PLNs RULE!

I believe Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) are a way for people to take control of their own learning. It is a great way to connect with other learners around the world. PLNs are like having professional development at our finger tips at anytime of the day without the boring speakers and the silly power points. PLNs let educators be connected with very influential people which only broadens knowledge and makes us eager to keep learning.

We also need to teach our students how to effectively use PLNs so they can become in control of their own learning. Through PLNs, students can learn about anything they are interested in and take learning outside the classroom. For the 21st century, we need to teach our students to become life long learners. Since students are constantly using technology with facebook and twitter, what better way to teach them that through technology.

The blog, The Innovative Educator, gives give great tips on how to begin a PLN. Not only suggesting educators read blogs about what they desire to learn, but it is also important that educators become engaged in the conversations within their PLNs.

Overall, I think PLNs are great. I love to learn, and with PLNs I have access to the knowledge I want right at my finger tips. I am going to start off small by following 3-5 blogs on math education and while engaged in my PLNs I will be sure to comment as well.

http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2008/04/5-things-you-can-do-to-begin-developing.html
http://willrichardson.com/

Math Blogs?!?

      OK, so I love the idea of blogging in the classroom, but I have always been asking myself, how can I use blogs in a math classroom? We do not write papers, or write down our thoughts in math class, but after some searching of other math classroom blogs, I think I have found some really good ideas. Looking at the other blogs, a lot of them were to share classroom ideas with other teachers. I got so many new ideas. Also, another blog is used to communicate with students. The teacher posts assignments and videos. Just recently the teacher posted an assignment, pay it forward. Students are required to post their act of kindness with pictures or photos and then fill out a questionnaire about their pay it forward experience. Students then comment on other experiences. This has nothing to do with math, but it can be done easily through a blog. It is probably more meaningful than any math problem. 

     Blogs are a great way to share students projects. On one of the blog, students shared their comic strips showing how to graph an equation. This is extremely creative! I know students will love this. 

     Another idea that I really liked, was a review slide show using google presentation. Each set of partners chose a standard/bench mark and made a math problem relating to it using google presentation. The teacher posted the final product to the blog. It was so neat! 

Seeing the other math blogs, make me feel hopeful, I guess. I can go the extra mile and bring out the creativity in my students in their math class.
Here are the other blogs:
http://sargentparkmathzone.blogspot.com/
http://croitz.blogspot.com/