Integrating internet resoucres into lessons

An Introduction to 3-D Shapes (Grade 2)

GLO:
Name, describe and construct a variety of 3-D objects and 2-D shapes.
SLOs:
18. Explore faces, vertices and edges of 3-D objects.
19. Identify, name and describe specific 3-D objects as:cubes, spheres,cones, cylinders, pyramids.

Activity:
Utilizing an interactive geometric solids utility(National Council of Teachers of Mathematics), the teacher can accurately articulate and display to the students the definition of a face, a vertex, and an edge. With the utility, students can count faces, vertices and edges on a number of different 3-D shapes.
With the aid of another online resource (Primary Resources), a simple slide show, the basic 3-D shapes can be viewed and named. While each new shape is viewed, students can mark on the smartboard each shape's faces, vertices and edges.

Online Resources Referenced:
National Council of Teachers of Mathmatics (n.d). Illuminations: Resources for Teaching Math - Geomentric Solids. Retrieved Sept. 30, 2009 from http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=70
Primary Resources (n.d). Maths: Measures, Shape and Space: 2-D and 3-D Shape. Retrieved Sept. 30, 2009 from http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/mathsE3.htm

Relevant ICT Outcomes:
C6 Students will use technology to investigate and/or solve problems.

Rationale for integrating technology into this lesson:
Two different resources were used as visual aids in the lesson. The first made use of the technology to visually express a concept which can be difficult to get across to students when limited to 3-D models or drawings on a whiteboard. The second resource was a simple pictorial presentation of shapes which may have taken the place of flash cards or a teacher drawing on a whiteboard. The benefit of the slide show is it's speed and simplicity in presenting a straight-forward introduction of the lesson. An added benefit is the possibility of having students approach the smartboard and draw on the shapes to assess their understanding of the concepts of faces, vertices, and edges.

Power Point Presentation

I've completed my powerpoint presentation. The original presentation was a mess, so improving upon it was simple. However, creating a quality slide show with the material provided was a bit tricky. While I'm pleased with my work, I still feel there are things that I could do to improve on it.

The major changes I made to the presentation were as follows:
1. I cleaned up the text. This included checking spelling and grammar as well as re-writing some of the material to make it less repetitive and meaningful within the context of the presentation.

2. I created a unifying theme. This included an appropriately contrasted colour scheme as well as a uniform layout that spanned the entirety of the slide show.

3. I added photos relevant to the story. I did take some creative license in adding photos which matched the subject matter but were unrelated to the actual events. However, I believe that, regardless of origin, the photos do benefit the presentation.

4. I attempted to manage white space. In the majority of my slides I tried to keep the text simple, big and well spaced to promote an efficient transmission of information.

5. I added movement and set out patterns to entice the viewer to follow and focus on specific areas of information on the slides.

Here is my presentation provided care of slideshare.net

Crowsnest Fires ShareEdit

View more presentations from Colin Bullock.

Blogging? In Education?

I've blogged. You've blogged. If you haven't, you will one day. Then you will stop. Much like everyone's first days with e-mail, everyone will explore the potential of the technology by propagating repetitive and useless information until the novelty of the application wears off. Unlike e-mail, the practical uses of blogging are not as obvious. Even as online communication technologies seem to be surpassing simple blogging, most blog authors still struggle to shape their creations into an effective media.

So where does blogging fit into education? There is little doubt that students currently in school have had some experience with blogging. I am also quite certain that all have produced reams of content without questioning the purpose of the material. Here is an opportunity to introduce to students a way to present their ideas in a meaningful and focused manner. Having students develop a blog with some direction will teach students how to use the technology to effectively manage and present information. It will allow them to take a critical look at which data and the media used to present it is relevant.

Blogging provides a unique opportunity to expand on communication skills beyond those which would have been provided in only the English class of my generation. I look forward to enjoying following much superior blogs in the future.

Colin? Blogging?

Yes, I am blogging again. Yes, I am publishing this against my will. However, I am sure that something good will come of it. My first go at blogging those many years ago first sparked my interest in web page publishing and web design. I am sure this blog will renew my interest and ambition. I hope I can find the time to put my own unique mark on this product!

I am Colin. I am a teacher. I am now at school to become a better teacher. I look forward to learning about all that technology has to offer to the craft. Thus, I begin this adventure...