Week Eight Reflection

Trackstar
Web Evaluation
Test
Rubric
Puzzle

This was a fun exercise. The testmaker was my first adventure into the wilds of producing a test in something besides Microsoft Word (MW). I liked the way it worked, but I think it was a little difficult to get the formatting correct for my taste. I have more flexibility in MW, but it is more time consuming. I am not sure whether I will use it or just go MW once I get a job. I did like the way it spit out an answer key to go with the test. I really liked the puzzle maker. These are the types of things that can make learning fun. I only wish that the puzzle could be made bigger. I have worked with rubistar once before in adifferent class. I like how easy it is to produce a rubric. However, I look at everything from a math perspective, and as such, I still question what value it has on a math test. I could certainly understand it's use on say a project or something along those lines, but on a test, the question is either right or wrong. The only inbetween is a calculation error. So while I understand the need for the exercise, I will wait and see what my fellow math teachers say. Ther is not much to say about the web evaluation - it was pretty much straight forward. I picked a web site that I found during an exercise in my very first graduate class. I still think this is one of the best math help sites available. No to trackstar. I previously took a class for special needs children, where we did an assignment similar to this in that the object was to develop a reference list. I will say that the use of trackstar make accessing the sites much easier than using a sheet of paper that has been filed away.
I was able to get all of the assignments to open in the post, although my web evaluation takes forever to open - I keep thinking it has locked up, and then poof - it opens. It took me a number of attempts to get trackstar to work - i assume it was because I was trying to save it as a complete webpage. Once I tried a .mnt file, it worked right away. Now if I can just get them through blackboard.

Week Seven Reflection Question

Question #3 How can a classroom web site improve communications with students, parents, and community? What is an acceptable use policy? What impact does it have on the use of the Web in the classroom?


Many teachers utilize classroom web sites to improve communications with the students, parents and the community. To increase communications with the students, the web site can contain class assignments with instructions for completion, as well as homework assignments. This can be updated daily or weekly. The web site could also contain a frequently asked question (FAQ) section anticipating commonly asked questions. It could contain information concerning the grading system. It could provide links to other relevant sites, such as the school’s computer use policy. In addition, it can provide multimedia learning experiences utilizing voice, animation, and movie video.

It also provides a means for students to communicate with the teacher, especially those students that are too shy to ask questions in class. The web site can allow for email or electronic chat services, allowing for synchronous, recorded text pages. Finally the site could contain a forum and/or blog section to increase student interaction.

A class web site can build bridges to parents and community. The web site allows parents to share in classroom events and keeps them involved with their children’s activities. Posting of assignments and homework allows parents to monitor the preparation of their child for class. By using a secure service to post grades and attendance, parents can immediately access their child’s progress. Using the electronic chat and email provisions of the web site allows parents to communicate directly with the teacher, whether public or private, without having to play phone tag.

The inclusion of a community page, along with the posting of current and upcoming events, allows the teacher to build community partnerships. The web site could be used to solicit volunteers. There are many people in the community that have valuable experience that could be beneficial to the students.

The purpose of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to avoid abuse of the internet. It is usually established by the district or the school. It articulates the ways in which the internet can be used by the students. It typically requires parental confirmation of understanding as well as consequences for violations.

The AUP impacts the use of the internet in the classroom because the school, and therefore the teacher, is responsible for limiting access to websites that contain inappropriate information for children. The teacher must be ever vigilant to abuse of the policy.