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This blog is a series of technology tips for educators. These tips provide ideas for learning, teaching, and using digital skills. The content varies so that the tips can be designed for you ... new teacher or experienced, technophobe or “cutting edge”… or somewhere in the middle. I hope you enjoy reading these tips and, especially, that you find some new, useful ideas. I would love to hear your ideas!
If your passion is elections (USA), polls, or statistics, then this site will most likely interest you!
Here’s an example of what the folks behind the site do…
"The basic process for computing our Presidential projections consists of six steps: 1. Polling Average: Aggregate polling data, and weight it according to our reliability scores. 2. Trend Adjustment: Adjust the polling data for current trends. 3. Regression: Analyze demographic data in each state by means of regression analysis. 4. Snapshot: Combine the polling data with the regression analysis to produce an electoral snapshot. This is our estimate of what would happen if the election were held today. 5. Projection: Translate the snapshot into a projection of what will happen in November, by allocating out undecided voters and applying a discount to current polling leads based on historical trends. 6. Simulation: Simulate our results 10,000 times based on the results of the projection to account for the uncertainty in our estimates. The end result is a robust probabilistic assessment of what will happen in each state as well as in the nation as a whole."
David Moursund’s IAE-pedia (http://iae-pedia.org/Main_Page) provides a variety of resources for educators. I’ll list a few of them here, but you’ll want to visit the site to see more.
A List of Five-Minute Workshops (short videos) topics include Second Life, Google Docs, PowerPoint, the last day of class, embedding resources in wikis, eClips, virtual office hours, a vision of students today, learning styles, podcasting
Creating short hybrid videos (slides with voice-overs) short hybrid videos might be described as a subset of a project page or of a curriculum page unit
PBL (Project-Based Learning) good instruction and resources are available
MathNEXUS good resources for mathematics education dedicated to increasing achievement, especially with a diverse population new resources are added weekly for…
Problem of the Week
Quote of the Week
Statistic of the Week
Website of the Week
Math Person of the Week
Resource of the Week
Golden Oldie of the Week
Calendar: Events and Birthdays
Note: don’t skip this section as just another “problem of the week”… these are really good!
Mathematics Illuminated is an interesting series about key themes in mathematics. The content is geared for adults, including high school teachers. As I examined the series, I also found sections that can be used effectively by middle school teachers. I would have loved to have this series available when I was teaching mathematics!The goals for those participating in the course are that they:
"recognize the fundamental role of mathematics in all intellectual and artistic pursuits"
"appreciate that mathematics can help us illuminate, define, and predict the world around us"
"develop a better understanding of the nature of mathematics"
Units in the series include primes, combinatorics, infinity, topology, symmetry, geometry, game theory, networks, and chaos. Learning is accomplished with videos, online textbooks, interactive web activities, and group and individual activities. The videos provide historical background for the concepts, interviews with experts, animations that explain the concepts, and real-world applications of the concepts. Mathematicians of both the past and the present are included in the course materials. And national and local standards in mathematics are referenced.
Some of the additional resources include video transcripts, a glossary, and a timeline of mathematical concepts. Components in the series may be used individually or as part of the entire course. The facilitator and participant guides are based on an inquiry-based model in which participants become active explorers. The course materials may be downloaded as PDF files.
Last week I shared some interesting mathematics and science web sites that teachers and students might enjoy examining and then trying some of the ideas offered. Sometimes, however, we just need some help with the everyday teaching and learning of the standards for mathematics and science. So, today I’m sharing some mathematics sites that you might find helpful… and next week I shall share some science sites. Many of these sites will work well with interactive whiteboards.
OHIO RESOURCE CENTER FOR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND READING http://ohiorc.org/ The Ohio Resource Center for Mathematics, Science, and Reading continues to add new resources to their collections, so even if you’ve visited previously, be sure to stop by to check the new additions! This is one of my favorite sites because their review process assures that their recommendations are worth considering.
Thinkfinity Web Site http://www.Thinkfinity.org The Thinkfinity site has been redesigned and now links to the ORC main page. It includes resources from Illuminations (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) and Science NetLinks (American Association for the Advancement of Science). The site has lesson plans and teaching materials that are of high quality.
TEACHERSFIRST.COM http://www.teachersfirst.com/ TeachersFirst is another of my favorite sites because they thoroughly review all sites which they post. They also make suggestions for using these sites in the classroom. I’ve recommended this site previously, but--like ORC—they also continue to add new, quality sites to their collections.
AAA Math http://www.321know.com/ Choose a grade level (k-8) or choose a topic to bring up interactive activities for practice.
CyberSleuth Kids http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/Math/ This site is listed as being appropriate for elementary grades. That’s true… however, there are also some very good lessons for middle school and high school. Navigate through the site to check out explanations, games, puzzles, worksheets, student practice opportunities. Both students and teachers can find helpful information here.
