroom when used right.

Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom

After taking the multiple intelligences inventory I have discovered that my core intelligences are logical and intrapersonal thinking. As a math major the inventory results are correct in displaying that I have a logical intelligence. Linear reasoning is one core characteristic of logical thinking that I follow. In my life I have always tried to keep order and consistency in my life. This includes keeping my room clean, having a consistent schedule and having a place and time for everything. It is rare for me to do something spontaneously and without notice. Abstract and concrete reasoning are also core characteristics of logical thinking. Through my study of math I use these characteristics often by breaking equations apart to find the answer and using many symbols to represent numbers and other mathematical terms. It is not just in my major that I use these characteristics but also in my life especially when there is a problem I have to deal with. I like to break down the problem and search for all answers before I come to a conclusion on how I should solve or deal with it. I believe that logical intelligence is a major factor in the way I think.
The multiple intelligence inventory also said that I think interpersonally. The core characteristics of this intelligence fit my personality and way of thinking perfectly. Throughout my life I have had the knowledge of my feelings, thoughts and emotions everyday and I attempt to monitor them at my best ability. These traits are a representation of the characteristics of affective awareness and self-regulation. Ethical awareness is another trait that I live by through the wanting to keep strong morals and principles in my life. As a child I grew up in a family that believed in being the best person you can and through being a Christian and living my life off of Biblical knowledge has created me to have strong morals. The results of the multiple intelligence test describes my life entirely.
Students who think logically will have many traits that create order and scientific reasoning. They can often see relationships between ideas, numbers and thoughts. The students are often fond of math, enjoying solving puzzles, manipulating functions and solving problems. They take ideas and analyze them fully to see every aspect and feature before making a conclusion and thought about it. With all of this said, the students are able to do all of these traits at a faster pace than many other students. Students will tend to lead toward science as well do to their mechanical way of thinking then English or art do to the creativity needed in these subjects.
To be able to support my classroom that have students who think logically I need to create structure and order to support their intelligence. There are many ways of doing this including by setting goals. This will allow them to see what is to come. Another way of doing this is by giving the students criteria and instructions before an activity giving them structure. To be able to accommodate their problem solving trait a teacher can assign puzzles and open-ended problems within their lecture. A teacher can encourage debate, assign experiments that create the student to test a hypothesis and provide story problems that take thought. If teachers follow these actions that can easily reach out to the particular students.
Students who think logically often enjoy technologies that are connected to science and math. This includes the basic ruler, graphing calculator and problem solving tasks. Other mathematical tools include measuring cups, scales, graphing charts and spread sheets. But for some technologies that are different that will intrigue the student into the information getting taught include unifix cubes, search engines and Cuisenaire rods. All of these technologies can create a classroom that have involved, hands on projects that can strive the students to want to learn the material. If the teacher provides them with these tools it can create the classroom to be enjoyable and fun.
As I have learned about learning styles and multiple intelligences I have discovered that all of my lesson plans will need diversity to reach to every student’s own way of thinking. As I am becoming a future math teacher I will need to focus on not only leaning toward logical thinking, being my main intelligence that is focused mostly on mathematical thinking it will be a challenge of mine. So through this knowledge I plan to take time while making lesson plans on how I will be able to reach all types of intelligences so no student will be left out. I not only want to reach the students who think logically but also rhythmically, linguistically and visually. For every teacher this can be a challenge but great teachers will take the time away to create activities, lectures and group work so no child will be left behind.

Learning styles paper

All learning styles and intelligences are important for a teacher to incorporate within their classroom. Without involving all of them, it becomes difficult for the teacher to provide the understanding of the material to all students. The learning style instrument I used to figure out my learning style allowed me to view my dominant multiple intelligences out of nine through a survey. The nine intelligences includes naturalist, musical, logical, existential, interpersonal, kinesthetic, verbal, intrapersonal and visual. Each one of these intelligences is separated into sections with ten statements, if the person agrees with the statement it receives a point. After each section you total the points. The higher the score, the more likely you are to be dominant in that intelligence. At the end of the survey you compare your scores to the other scores through plotting them on a bar graph and the highest scores is your strongest learning styles. This survey can be found at http://surfaquarium.com/MI/inventory.htm.

Once I completed the survey I found out I have three strong learning styles including logical, existential and intrapersonal intelligence. These three intelligences is not a surprise to me, as a math major I knew that I think logically. Due to my inability to be creative and love for problem solving, logical thinking are what best suites me. Math has always come easier to me than being able to write a paper or paint a picture. With logical thinking being one of my learning styles it makes sense that I think existentially as well. Thinking existentially means to only base your information off of what you have seen or done; what has already existed in your life. While processing information I have a hard time thinking outside of the box, being creative and looking beyond what I have already seen. This is one reason I love math, you take an equation and apply it to a problem that you have at hand. A reason I have trouble writing papers in an English class is due to the thought that I have to create ideas and thoughts, especially in creative writing, that may not have been through experiences of my own. My last intelligence of being intrapersonal is an important part to my life. I am a person that enjoys being alone at times, to enjoy a more quiet and peaceful environment. When doing school work I also like to work alone, being able to get work done by myself so I can be more productive. The only times I do like to work in groups is if I do not understand the material fully. This is a surprise to me though because I am part of a sorority. Living with sixty girls I rarely get time alone or receive a quiet environment. With this said I believe that I have leaned toward becoming interpersonal due to my surroundings. Overall I believe these learning styles due fit me very well to my personality and my learning pattern.

With my learning styles of logically, existential and intrapersonal thinking I hope that I do not fully focus on these intelligences but on all nine of them so I can reach every student. As a math teacher I know that it will be easy to teach the students through logical thinking than any other intelligence. To reach every student and make the class interesting and fun I need to incorporate creativity in the classroom giving the opportunity to reach all students. A math class needs most students to work alone so they are able to understand the material all be themselves than basing their answers off of other people. Since I am an intrapersonal type it could be easy for me to teach this but I have to remember that there are interpersonal learners and I need to reach them through group work and projects. Another aspect I would like to incorporate in my classroom is the ability to take the information and portray it visually. This does not include just writing the equations down on paper but to use pictures to allow them to understand the problem and allow them to memorize the information faster. Portraying all the information fully in every learning style is a challenge but should goal for a teacher to be able to reach every student in their diversity of intelligences.