TPACK Progress & Growth

My TPACK is growing steadily as each week I acquire so many creative teaching ideas and learn about new ways of executing old topics. My pedagogy is evolving and I am slowly able to get on board with using more technology in my classroom.


I don't think I have hit the center of TPACK diagram, but am moving closer daily. I believe there is always room for improvement and time to learn something new. I am excited to know about new apps, games, and tools such as prezi.com. I know these tools will help me reach some of those hard to teach students.

Math/Science Centers and Alternate Classroom Approaches

Reflect on the math/science centers and alternate classroom approaches. How does the children's engineering, flipped classroom model and gaming add value to learning?


Traditionally centers and classroom management approaches such as The Daily Five are used for teaching and reinforcing literacy concepts. However, these centers can also be very useful for math and science. Math is hard to learn for many students, and by integrating simple math games students will better learn. For example, students could do popcorn math or games to increase repetition and memorization skills. For science, centers would be good to use, but because science projects often require more time, then the center time may need to be spread out over several days.


It is hard for me to get on board with the flipped classroom approach as the prime way for students to learn. It is hard to convey passion through a video and even harder to encourage class participation. I believe subjects requiring direct classroom instruction should be taught in person with supplemental and extension activities completed at home and in the classroom.


It is a fact that we have a shortage of current and future engineers. It is so important to encourage STEM programs and to get kids involved in STEM events. By integrating things like robotics and 3D printers into schools, kids will engage in a more in-depth learning experience.

Direct Instruction - How does technology add value?

Direct instruction can often be a boring translation of information to students, and the younger the students are, the shorter their attention span. It is easy to integrate things like fun videos and games into your instruction to engage the students.


Students need to enjoy learning and technology and coupled with direct instruction these are additional tools to increase enjoyment and passion. Finally, websites such as prezi.com are fairly easy to use and such a great way to teach kids new ideas. The layouts provide a refreshing update from traditional power point.


http://prezi.com/

WWII: The Invention of The Atomic Bomb

World War II (WWII) was a gruesome war that ended the lives of millions throughout the world.

Nevertheless, WWII provided a platform for math and science to take leaps forward and allowed for the invention of technologies and concepts that we still use today. Inventions included:

The V-1 “Buzz Bomb” (Cruise Missile invented by the Germans) 

Electronic computers for breaking Nazi code and calculating ballistics

Trajectory calculators

And radar (used to eliminate surprise attacks and for meteorologist to predict weather patterns)

New uses for old materials including turning tanks into airplanes, silverware into surgical instruments, and so much scotch tape was used for war efforts that 3M created an advertisement apologizing to homemakers.

Finally, we are all at least familiar with the creation of The Atomic Bomb, two of which were used to end the war in August of 1945.

The United States pioneered the creation of the Atomic bomb by gathering thousands of scientists, engineers, and subsequently creating several industrial manufacturing plants. In Oak Ridge, TN., people worked on separating out uranium for the bomb, while in Hanford, WA., the new element called “plutonium” was created.

There were two different types of weapons built so that American Scientists could double their odds of getting one right.  Luckily or maybe not so lucky, both of these newly created Atomic Bombs worked as intended and were dropped on the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in Japan.

Now, let us take a step back, way back and into the year, 1945. On May 8, 1945, celebrations were contagious all throughout Europe, because in Europe the war was finally over. This day is known as Victory in Europe or V-E day.

However, the war still raged on in the Pacific and back in American, President Harry S. Truman was considering an invasion of the Japanese home islands.

On August 6, 1945, President Truman gave the order to drop the newly developed Atomic Bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. In just a single moment, 130,000 people were killed. Three days after Hiroshima a second Bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, killing another 75,000 people.

  

On August 14, 1945, with Japan battling forces and armies that would be difficult to overcome, the Japanese government accepted defeat. On this day, the American people waited in anticipation for the formal announcement.

The New York Times serviced their revolving news sign, keeping it up to date during the wait – crowds gathered by the thousands. In Times Square, crowds continued to grow to over 2 million people. At 7:03pm President Truman officially announced the Japanese surrender. All over America, people celebrated the end of suffering, death, and the return of loved ones.

