I started teaching in my practicum this week and absolutely love it! I was placed in an 8th grade Health classroom and am currently teaching their Nutrition unit.
The lesson objective: Students will be able to identify at least 2 components of energy drinks, and how they affect health, and determine at least 1 alternative choice.
For the main bulk of the unit, I had a hands on activity for the students to participate in. There was a table located at the front of the room from which had a variety of different caffeinated beverages on it. I performed an activity from which the students got to play a "game show" and have a few students come to the front of the room to try to organize the beverages from the least caffeinated to the most caffeinated. The other students would "call out" to try to help their classmates. We then discussed why we organized the drinks the way that we did then took a peak at the answers and continued the discussion Afterwards we did the same thing but organized the drinks in order of sugar content. We also placed a bag full of sugar cubes representing the amount that was in that drink in front of the corresponding drink. After this occurred, we discussed the caffeine and the sugar within the drinks and what other alternative choices we could have that wouldn't have the negative side affects. They completed an exit slip at the end of class that stated:
Energy drinks have high levels/amounts of both ___________&_____________. A healthy alternative to these could be ________________.
During the activity I was able to assess my student by asking critical thinking questions and seeing how they responded. I did some thumbs up/down questions as well as some think/pair/share activities. The exit slip at the end of class way a great way for me to measure how the students performed as well. From this I was able to see that the majority of my students did learn something from the lesson. I have been able to revisit and build upon this knowledge over the course of the week and look forward to assessing them tomorrow on our weekly mini quiz to see how much they still remember.
After reflecting on this lesson, however, I think that I would have had a set of cards (with a picture of the drinks) at each table so that the table groups that weren't at the front of the class could organize the drinks as well. I think that by having cards with the pictures, or even by having a small set of drinks for each table group, that I would be able to hold all of the table groups accountable. Another idea that I had was to make it a competition between the table groups or even one half of the class against another. I think that this would help by keeping all of the students engaged.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Appropriate Use of Technology
What mathematics does it teach or reinforce? Is this effective?
This teaches several of the standards from the NCTM Standards, as well as rotantional symmetry. If it engaged the students to follow along, it could also teach students to draw triangles and some of the properties of them as well (Standard 7.G.2). It also teaches towards the 7.G.5 Standard in which it shows how to use supplementary, complimentary, and adjacent angles in a multi-step problem. I think that this is an effective way to do this because it allows students to work at their own pace. They can really see what is going on and pause whenever they need too.
Does the technology offer something that offer tools would not?
I think that the technology does offer children another outlet for learning. While I believe that hands on learning would be just as effective in any normal occasion, I think that children that require more time to process information would definitely benefit from using Kahn's academy. The program allows for you to start and stop at anytime, thus allowing you more time to try to solve the problem or to take notes. I also think that it is helpful because students (with computer access) could do it at home.
Are there other effective ways to teach or reinforce this same content?
I do! I think that the Kahn academy offers a great way for people that are simply audio or visual learners to process information at a slower pace, where as a more hands on technique would be better for those who prefer a more hands on approach. For example, I know that I do not process information very well online or using computer. I seem to get overwhelmed, cannot understand what is happening, or simply tune out. When I am in a classroom, or learning in-person from someone (seminars, etc), I learn a lot more. I learn better when I can take a liter hands on approach. I believe that the same could be true for our students. They are all different and have different learning styles, this should be no different. I would not use the Kahn videos for my geometry lesson exclusively, but I do think they would be great for an added tool to help aid my students.
If you were to teach this same lesson, what might you change about the delivery or example(s)?
I would definitely use some more hands on techniques (having them cut out triangles, build them using blocks draw them, etc). I believe that it is important to teach to all of the learning styles, and by providing not only a lecture, some visuals, and some hands on activities, I think that I would be better able to suit the needs of all of my students. I also think that by doing this we are able to reinforce the lesson for the students that may almost be there but aren't quite yet. Even if you are simply doing the video, demonstrate cutting out the triangles so that the children can follow along, perhaps? Maybe simply show more items? Just some thoughts.
This teaches several of the standards from the NCTM Standards, as well as rotantional symmetry. If it engaged the students to follow along, it could also teach students to draw triangles and some of the properties of them as well (Standard 7.G.2). It also teaches towards the 7.G.5 Standard in which it shows how to use supplementary, complimentary, and adjacent angles in a multi-step problem. I think that this is an effective way to do this because it allows students to work at their own pace. They can really see what is going on and pause whenever they need too.
Does the technology offer something that offer tools would not?
I think that the technology does offer children another outlet for learning. While I believe that hands on learning would be just as effective in any normal occasion, I think that children that require more time to process information would definitely benefit from using Kahn's academy. The program allows for you to start and stop at anytime, thus allowing you more time to try to solve the problem or to take notes. I also think that it is helpful because students (with computer access) could do it at home.
Are there other effective ways to teach or reinforce this same content?
I do! I think that the Kahn academy offers a great way for people that are simply audio or visual learners to process information at a slower pace, where as a more hands on technique would be better for those who prefer a more hands on approach. For example, I know that I do not process information very well online or using computer. I seem to get overwhelmed, cannot understand what is happening, or simply tune out. When I am in a classroom, or learning in-person from someone (seminars, etc), I learn a lot more. I learn better when I can take a liter hands on approach. I believe that the same could be true for our students. They are all different and have different learning styles, this should be no different. I would not use the Kahn videos for my geometry lesson exclusively, but I do think they would be great for an added tool to help aid my students.
If you were to teach this same lesson, what might you change about the delivery or example(s)?
I would definitely use some more hands on techniques (having them cut out triangles, build them using blocks draw them, etc). I believe that it is important to teach to all of the learning styles, and by providing not only a lecture, some visuals, and some hands on activities, I think that I would be better able to suit the needs of all of my students. I also think that by doing this we are able to reinforce the lesson for the students that may almost be there but aren't quite yet. Even if you are simply doing the video, demonstrate cutting out the triangles so that the children can follow along, perhaps? Maybe simply show more items? Just some thoughts.
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