Robin+Koehlke

= media type="custom" key="7412935"Robin Koehlke=

My name is Robin Koehlke and I am a Sophomore this year majoring in Secondary Education - Mathematics. I have wanted to be a teacher since Elementary School, so I am excited to finally be able to fulfill that dream! Tutoring kids last year made it even more apparent that teaching is really what I want to do with the rest of my life. I graduated from McAuley High School here in Cincinnati. I am living here in Clifton for the first time this year and I absolutely love it! On campus, I am involved in CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) and I enjoy spending time with the Lord and sharing His love with others. I also enjoy playing volleyball, doing art and craft projects, cooking, hiking, and spending time with friends. I have worked at Steak 'n Shake for the past 3 years where I served, made food, and worked the cash register. My technology experience is somewhat limited. I have used podcasts, powerpoint, recorded videos, and worked with smartboards to an extent. I'm excited to increase that list in this course!

__ Lesson Plan Ideas __ Robin Koehlke Title of Lesson Plan: Everyday Graphs Grade Level: 9th Subject: Math – Graphs and Charts Standard: Data Analysis and Probability Standard Benchmarks: Represent and model transformations in a coordinate plane and describe results. Use algebraic representations such as tables, graphs, expressions, functions and inequalities, to model and solve problem situations. Analyze and compare functions and their graphs using attributes such as rates of change, intercepts, and zeros. Translate information from one representation (words, tables, graphs, or equations) to another representation of a relation or function. Use models and pictures to relate concepts of ratio, proportion, and percent. Indicators: Students are able to identify graphs and interpret the data given in the graph. Brief description of lesson plan: Students will be taught about multiple graphs, including bar graphs, pictographs, line graphs, and pie graphs. They will learn how to read, create, and interpret each type of graph. They will then be given real world graphs from newspapers, magazines, or other sources and be asked to identify the type as well as analyze the data represented. http://www.lessonplanspage.com/MathEverydayGraphs9MO.htmted in the graph.
 * Class Assignments: **

Robin Koehlke Title of Lesson Plan: Significant Figures Grade Level: 9-12 Subject: Math – Measurement and Significant Figures Brief description of lesson plan: Students will measure figures and determine which number is the most significant when looking at a figure. http://www.col-ed.org/cur/math/math42.txt

Robin Koehlke Title of Lesson Plan: Drawing Nets of 3 Dimensional Objects Grade Level: 9-12 Subject: Nets of 3D objects Brief description of lesson plan: Teach students what a net is and how to find one for basic shapes, then supply or have them provide 3D objects such as a cereal box, soup can, candle, etc. They will use these objects to discover, draw, and analyze the nets of different objects. http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/math/912drivenets.html

Although I started the quarter out with a skeptical outlook on this course, I have learned more than I could have ever imagined. Some of the most beneficial and somewhat surprising things I learned include the various online sites that allow organization of websites and sources, and even documents and videos. These sites could prove to be extremely helpful when organizing notes, documents, and photos. Whether for school or personal reasons, these resources are so convenient, and learning about them brought a whole new world to the way I can organize my information. I plan to implement these types of sites into my classroom to help students access digital information all in one place, and also to learn organization in the process. Learning how to make my own tests and assignments online has given me a new sense of creativity and also ease in knowing that there are resources available to help me become a better and more effective teacher.
 * Class Reflection**

__ Reflection 1 __ ISTE Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:
 * Reflections ** :
 * Standard 3: Model Digital-Age Work and Learning **

// c. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats. //

There are numerous ways in which teachers can express their knowledge and communicate information to their students, however it is becoming more and more important to make use of technology in this way. Not only do students need to learn by taking notes or hearing the information, but they also need to learn through interaction and by technological sources. Digital resources can be used to communicate with students, as well as with their family in order to present lessons, explain assignments, display expectations, guide research, share class progress, or even to provide a place for students to communicate with each other in order to work collaboratively. These methods will not only allow for more engaged learning and thinking, but will also provide students with access and skills to use the technological resources now available to them.

In this course, we have explored numerous websites that have the potential to fulfill a number of these uses. For instance, [|Diigo] and [|Delicious] are multifaceted sites where teachers could post assignments, mark web pages for students to read or study, create discussion links to a particular page or topic, share photos or diagrams, and communicate with students outside of the classroom. These are also useful to students in that they create a place for research and class materials to be easily organized and viewed. They also provide methods of marking web pages so that students can identify the part they found important and share it with others. Having these sorts of tools in the classroom can provide teachers with a wider range of assignments and more ways to engage students.

