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Dr. Michael Blocher
Assistant Professor
College of Education
Northern Arizona University
General Comments
It was also nice to see information on how the teacher would be using technology. (i.e. in a Group, with two specific software titles – Inspiration & HyperStudio)
In addition the clip provides information on how the teacher what setting the teaching would take place (i.e. using 5-wireless computers in her classroom). It helps viewers understand the setting and lets them think about how they might have (or not have) a similar environment to teach.
The video provided a good description of how and why she’d be using the software. For example, she describes why it would be effective (i.e. in Inspiration ---- ideas could be explored in their broadest sense & in HyperStudio --- ideas could be expanded.
The video also provides a “heads-up” on what to look for. I believe that this is especially important for pre-service or novice teachers who might not be looking for a rationale, nor for the discreet methods that may be employed. For example, the video described Looking for special items like the fact that the learners were a) “Students were used to working collaboratively,” and b) “The students were used to working with technology.” This is really crucial information, because the novice teacher might think that all students automatically are able to do these things well. This lets the viewer know that this is required prior set-up work by the teacher, and would need to be taught first, unless his/her learners came to the class with these skills.
Teacher Methods and Management
Section 1
This teacher uses several activities that provide students with the opportunity to gain an understanding of the lesson concepts and procedures by building their individual cognitive framework with the support of the larger group. These activities included:
Whole Class Brainstorming.
This is important because it provides learners with the opportunity to share in a safe environment AND build upon each other’s ideas.
This activity permits students with the opportunity to begin to become more engaged because they will be more accountable because there are fewer students than in the whole class discussion.
- Presentation of Vocabulary Review where she helped learners match geometry vocabulary words with specific aspects of their projects.
This permits students to begin to individually connect geometry terminology with their ideas.
Section 2
In this lesson the teacher utilizes “Inspiration,” software designed to help students organize their thoughts, concepts and understandings of a particular topic. Used as a graphic organizer, it supports learners in putting connected ideas into, not only relationships, but also into their respective hierarchy and visually constructing a cognitive map.
In addition, she introduced the students to a very useful strategy of “Reverse Engineering. By having students look at a finish product and then working backwards, they can begin to understand the various steps to get to the finished product. This is helpful when learners are unable to see where to begin and how to follow a specific path to a concluding point.
Finally, this teacher embedded Geometry Terms into the lesson to provide requisite vocabulary in helping them make connections with mathematical concepts that might not be made by just doing the activity.
Section 3
HyperStudio -- I thought that the teacher did a good job supporting her students by demonstrating the software first.
Once they had an overview of the software and what it could do, she put them into groups. She continued supporting the by checking for understanding with each group and provided answers or suggestions on how to use the program and on the assignment. This provides scaffolding at the needed times and gives her feedback on how well the students are doing.
Again, this supports the learners in going from more general large group to smaller group, which helps them gradually take on more individual accountability.
In additions she provided Positive Reinforcement on group interactions. This encourages good group collaborations and provides examples of good working relationships.
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