The end of the war was here at last. August 15, 1945 is what we call V-J (Victory over Japan) day and is a day that will remain memorable and significant throughout history.

  

Without the efforts of mathematicians, engineers, and scientists, this war may have had a different outcome. So while we remember the mind-blowing inventions and re-use of materials that emerged from WWII, let us also remember the importance of math and science in our world today.

While the creation of the Atomic Bomb is controversial, it plays a role in both world and American history that cannot be forgotten.

References:

From the National World War II Museum - Remembering V-J Day: http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2-history/at-a-glance/vj-day-fact-sheet.pdf

From the National World War II Museum  - The War That Change The World – Science and Technology in WWII: http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-teachers/virtual-field-trip-supplements/science-technology.pdf

V-1 Cruise Missile Picture: http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/images/lrg0455.jpg

Electronic Computer for Nazi Code Picture: http://www.atariarchives.org/deli/computer_eccentrics.php

Trajectory Calculator Picture: http://www.chilloutpoint.com/featured/old-photos-of-the-first-generation-of-computers.html

Radar Picture: http://steveblank.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/wurzburg-reise-radar.jpg

Scotch Tape Advertisements:

http://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Minnesota-Mining-Production-Medevac/dp/images/B005L99LU0

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Langnasen/media/WW2ad-ScotchTape.jpg.html

http://www.atticpaper.com/prodimages/OCT2013/scotchtape.jpg

http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/l-vm9uuut28uu8ek.jpg

Atomic Bomb Picture: http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Med/Lbfm.jpg

Oak Ridge Manhattan Project Picture: http://www.lovethesepics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Uncle-Sam-and-see-hear-speak-monkeys-for-secrecy-on-billboard-in-Oak-Ridge-in-December-1943.jpg

Hanford Manhattan Project Billboard: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66p0Dc-VGzAgkWyo5mZk8jj-ko8BrKQh4zQsyVtN7bxs9_dX7fACAewSr_D9cYSQ3KbB5ag0yh03uevghBGS5LNXKmcs4qneE2yDQcxhJOcN2_3Vzly7gb1Ler10OvrcBN_QokyoGJqg/s1600/754px-Hanford_billboard.jpg

Hiroshima Pictures:

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/fb/28/83/fb28838c6f8ed89fd7bbc12bb3538622.jpg

http://www.jsssyjxh.com.cn/2009-06/15/xin_4730606151448828104173.jpg

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4a/8a/ab/4a8aabd0a87b352809b6d1a7e7586f3f.jpg

Nagasaki Pictures:

http://www.upi.com/blog/2013/08/09/Nagasaki-bombing-remembered-on-68th-anniversary/2991376066779/

Opinion of Aurasma App

I really enjoyed learning how to use this Aurasma app. I can see using it for a gallery walk during parent/teacher conferences or for a special event. I think it helps the students own their work and reinforces learning by allowing them to explain or video a message about their work. I wish there was a way to save these videos rather than having to have the same physical object each time. I would like the ability to create archives of videos for use in an electronic portfolio.

6 Word Memoir

This picture is an example of how to use a six word memoir.

The focus is social studies, specifically the significance of 1920s Jazz and African American history. 

iMovie Project - Reflection

At first, iMovie seems to be a very complex tool, but once you learn it, iMovie is so much fun. We learned how to create video from scratch, add sounds from various sources, and it can be a valuable tool in  the classroom. I am excited to upgrade my windows computer to a mac just to use this tool! I love this idea as a method for promoting visual literacy.

One Word Memoirs

One Word Memoirs

I love the idea of one word memoirs. It allows students to use creativity and to think about topics in a different way. This activity assisted in the development of research skills, comprehension, and is a fun hands-on approach to learning. This is definitely something I will be using in my own classroom!!

TPACK and Integration

This exercise was eye opening. It allowed me to see how versatile technology is when used in a classroom setting. By using a computer based timeline the teacher was able to reach students using a few learning styles. I think the teacher in this exercise was wonderful. She was able to ask questions in a way that led students to the answers, without actually giving them the answers. Critical thinking is an important skill to develop and this technology integration exercise helped with this skill.