Another use of technology to bring clear information to students is through the evaluation methods found online. The internet includes a variety of sites that will help us as teachers create organized and systematic assessments of student progress so that students are able to keep track of their personal progress and see the reasons for the grade they receive, rather than only seeing red “x”s on their work. There are of course websites such as [|Progress Book] and [|My Grade Book]which enable teachers to put all grades online, allowing for simple computing and also an organized and easily corrected method of keeping track of student progress. In addition, these sites allow students and parents to access their personal grades so that they can see how they are doing in class and to know if they need to pursue extra help. I have recently been introduced to another applicable resource that allows teachers to create rubrics for assignments through a website, [|Rubistar]. This site provides either template rubrics or a blank rubric to use when making lesson plans, or for a project in class. For projects or assignments that students are given, rubrics can be very helpful in providing clear expectations that you as a teacher have for your students. This gives them the ability to assess their own work prior to turning it in, so that they may identify what they need to add on, improve, or recalculate in order to receive a desired score. I always found rubrics beneficial to have when completing assignments because they are a clear and concise presentation of what needs to be done. But, there is one thing I would recommend adding to any rubric for a project, and that is creativity. Many times rubrics do come across as very cut and dry, and they do not encourage a lot of out-of-the-box thinking, so creativity is something that should be desired. This will push students to expand their minds more than just following a checklist of sorts.

Being introduced to these resources has allowed me to broaden my thinking as far as what I can use in the classroom. In school, I used to only think all I’d need was a chalkboard, some chalk, and a desk to teach my students, but the times have changed, even since I was in school just a few years ago. There are so many technological tools out there that will be necessary in the lives of students that I did not experience in school. It has become apparent to me that there is much more for me to learn and apply to the classroom!

__ Reflection 2: __ ISTE ** Standard 2: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments ** Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

// d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching. //

Teachers and students can both benefit from the use of technological data methods. Student’s can be fairly assessed, and teachers can collect the resulting data to determine the students’ progress or areas of concern. This may mean figuring out what is the most difficult topic being taught, or it can mean displaying the areas of success within the classroom. On the other hand, keeping all of this data at a technological level may inhibit teachers from maintaining their personal connection with students if they end up viewing their classroom as a list of data or set of numbers and results.

One way that we have learned to assess students in a way that can provide organized and easily comparable data and results is [|Easy Test Maker.com] This website is a simple and efficient way to create a test for any subject area, with a variety of question types and also with an organized format and grading method. It provides teachers with an answer key as well for efficient grading. This website is a fantastic place for teachers to be creative while still taking advantage of the assessment methods available to them through technology. Here is an example of a test made with this website focusing on functions and mulitplication: [|Basic Math Test]. In addition to assessments, activities within the classroom can also be very much based on technology. For instance, there are sites that allow students to look at a graph, change the slope manually, and then watch the actual picture of the graph change as the slope does. This allows for a visual, technological, and effective learning experience for students to see and learn about how a graph works.

I can definitely see myself using these tools in my classroom, whether it is for the assessment of students, or for the betterment of their understanding of the material. I do think that these provide a much more technologically based experience for students, and also for the teacher. I am sure that in the classroom, it would be necessary to maintain the personal aspect of teaching, and not solely rely on these resources to do everything that needs to be done in a classroom, but I do think that they can be a great help when used in the correct manner.

__ Reflection 3 __ ISTE Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:
 * Standard 4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility **

// c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information. //

Teachers are able to use a variety of technological resources in the classroom, and they can benefit from these within the social aspect of the class. Whether this means using discussion boards for class opinions to be posted, or a blog to share thoughts on a project or article, or even if it means using a social networking site to coordinate group work for a project, teachers still need to remain cautious of what they allow and encourage their students to do. Many of these sites can become dangerous if students begin contacting people who are not students, or if they use these outlets to expose information that is not school related.

For instance, the use of Facebook.com in the classroom can be a win or lose situation. Many students have one already that they use as a way to keep in contact with friends and see what’s going on in their friends’ lives. But this also means they expose what is going on in their life, whether in words, pictures, or videos. In some cases, the information they post is not at all appropriate and should not be connected with a school assignment because it can put them and other students in danger when they are using it. It is necessary for teachers to explain direct and harsh instructions for students to follow if they are required to do an assignment via a social website.