I remember a certain weather reporter who would talk about a “mixed bag” of weather conditions that were heading in our direction. Well, today’s tech tip is a mixed bag of mathematics, science, and general interest web sites that are interesting and even fun.
Having spent many years teaching mathematics to students in grades six through twelve, I could not resist a list of the Hundred Greatest Theorems. The chart includes links to many of the theorems and the mathematicians associated with them. Dates are also included in the chart.
I have taught some of these theorems, but certainly not all of them. The inclusion of the theorems in the list is based on "the place the theorem holds in the literature, the quality of the proof, and the unexpectedness of the result." Archimedes’ Area of a Circle, the Pythagorean Theorem, and Godel’s Incompleteness Theorem are a few of those included in the list.
Two origami sites provide instructions for folding many interesting creations. The instructions for the first site are a combination of words and sketches. The instructions for the second site are contained in videos.
Science 2.0 http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=science-2-point-0&sc=rss The April 2008 Scientific American has an interesting article about Science 2.0. M. Mitchell Waldrop writes about a new practice by some researchers of posting raw results online. How will this practice affect science discoveries and the scientists who make those discoveries?
HyperHistory Online summarizes 3,000 years of world history using lifelines, timelines, and maps. The online version complements a world history chart that is available in hard copy.
Topics available are science (including mathematics), culture (artists, music, and writers), religion, and politics. A section on climate change is the current feature.
General information is linked to specific information in a sidebar and to additional links at the bottom of the page. Another sidebar provides easy access to people, history, events, and maps.
Lifelines are available for over 1000 individuals. Timelines cover the major civilizations. Events provide more detail on a year-to-year basis. And links to many regional maps are also available.
This site is interesting for browsing and is useful for teachers and students in many disciplines. Check out the information in the areas of your interest to see how you or your students could use the information. Be sure to follow the links provided… this site contains more than 2,000 files of data.
The two sites that I am sharing today both have multimedia presentations that could be useful in the classroom. Actually, both sites are so well done that their content is interesting to view even if you don’t teach the content that they illustrate!
The Maps of War web site is a collection of some of the best multimedia war maps on the web. The topics listed include Iraq, World War I, World War II, Darfur, Israel, terrorism, crime, and migration. I also found maps on some other topics (e.g., democracy and strength—or lack thereof—of other countries). These maps have been created by MSNBC, the BBC, and other producers.
What is amazing when viewing these maps is watching in just a few minutes the effects of years of human activities on countries, lands, and peoples.
The maps available at this web site include:
Iraq War Coalition Fatalities,
The Fight for Iraq: A Regional Powerplay,
Baghdad: Mapping the Violence,
The Western Front, 1914 – 1918,
World War II in Europe,
World War II in the Pacific,
The Darfur Tragedy,
Eyes on Darfur,
Strategic Israel,
Failed States Index,
War on Crime : The Homicide Map, and
Snapshot: Global Migration.
I have embedded the March of Democracy map to show an example of these multimedia maps. Watch 4,000 years of the history of democracy in 90 seconds!
John Kyrk is “a biologist by education and an artist by disposition.” He has created and posted on this web site animations of biological processes. The animations are a combination of graphics and text that together explain the process being described. They are very well done.
The cell biology animations include:
amino acids and protein,
cell function overview,
cell anatomy,
cell membranes,
chromosome structure,
diffusion,
DNA: structure, replication, transcription, and translation,
evolution,
glycolysis,
golgi apparatus,
krebs citric acid cycle,
meiosis,
mitochondria/electron transport,
mitosis,
pH,
photosynthesis: light reactions and dark reactions, and
water.
Additional multimedia presentations are also available at the web site. One in particular, the golden ratio presentation, could supplement mathematics or art instruction.
Three sources on the web are highlighting some very good web sites for the classroom. Check out these resources for all grades--both elementary and secondary--and for teachers as well.
http://www.zerofootprintkids.com/kids_home.aspx Zero Footprint: Kids Calculator - Grades 3 - 8 What impact does your lifestyle—and that of your students--have on our environment? This interactive online calculator can help your students look at their use of natural resources, land, water, and trees after they answer questions about transportation, what they eat, what they throw away, what they use, and home and school. They can then compare their “carbon footprint” to the averages in other nations.
