Thursday, May 10, 2018

More from the CLIME Meeting

Neil speaking at an Ignite session
Neil Cooperman, long time CLIME member and supporter, offered these comments at our recent CLIME get-together in Washington, DC. The question on the floor was:

What are effective ways to use technology?

Neil says:
"A lot of people using technology are using it as a subsititute for what they did before. They are not using the SAMR model. They are not using technology to really change how learning and teaching happen."
According to Kathy Schrock the SAMR (substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition) is a model designed to help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning. Popularized by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, the  model supports and enables teachers to design, develop, and infuse digital learning experiences into their curriculums. The goal is to transform student's learning experiences so they result in higher levels of achievement.

The key word of course is transform. How do we know if students learning has been transformed? What usually comes to mind is test scores. But there are other more informal and powerful ways. These include:

  • Jo Boaler's Mathematical Mindsets describes how students perception of mathematics can be changed by providing students with practical strategies and activities. This can help teachers and parents show all children, even those who are convinced that they are bad at math, that they can enjoy and succeed in math.

But both of those are not technology specific. This next one is.

The program Green Globs available from David Kibby absolutely transforms students attitude and skill level with functions. (Neil would definitely concur with me on this choice.)

More technology specific activities in my next blog entry.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Shall CLIME meet a Demise or a Renaissance?

That was the question I pondered as I stood at the entrance to Marquis Salon 14 in the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington DC where the annual CLIME meeting was to happen. My meeting was to start at 7:15pm and it was now 7:30pm. I knew I had steep competition. Who could resist free food, adult beverages, and a T-shirt at the Casio reception next door? I watched as people passed me by to go there. It looked like the ghost of demise was the answer to my question. Well not exactly. I did meet Patricia Dickenson, Associate Professor of Teacher Education at National University, San Diego, CA the day before and she was interested in a leadership role in CLIME that she was just beginning to learn about. She cheered me up and I was encouraged. Eventually, a group of friends (that's what I call members and members-to-be of CLIME) showed up and a lively session ensued. Before the session ended one of the participants John Stevens an instructional math and technology coach at Chaffey Joint Union High School District in Ontario, CA said he was interested in working with us to lead CLIME into that Renaissance I was dreaming about. So the initial goal is to have and plan for a CLIME event at the San Diego meeting in 2019. Are you also interested in helping out? Here are some ways you can do that:

1. Send in a proposal to speak at the NCTM annual meeting on a technology theme in San Diego next April. Link. The deadline is May 15th. If you succeed let CLIME know (ihor@clime.org) so we can promote your session.

2. If you are speaking at one of the regional conferences this year, let me know so I can promote your presentation as well.

3. CLIME's mission is to is to empower math communities to transform the teaching and learning of math through the use of dynamic tools in our Web 2.0 world. If you believe strongly that CLIME should exist to continue to lobby NCTM to promote the effective use of technology in math education, then membership is for you! Membership in CLIME is free. Just send me an email that you support our effort.

Previous Posts

NCTM Annual Meeting & Technology (A Closer Look - Part 1)
NCTM Annual Meeting & Technology (A Closer Look - Part 2)
NCTM Annual Meeting & Technology (A Closer Look - Part 3)
CLIME Renaissance 2018?