Blended Learning is Amazing!!!

I have the privilege of teaching a true blended learning grade nine math class in inner city Hamilton, Ontario.  The students are grade  8 students that travel to our high school 3 mornings (75 min each) each week.  The other two days, the students are expected to login into the Desire2Learn platform available throughout Ontario.

So many reasons to be excited...
- online learning included web based games, activities, quizzes, investigations, polling
- tech integration including use of iPads and computers - or even the students' own devices
- addressing multiple learning styles through use of interactive whiteboard, videos, collaboration, etc

I could go on...

All the while, not only are my students enjoying new and different learning experiences, I continue my quest to continually expand my teaching repertoire with the hope to engage more learners.

"Embrace Life Long Learning"

My other learning in this endeavour... D2L - new for me
I have been using Edmodo for a couple years now and have always been very happy with the results.  D2L is a  new experience for me - and I am also enjoying it.  More to come.

Twitter inspires!

so.. I don't make it to my twitter account nearly enough.

I checked in today and ... thanks to George Couros I came across this video...

We do not compliment each other enough.
Each person is an intricate treasure that we need to value and appreciate.
I wonder if my school can make a strong character initiative like this happen...

Westhighbros is an inspiration!

Explore, Excite and Engage

Explore all your learning opportunities...
I am so pleased to be learning so much about the iPad, my new Mac and iBooks Author. Taking advantage of these explorations energizes me  in my teaching career. I look forward to creating custom iBooks for my math classes.  Already working on a trigonometry unit...

Excite yourself and others...
I am so excited to continue my learning.  I am so excited to share that learning.
Get excited - share the love of learning.

Engage your learners... whomever they may be
I strive to engage my learners - children, teens or adults. As a teacher, I am excited about learning and i will continue to seek out strategies to engage even the most reluctant learners.  You know the ones.. lets's say students taking MFM2P.
Lifelong learning is a worthwhile pursuit - no matter your age or occupation.

MacBook Air arrived!!!

My new MacBook Air arrived on Friday Nov 30!
I have spent a lot of time learning and trouble shooting.  I have always had pcs in the past so there has been a bit of a learning curve with this new laptop. Using the trackpad is totally different - though I think I like it!
Of course I could not live without Microsoft office so I downloaded it earlier today. I was disappointed, however, to not get Microsoft Access in that bundle.

Another vital download, of course, was iBooks Author. I was not convinced about getting a Mac and have been contemplating it for more than a year. The expense seemed prohibitive. I was finally convinced that this was a good idea when my math dept was given 10 iPads to use in math classes. Then - I decided that I absolutely needed a Mac so that I may create custom content
 for my students.

I had to purchase an adapter dongle to connect to my projector - bought the lightning one and soon realized it was the wrong  one :(
I have since ordered the correct one and I hope it arrives quickly - I am looking for to using my Mac in class with my smartboard.

I created two iBooks this evening and experimented with all kinds of options: quizzes, weblinks, embed YouTube, include images, widgets etc.

I look forward to actually getting good at this!

Anticipation....

I received a text message today that my macbook air has left China - yay me!   The anticipation is building.  I have been reading and viewing videos about iBooks Author with excitement. I wonder what my first iBook will be... we are currently working on Linear Relations in my grade nine class and Quadratics in my grade ten class. It is my hope that I will be able to prepare a short book that I can use right away in class. I envision text, of course, but also interactive components like labelling or quizzes. I was so excited by the numerous options for interactive review.   It will be great to include video links.  I also have been toying with the idea of creating a book with the students as a class project.

I ordered a mac on Black Friday...

I can't wait for my mac to arrive. I have thought about this opportunity for a long time. November 2011 I attended an Apple learning tour in Hamilton, Ontario. I was so excited to learn how to create custom content for the ipad. It was just a tiny taste ... This year I took another opportunity to attend the Apple learning tour last tuesday in London. I had thought many times of purchasing a mac but now I finally did it! I imagine it will arrive sometime this week. I am fortunate enough at my school to have access to 15 ipads to use with students in my classes. Having a mac will make lesson planning an exciting new adventure! My first download will undoubtedly be "iBooks Author". But what will my first "book" entail? So many options. Anyway... anxiously awaiting my Apple (mac).

I will be posting my iPad math app explorations at this link... iPads in math

Interesting comment on creativity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KMJf6hEtco

a song from phineas and ferb...