Workshop 2008: Weblog for Maths (Secondary)

Session 1: Outline

Experiencing Learning Activities with Blogs (I)
Creating a Blog
Blogs in Maths Classrooms (I)
Getting Ready for Class Implementation

Session 1: Your Experiences

Share with us What are your Previous Experiences in...

Blogging
Reading other people's blogs
Reading about blogs and bloggers
Teaching using blogs

Click at Comments to input...

Session 1: Activity 1 - What does % mean to me?

What crosses your mind when we talk about "%"?

Click at Comments to enter your thoughts.

Session 1: Activity 2 - Shapes around us

Look at the pictures...
What shapes can you find there?

Click at Comments to tell us more about the shapes and lines!

Session 1: Activity 3 - Interpreting & Analysing Charts - Storytelling

Pupils from Sunshine Secondary School participated in the Terry Fox Run at Sentosa Island on 8 August.

Charts A and B tell us more about their participation.

In groups of 4, study the charts and write a short but interesting article for your school’s newsletter.

Session 1: Activity 4 - Exploring the Best Path

In your group...

Part 1:

What questions would you ask so that you will understand the Problem better?
Enter your questions under Comments.

Part 2:

Based on our discussion, list down the assumption(s) you made when solving the problem.
Present your assumption and solutions (when necessary, include diagram for explanation) in your blog.

Note: For Part 2, we will learn how to create a blog to post the solution online

Session 1: Activity 5 - More Examples... Blogs in Maths Classrooms

Here are the blogs created by some of the Maths Teachers who attended last year's blog workshops

Ms Gloria Teng's Math Blog: Algebra Rocks My Socks
Geometry at Temasek: The first post of this blog
SuperRate: When I am FULL?
Vectors - Are you in the Right Direction?: Fastest route to walk from one point to a line
Where Maths Rocks: Volume Problem 1
Probably Probability: Probability
3E1 Additional Mathematics 2007: Linear Law
Ellipse and Hyperbola: Ellipses and Hyperbolas

From the post and the response from the pupils (if any), discuss

How the teacher had used the blog for the learning activity
How pupils were engaged in the activity

Comments:

Blog example 1:

Teacher used a poem as a trigger to draw pupils' interest about algebra.
In the poem, he highlighted some common misconceptions in algebra.
As a follow up, some questions to test algebra concepts were posted
He also polled topics for revision.
Pupils' provided answers to the questions posted
Some of them also explained their reasoning in words.
A few commented on each others' solutions and the teacher's poem.
One pupil commented about the questions asking for 'yes/bo' answer. Alternatively, the teacher could ask the pupils to explain their reasoning, perhaps in the form of a poem too.

Blog example 2:

Teacher used the blog to post a 'real-life' problem that required pupils to think beyond mathematical reasoning.
He also posted hyperlinks to interesting websites related to the topic (one-point access)
The blog was also used as a 'poll center' to surface 'needs & concerns' - concepts in trigonometry that pupils' felt confusing.
Pupils could probably read the post for information and engage in activities linked from the site.

Blog example 3:

Teacher used the blog as an application of conceptextension of curricular activity.
Alternatively, the blog could be used as an 'extension' of new concepts learnt.
Tips were posted to guide the pupils in their thinking.
Pupils work in groups to work out the answers.
In their responses, they used words or phrases that expressed their emotions, e.g. i dun noe P.S, close one eye oso can do.
Perhaps because of the tips given, most solutions were direct answers to the tips with little elaboration.
Some even commented on other's solutions

Blog example 4:

Teacher used the blog as an extension beyond curriculum.
He posted a problem to assess pupils' understanding of new concept (vector) taught and their ability to apply the concept.
Pupils posted a wide variety of solutions, many of which did not apply the new concepts taught, suggesting that they had not assimilated the concepts. A lot of misconceptions were surfaced, which teacher leaveraged by providing individualised feedback.

Blog example 5:

Teacher used the blog to test pupils' ability to apply knowledge/skill acquired to solve an unconventional problem. Pupils might have been exposed to similar questions but straight forward ones. So, the problem was posted as a 'what if' (when conditions changed).
The blog was used as a discussion platform for pupils to prove their understanding of concepts.
Pupils provided solutions with step by step working to illustrate their reasoning.

Blog example 6:

Teacher posted an 'authentic' problem on probability (4-D lottery) to elicit discussion and surface misconceptions.
Responses suggested that pupils were engaged as they not only gave an answer, but also explained their reasoning,
This presented valuable opportunity for teacher to understand and clarify the misconceptions of individual pupil.

