Monday, July 28, 2008
Wikis are great for class sites.
A lot of teachers are using wikis for class sites. This keeps their content independent of Course Management Systems. For example, how many hours have I spent writing online quizzes on Blackboard Academic? If my next job does not use Blackboard all my work is lost. Here is a link to a chemistry wiki that I am researching for ideas.
Use Blogs for Test Corrections
Consider the classroom experience of teacher Jennifer O'Dea:
"With two degrees already under my belt and two years experience as a nutrition educator, I felt pretty academically accomplished at the ripe old age of 26. What I experienced in my classes at UC Berkeley absolutely astounded me! I was enrolled in a health education theory class with 15 bright young students from around the US and the globe. The class ran from 12-3 pm on a Wednesday afternoon and the WHOLE class was based on student discussion. Students were assigned a few readings which we came to class to discuss - for three whole hours! I was (for the first time in my academic life) totally dumbfounded. Paralyzed with fear, confusion, intimidation and a surprisingly powerful sense of self-consciousness about my Aussie accent, I was unable to utter a sound in class."
Her description of how this assignment made her feel reminded me of the looks I see on some of my student's faces when I announce that we are going to do Test Corrections. I have tried doing them in pairs, in groups, and with dividing the class in half with me doing Version B and my co-teacher Marsha facilitating version A. But, no matter how I present it, I cannot change the fact that many many students feel uncomfortable discussing their errors in a face-to-face setting. So, since we know they are very comfortable communicating over the web, here is my assignment for a Blog version of Test Corrections:
Test Corrections: This Discussion is GRADED!
Each Unit test is cumulative. Thus, before the next unit test you should review past unit sheets and past tests. When you get your graded test back, I will have circled the Correct answers. In your test correction you need to put in your own words, WHY THE CIRCLED ANSWER IS CORRECT. You may reference the unit sheet, a textbook page or a workbook page. To receive credit for this discussion you need to POST an request for help on one of your incorrect problems, and RESPOND TO TWO inquiries regardless of whether they had bee previously answered. Your wording may be just what that student needs to see the light!
"With two degrees already under my belt and two years experience as a nutrition educator, I felt pretty academically accomplished at the ripe old age of 26. What I experienced in my classes at UC Berkeley absolutely astounded me! I was enrolled in a health education theory class with 15 bright young students from around the US and the globe. The class ran from 12-3 pm on a Wednesday afternoon and the WHOLE class was based on student discussion. Students were assigned a few readings which we came to class to discuss - for three whole hours! I was (for the first time in my academic life) totally dumbfounded. Paralyzed with fear, confusion, intimidation and a surprisingly powerful sense of self-consciousness about my Aussie accent, I was unable to utter a sound in class."
Her description of how this assignment made her feel reminded me of the looks I see on some of my student's faces when I announce that we are going to do Test Corrections. I have tried doing them in pairs, in groups, and with dividing the class in half with me doing Version B and my co-teacher Marsha facilitating version A. But, no matter how I present it, I cannot change the fact that many many students feel uncomfortable discussing their errors in a face-to-face setting. So, since we know they are very comfortable communicating over the web, here is my assignment for a Blog version of Test Corrections:
Test Corrections: This Discussion is GRADED!
Each Unit test is cumulative. Thus, before the next unit test you should review past unit sheets and past tests. When you get your graded test back, I will have circled the Correct answers. In your test correction you need to put in your own words, WHY THE CIRCLED ANSWER IS CORRECT. You may reference the unit sheet, a textbook page or a workbook page. To receive credit for this discussion you need to POST an request for help on one of your incorrect problems, and RESPOND TO TWO inquiries regardless of whether they had bee previously answered. Your wording may be just what that student needs to see the light!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Lesson Idea: WikiUnitSheets
For the last 5 years I have been editing the unit sheets if I had time by adding diagrams, illustrations and hyperlinks to animations, video clips and other chemistry sites. Why not have the students do this in a wiki format? I will use pbwiki.com and see what they come up with.