I personally do not think that I will ever find the need to use one of these sites for my classroom. This is mostly because I really do not like the idea of mixing student’s social lives with their education in this manner. The most I would use any of these would probably be a discussion board available for students to post questions about homework or what we are learning, that way I can answer the question to all of my students, and can also be in contact in that way during after school hours.

__ Reflection 4 __ ISTE Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
 * Standard 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity **

b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

It is always necessary to incorporate learning material and topics into real world situations. By allowing students to engage in the use of digital tools while researching and learning about real-world issues, teachers open up a new world of education and resources. Students are able to not only access current world issues, but they can explore potential solutions and ways to improve these things. Having access to digital tools expands student opportunities to research, problem solve, explore failed solutions, and to come up with their own solutions. This helps students to be a part of what is going on around them instead of only focusing on concepts and past events.

The use of internet databases and news sites gives students a whole world of information that extends beyond what is available in the average library or text book. Having access to any news article can open students' eyes to important events happening around the globe. In addition, they can use databases to find historical evidence of past situations and issues related to what is currently going on, allowing them to seek out a proper solution. This encourages logical thinking, situation application, and problem solving skills which are necessary to the education of all students. Students can also use the articles they find on databases and use sites that allow for highlighting and note taking, providing them with an easy way to look back at what information the found that will be helpful to their final project. Having databases available to them gives students a look into virtually any printed or documented source out there, no matter what part of the world it is from. They have access to more resources than ever before, all at their fingertips.

I think that although it may be difficult to use this sort of resource in a math classroom, it could definitely apply to an assignment about interest rates, price comparison, or the stock market. Studying these topics in the past as opposed to the current rates can be a great learning experience for students. They can use this information to find out things such as how these prices affect the country and the world, and also how they have caused changes that have lasted to this day. I am impressed with the amount of information that today’s students have access to, and would be pleased to take advantage of this resource in my own classroom.

__ Reflection 5 __ ISTE d. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.
 * Standard 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership **

In the classroom, teachers must apply their new technological skills to their classrooms in order to keep their lessons updated and current in the world of technology. Not only are their students expected to learn these skills, but also they must be able to apply them and share their application ideas with other teachers. By doing so, teachers can increase the effectiveness of classroom uses of technology, as well as helping each other to benefit from digital resources available to them in strictly teaching environments. This provides a learning experience for students that is up to date and current to their lives.

In class, we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit a STEM school, which has a higher focus on technological resources than most schools. We were able to see how students are able to take their skills with digital tools and put them to use in every subject area everyday. These students have access to computers, measuring equipment, cameras, camcorders, and more. Although these resources are not available to all students, they are possible to those fortunate enough to receive grants. This school in particular did, but even if teaching in a school that does not have access to these, a teacher can take advice and learn from the activities done in these classes. With that inspiration, it is possible to use what is provided to expand and engage student learning with regards to technology and keep the classroom as current as possible.

In my classroom, I plan on doing my best to keep my students up to date with the lessons I teach. I hope to bring my students the most knowledge that I can, and that includes the technology skills I apply in the class. I hope to have plenty of opportunities and resources to help my students enhance their learning experience while they increase their knowledge of digital resources at the same time.

>

Final Class Reflection I came into this course thinking that all I would learn would be how to use PowerPoint, excel sheets, and similar resources. I soon found out that I had made quite the mistake in predicting the course work. We have been introduced to websites that can help us as teachers, such as Wikispace, Diigo, Easytestmaker.com, and plenty of other online resources. In addition, there is also a plethora of technological tools that are not just on websites or online, such as voice recorders, calculators, and videos. We have been introduced to the many online lesson plan sites where we can find innovative methods of teaching basic concepts without being monotonous in the classroom. And even more appealing is the fact that by using these different teaching methods and activities, we are more likely to reach more students and to help them understand what is being taught. Students who learn in different ways can benefit very much from the use of multiple teaching methods. I am very thankful to have the opportunity to take part in this course because it has taught me not only what my resources are, but how to use and manipulate them. I am able to find ways to use each tool in a High School math classroom. This will be a great benefit when teaching in this day and age, when students are so much more technologically savvy than we are now. I can only hope that the school I teach in will be one with these resources available. And if not, I will use what I can to make each child's education the best that it can be.

**Artifacts** __ Rubric __ __[|Rubistar - Graphs]__ __Easy Test Maker__ [|Basic Math Test].