After a week of trying to reach people who can help me with the grant writing process, I have decided that my action plan must change. Begin that it is so close to the end of the school year, many people are unavailable and do not have time to sit down and discuss grant opportunities. Even though I have not found a grant that matches the technology I would like in my classroom I have found an e-beam that I might be able to borrow. From what I understand an e-beam is very similar to a Smart Board; however, it is something that must be installed on a white board and is less portable. I feel that having this interactive white board will allow for more meaningful learning experiences that promote creative thinking.
Besides obtaining new technology, I have learned other ways of promoting creative thinking through more meaningful learning experiences. One way is through the creation and use of Problem-Based Learning. According to Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer, “Students need to have opportunities to experience well-structured, challenging, and worthwhile activities that address important mathematical topics” (2009, p. 247). I can create these types of experiences with the technology that I already have in the classroom. A Problem-Based Learning experience such as researching the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico involves creative thinking while students solve issues related to the current event. Not only are students motivated and engaged, but they are also meeting mathematical content standards established by Washington State.
It is my hope that through the creation of this week’s Problem-Based Learning Lesson I will be more knowledgeable when it comes to strategies in creating this type of learning experience for students. I think that the more practice I have with creating Problem-Based Learning experiences the easier creating them will become and the more knowledge my students will obtain. Using PBL in the classroom allows students the creativity and engagement that I am striving towards in my teaching and will meet my GAME plan goals.
Does anyone else have suggestions for PBL topics/questions that are appropriate for a seventh grade math class?
References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach (Laureate Education custom edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Erin-
ReplyDeleteCould you present the students with a marketing problem and have them create a budget for a company?? My math teacher and I were talking about doing something similar to this next school year. You could include other subject areas and make an interdisciplinary unit plan. The LA teacher could focus on persuasive techniques and you could present the students with the problem that a product needs to be marketed with this much money. They would have to search for all the elements of marketing a product and create the budget.
I hope this helps!
~Meghan
Meghan-
ReplyDeleteCreating a budget is an excellent idea! I actually did something similar with my remedial class this year. The students were asked what career they would like to persue in the future. Once they had decided what job they would do they were given a base salary and had to create a budget given how much money they made. We went even further to find how much it would cost to create their dream home and they had to find out ways to get loans, find construction costs, etc. It was really interesting and the kids got a kick out of it!