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1986/4/86.04.07.x.html Painless Writing - Grades 3 - 9 This site has both old and new ways for teachers to get students writing painlessly. The procedures, lessons, prompts, and interesting combinations of approaches may be just what you’ve been trying to find.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/specials/2005/hurricane_katrina/default.stm Hurricanes - Grades 1 - 8 Use an interactive whiteboard with this site’s animated guide to hurricanes to understand this type of weather. There are also quizzes, pictures of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction, reference information, and other helps.
http://www.history.org/media/interactive.cfm Colonial Williamsburg Interactive - Grades 3 - 12 Your students will enjoy playing games and learning about Williamsburg at this interactive site. You can show coinage and Gilbert’s paintings. Looking at Queen Elizabeth’s visits to Williamsburg in 1957 and again in 2007 opens the door for examining the differences in our world over 50 years. You can even explore the Constitution interactively.
http://www.lessonplanz.com Lesson Plans for Preservice and Beginning Teachers Here’s a site which has thousands of free online lesson plans. You can search by grade or subject or both.
http://www.keepschoolssafe.org Keeping Students Safe Information about school safety from the playground to gangs is available at this site.
http://learner.org/redirect/march/sim7.html Surprises in Mind This documentary looks at mathematical creativity and the brain. Art, architecture, music, and a 12-year research study all play a role in looking at instruction designed to help children use their natural mathematical inclinations.
http://learner.org/redirect/march/math12.html Mathematics: What's the Big Idea? Examine the use of geometry in art and architecture. Visit classrooms where students are engaging in hands-on activities.
This list of web sites begins with some sites that are interesting no matter what or whom you teach. The list closes with a few specialized sites for language arts and mathematics. Many of these sites are interactive and will work well with a SMART board or other interactive whiteboard. Enjoy!
Web Sites for Everyone…
Exploratorium http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/online.html The Exploratorium was one of the first science museums to build a site on the web. (Don’t let that stop you if you’re not a “science teacher.” This site will capture your interest no matter what you teach.) The award-winning site has more than 18,000 pages exploring many different topics. The Explore section has activities to guide you to explore a variety of topics such as frogs, global climate change, language, and robots. On the Tools for Teaching page, you can watch the dissection of a cow’s eye, try some hands-on activities, access an extensive digital library, and more. You can also purchase some interesting gifts at the online store. (This site was difficult to evaluate and annotate because I kept becoming involved in the activities!) A brief description of this web site does not do it justice. This web site is definitely a “must visit”!
Project Based Learning Checklists http://pblchecklist.4teachers.org/ With project based learning, students participate in projects and practice skills from the academic content areas. This site provides checklists for project products. The checklists are easy to customize and to use.
I am certainly ready for spring… for fresh air and warmer temperatures! With that in mind, these next three sites certainly caught my attention!
AccuWeather.com http://home.accuweather.com/index.asp?partner=accuweather Enter a city or zip code to find what meteorologists think the weather will be for the coming week. Choose a state and see an animation of the changes in the weather.
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration http://www.noaa.com/ This site provides long-term forecasts (eight days).
USA Today Online Weather Almanac http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wresources.htm This site provides monthly climate data for cities around the world. Find average monthly high and low temperatures, rainfall, and snowfall.
Old Magazine Articles - Reference & Research skills - grades 6-12 http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/ This searchable archive of PDF images of old magazine articles is mainly from the 20th century, but there are also 19th-century entries. The articles include pictures that illustrate the time period. There is some emphasis on the early 20th century among the topics. This primary document site has many useful resources for social studies teachers. (This site is fun to browse even if you have no need to research.)
Librivox - English - grades 0-12 http://librivox.org/newcatalog/ You can download audio recordings (read by volunteers) of books and poetry in the public domain. Search for works by category (fiction, poetry, non-fiction, dramatic works), genre, author, title, or reader.
Web Site for Language Arts…
Basketball Season Vocabulary - English - grades 6-12 http://www.vocabulary.com/basketball.html Vocabulary.com has added a themed area for March Madness. Interactive activities use basketball-related vocabulary words. The themes available on this web site can help to make vocabulary development more fun for students.
Web Sites for Mathematics…
Pattern Blocks - Exploring Patterns with Shapes - Mathematics - grades 1-5 http://arcytech.org/java/patterns/ This site permits students to “manipulate” pattern blocks online. The activities work well with an interactive whiteboard.
Thinking Blocks - Mathematics - grades 3-8 http://www.thinkingblocks.com/ This interactive mathematics web site has video tutorials, interactive activities, virtual tutors, and more. Topics include addition/subtraction, multiplication/division and ratio word problems. Blocks represent numbers within each mathematics problem. Each lesson includes eight questions, so they can be completed during one class period. There are six lessons in each area.
SAT Math Pro - Geometry - grades 6-12 http://www.satmathpro.com/Practice.html This interactive web site provides video tutorials and practice for students who are working with mathematics concepts (number properties, ratios and portions, percent, probability, data analysis, algebra, word problems, circles, lines and angles, Roman numerals, triangles, quadrilaterals, solids, coordinate geography and multiple figures). The site has received some very good reviews.