I will first model a web-based unit sheet in Unit 1 and instruct them to clarify the essential knowledge contained on the basic unit sheet through diagrams and illustrations and to add hyperlinks. I will caution them not to add too much to the level of complexity, as the next unit sheet will add a layer of complexity (I use the Edison Model of teaching - a spiraling curriculum developed by the teachers at Thomas Edison High School in Alexandria, VA)
I will first model a web-based unit sheet in Unit 1 and instruct them to clarify the essential knowledge contained on the basic unit sheet through diagrams and illustrations and to add hyperlinks. I will caution them not to add too much to the level of complexity, as the next unit sheet will add a layer of complexity (I use the Edison Model of teaching - a spiraling curriculum developed by the teachers at Thomas Edison High School in Alexandria, VA)
Lession Idea using Weblog
I would like to end each unit with a Situated Learning Lab that uses the discussion aspect of Blogs. The students will be presented with a situation and an assignment. They are to gather information from materials in the unit and look further on the internet. They will first be given a hypothesis and are asked to write a procedure to test that hypothesis.
Here is my first idea for Unit 1. At this point, the students have learned that elements can be identified by physical properties. They have learned lab skills like using a balance and reading a meniscus. They have done a density lab on both liquids and an unknown solid.
Situated Learning Lab -Unit 1:
You are camping with your Dad in the Adirondack Mountains. He is quite pleased with himself and calls you over to see his latest find. "Look at this cool cup! It bends so I can fit it down inside the coffee pot to save space packing. " You say, "Where did you get this?" Your father responds, "From GrandDad's old camping equipment up in the attic." You shake your head and reply, "It could be made of lead, which is a neurotoxin. That means that it affects your nervous system and the damage is not reversible." Yours Dad grumbles, "That's ridiculous. No one would make a cup out of lead."
Your Assignment:
1. You write the next response by giving an real situation whereby lead was used in containers that hold food or beverages. (use the internet)
2. Present at least two physical properties of lead that point to the cup being made of lead. (See internet or appendix of your text)
3. Write a procedure for a test you can perform in the lab, in order to further support your hypothesis. Include any safety precautions necessary. The procedure should be detailed enough, so that another group can do the lab successfully.
Here is my first idea for Unit 1. At this point, the students have learned that elements can be identified by physical properties. They have learned lab skills like using a balance and reading a meniscus. They have done a density lab on both liquids and an unknown solid.
Situated Learning Lab -Unit 1:
You are camping with your Dad in the Adirondack Mountains. He is quite pleased with himself and calls you over to see his latest find. "Look at this cool cup! It bends so I can fit it down inside the coffee pot to save space packing. " You say, "Where did you get this?" Your father responds, "From GrandDad's old camping equipment up in the attic." You shake your head and reply, "It could be made of lead, which is a neurotoxin. That means that it affects your nervous system and the damage is not reversible." Yours Dad grumbles, "That's ridiculous. No one would make a cup out of lead."
Your Assignment:
1. You write the next response by giving an real situation whereby lead was used in containers that hold food or beverages. (use the internet)
2. Present at least two physical properties of lead that point to the cup being made of lead. (See internet or appendix of your text)
3. Write a procedure for a test you can perform in the lab, in order to further support your hypothesis. Include any safety precautions necessary. The procedure should be detailed enough, so that another group can do the lab successfully.
Purpose of this Blog
Dear All,
I hope everyone is having a nice summer. I am inviting you to join me in making a chemistry site that is engaging to teenagers. I have found that the honors students are using Blackboard regularly but the ChemI students are not. How do we reach them? In my summer reading the following quote stands out in my mind as I consider options; "A person is likely to be more receptive to change on novel beliefs, attitudes or activities." (Ryan 2000) So, in order to change the ChemI student behavior of not using their class site, we need to make the site different and engaging with novel activities. As I come up with lesson plan ideas and experiment with the interface, I would appreciate any feedback you may have. Just a quick safety note to students: Please do not use your first and last name on your posts.
I hope everyone is having a nice summer. I am inviting you to join me in making a chemistry site that is engaging to teenagers. I have found that the honors students are using Blackboard regularly but the ChemI students are not. How do we reach them? In my summer reading the following quote stands out in my mind as I consider options; "A person is likely to be more receptive to change on novel beliefs, attitudes or activities." (Ryan 2000) So, in order to change the ChemI student behavior of not using their class site, we need to make the site different and engaging with novel activities. As I come up with lesson plan ideas and experiment with the interface, I would appreciate any feedback you may have. Just a quick safety note to students: Please do not use your first and last name on your posts.
Ryan, A. M. (2000). Peer groups as a context for the socialization of adolescents’ motivation, engagement, and achievement in school. Educational Psychologist, 35, 101-111.
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