Now that we are implementing mobile learning into our classrooms, it is important to connect the idea that learning does not just happen within a classroom. I teach 7th grade mathematics and I have 60 minutes each day to teach my students new concepts and build upon their foundation. This is not enough! When I first started teaching at Clearview Regional Middle School, I went from teaching a 42 minute period to 60 minutes. I thought to myself how am I going to effectively fill another 18 minutes! After five years experience, I beg for more time! I want my students to be able to explore new concepts, not just hear lectures and perform rote mathematics. I want them to make connections with the ideas and form new questions of their own. In order to do this I need more time. Technology has allowed the learning experience to expand beyond the limitation of a 60 minute class period. Technology is helping the educational world to make the concept of learning a lifelong process for everyone happen sooner!
Over the last three years, I have integrated many forms of Google apps to help enhance the communication I have with my student's and their families. For example, I use Google Classroom as a learning management system for my students. They are able to access classroom resources, communicate via chat, turn in assignments, and more. I am starting to see my students take the responsibility upon themselves first to check Google Classroom if they have a question, before even asking me. They are using their resources to help become more independent. These are skills they will be able to use when they enter the real world, no matter the topic or job description. Another Google App that I use for communication is Google Sites. I have created a website similar to Google Classroom for parents and guardians to have access to. Click to view my website! This site allows for many of the same features the students have on google classroom. This site even includes a live google document where parents can see daily class reminders, additional practice with answer keys, and assignments like homework that is due. Check it out! I have received great feedback from parents saying this site helps them to monitor their child's work, while still allowing them the independence to complete the work on their own first. They also have commented that having answer keys allows them access to check to see if their child's additional practice is correct for more immediate feedback. This parent involvement allows for more reinforcement of the material at home.
When people find out I am a seventh grade math teacher I always get the same reaction.....UGH! Grown adults have a high tendency to cringe over my profession! This includes the parents of my students. I often hear from them that their children are starting to learn math that they do not remember how to do. This leads to an unintentional lack of support outside of the classroom. It halts learning! My goal over the next two years is to implement a flipped classroom! While I am still doing my own research on what a flipped classroom looks like, my vision is to allow students to have access to videos of me teaching them at home as their homework. This way when they come into class the next day, they have the ability to receive feedback with me. While having support at home is fantastic, not every student has access to that for many reasons. This will allow all students to have equal opportunities throughout the learning process. They are not struggling at home to practice a concept they learned in class. I am present for the struggle and can help them even reach beyond the level of the lesson if they are ready. "This classroom time may be dedicated to group work, comprehension tests, in-depth application of the subject matter, or just open time for individual assignments, all with the added benefit of having a teacher and fellow students nearby to respond when questions come up" (The Flipped Classroom, 2018). I believe this system of a flipped classroom benefits students of varying levels. Those students who need additional support, I am there to help more one on one and for those who are above grade level now have in class time to explore beyond what the curriculum has structured. A flipped classroom structures a more individual learning experience for all students. Flipped Classrooms also help parents re-learn the material if necessary to help their children with additional practice or studying. Having the lessons readily available to revisit at any time helps to connect the classroom with outside learning.
There are other ways that technology can be implemented to help communication inside and outside of the classroom that are on a smaller scale. I use a website called Remind. On this website, students and parents can signup to receive daily alerts that can be sent via text message on their phone or email. Personally, I have the two way messaging turned off, so they can not text message me back, but that is an option. All messages are filtered through the website and no personal phone numbers are used. Another form of communication could be via social media. My school is encouraging teachers to use Twitter to help share the positive things happening within the classrooms. Students can use this platform to showcase their work, start chats, or research current events. Social media when used correctly and appropriately can be a strong tool within the classroom. "The color, life, and interaction that computers and tablets can bring to a subject makes them more engaging" (Davis, 2017). By connecting subject matter to something students are interested in such as social media, they are more likely to retain the information.
The more help we can make available for our students both inside and outside of the classroom the greater possibility of higher level understanding and success! Technology has been changing the education world with the impact of how readily accessible it is to communicate outside the classroom walls with students and their families. Technology even allows us access to resources all around the world, but that's a story for another time!
Check out this Ted Talk about Pros and Cons of a flipped classroom.
**What are some ways you use technology to help your students outside of the classroom?
Resources
Davis, M. (2017, December 20). How Technology Improves Teacher Student Communication. Retrieved February 19, 2020, from https://www.macroconnect.net/technology-improves-teacher-student-communication-2/
Shepherd, N. (2012, August 1). TEDX Flipped Classroom . Retrieved February 19, 2020, from Flipped Classroom: Nick Shepherd at TEDxMCPSTeachers
The (Flipped) Classroom of the 21st Century - 5 Key Benefits. (2018, January 19). Retrieved February 19, 2020, from https://www.panopto.com/blog/the-classroom-of-the-21st-century/
Hi Nicole,
ReplyDeleteI teach 6th grade math and also have a 60 minute period. You are absolutely correct... 60 minutes does not seem like enough! We used to have 90 minute blocks and I used to have the time to do so much practice and incorporate so many centers. I am really impressed with your use of Google Classroom, but even moreso with your use of Google Sites! What a great resource for students AND parents! I'm sure they find it very helpful that you link the homework assignments for them. I would love to incorporate that into my classroom. My head is already spinning with ideas as to how I can do something similar next year. Do you find that a lot of students who forget their homework at school or were absent from school use your website?
You have a very ambitious goal of implementing a flipped classroom. I also see a lack of technology at home as being a potential hurdle. Does your school have technology that students could access during during lunch? That might be one way that students could keep up.
I also use Remind101 in my classroom. I have found that parents really appreciate knowing when their students have homework or when there is an upcoming assessment. I also take a picture of the homework and send it out within my message so that students can complete the homework if they forgot it in school.
I really enjoyed reading your post and it gave me some ideas that I would like to use. Thank you!
Hi Karen,
ReplyDeleteI do receive a lot of feedback from both parents and students expressing how much it helps them, but it also helps me significantly. While it does require a lot of background work, I do find that it rather helps me in the long run stay more organized and deliver more effective instruction. It definitely took a while for students to get used to looking up the homework if they forgot, but I do receive more homework participation and less emails asking what the homework was. I do find that a lot of students who are absent also come back caught up or with an idea of what we talked about in class. I spend less in class time catching students up.
I am very fortunate that my school is one to one with student chromebooks. I do still address the class in the beginning of the year to see if anyone does not have wifi, but I have not run into that just yet. My plan if I ever do is to see if they can be placed in a study skills class or can visit me in the morning before school.
Thank you!
Nicole
Hi Nicole,
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! I really enjoyed reading about the technology you are already implementing into your classroom. As a middle school teacher, we both have the responsibility of holding our students accountable. You do a fantastic job of that through your website and homework google doc. I love the idea of having my own site that is interactive for students and parents! After reading your post, I am going to create my own site for my after school program (band & choir). Students are consistently losing their lesson schedule and I am getting emails from parents asking when their child has a lesson. Implementing that onto a website would be perfect and then I could include more information about my after school music program.
I also made the connection with you when people sigh when you tell them you teach middle school! It is so true. Many adults says, "Wow - good luck!" Middle school is a great age for students to learn what they are capable of and I believe you are doing a great job of helping students reach their potential. Keep up the good work.