Blog example 7:

Teacher posted a trigger question at the start of a topic, asking pupils what they think they will be learning for 'Linear Law'.
The response helped her to align expections and activate pupils' prior knowledge. Every pupil's comment was 'heard'.
The comments could be referred to after teaching the topic to help them make connections.

Blog example 8:

Teacher used the blog to assess the pupils on their self-paced learning on ellipse and hyperbola.
Reponse posted were mostly 'one word' answers, perhaps due to the nature of the questions asked.

Session 1: Activity 6 - Let's Ponder...

Look at the following blog [you may refer to the hardcopy]

2007 Sec 3 Integrated Mathematics: Standard Deviation

Suggest way(s) to turn this activity into an interactive one

Session 1: Getting Ready for Class Implementation

We are going to create a short activity that can be implemented with a class in the next 2 weeks.

Upon completion, please drop us an email indicating (by next Monday, 4 February)

Your Name & School
URL of the Blog
Maths Topic(s)
Level & Stream of class (eg. Sec 3 Normal Academic)
How you intend to use the blog for the learning activity

Session 1: Closure

We would like to hear from you...

3 things that really interest you...
2 things you would like to know more...
1 good idea from today...

and any other comments you have...

Session 1: What's Next...

Classroom implementation (in the next 2 weeks) - sharing in 2nd session.
Reading: Literature Review on Weblogs in Education

Anytime between the 1st & 2nd session, you also 'pen' down any implementation concerns/issues you would like to bring up for discussion in the next session.

Session 2: Outline

Blogs in Maths Classrooms (II): Sharing implementation experiences and more examples
Experiencing Learning Activities with Blogs (II)
Managing Activities in Blogs
Implementation Issues/Concerns

Session 2: Blogs in Maths Classrooms (II)

Example 1: SP8-16 (2006) Math Blog
Example 2: Discovering Prince of Calculand
Example 3: Measure it! Maths Trail comes alive with Blogs and Camera Phones
Blogs by Our Participants (scroll-down...)

Session 2: Potential of Blogs

Source:
Literature Review: Weblogs in Education (refer to Handouts in Session 1)

Session 2: Activity 7 - Participating in Group Blogs

Before session 2, you would have received an email inviting you to be the co-author of the blog.

What you have to do...

Login to your email account that you used to register for the blog.
You should find one email invitation by ETD Maths Team
Accept the invitation by clicking at the hyperlink in the email.
Login to your blog account, as usual. You will notice the blog also appears in your dashboard.

While you attempt the activity...

Look out for what you can and cannot do as a co-author.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Activity 7a: Statistics
Co-authors: Ms Farahdian Bte Abdul Aziz; Ms Rashima Binte Sidik; Rajendram s/o Chelliah M; Mdm Seet Soo Huay; Ms Tang Pui Lin; Mdm Tan Ee Ling Sharon; Koh Beng Chuan; Ms Lau Hui Bian; Mdm Peck Leong Chin
Click HERE to view blog

Activity 7b: Probability
Co-authors: Hamdan Bin Selamat; Mdm Tan Mei Yen Elaine; Ms Tan Sek Jiau; Teng Chai Chew; Ms Norayu Omar Latiff; Abdul Malek B Osman; Mrs Loke-Tan Guek Huang; Ms Lim In Siew
Click HERE to view blog

Activity 7c: Algebra - Which is larger in magnitude?
Co-authors: Ms Lee Yilian; Mdm Wong Siew Yin; Yeong Whye Leong; Ms Chum Zhi Zhen; Mdm Ong Lee Lee; Chong Yen Yong Eric; Sim Poey Teck; Su Ronghua
Click HERE to view blog

Activity 7d: Numbers - Applications of mathematics in practical situations
Co-authors: Ms Ng Hwee Fern; Mdm Hwee Yuet Mei; Lee Yang Hui; Mdm Paik Xin Yi; Mdm Chong Fee Kim; Ang Kong Hock; Mdm Ernie Bte Abdullah; Mdm Tan Li Leng
Click HERE to view blog

Session 2: What CAN/CANNOT be done in GROUP Blogs

I can...

Create a new post
Insert images and video clips within my new post
Enable/Disable the comment feature in my post
Can delete the post that I put up
Invite another person to co-author
Can remove myself from the blog

I cannot...

Delete another person's post
Edit another person's post
Change the layout and general format of the blog
Remove another co-author

Session 2: Implementation Concerns and Issues

During the workshop, participants shared some of the concerns/issues that they encountered when they attempted classroom integration in the past 2 weeks. Some also shared what they anticipate...

Hear more responses in the TEC... in about a week's time... will keep you updated :D