Well here we are again. After another week, I have been considering what to do and have come up short. Many things I have done include a grant request on Donors Choose. I was just funded in another so hopefully, there will be a chance at getting the projector I need for implementation of my plan.
In another move, I have asked for a large screen TV to be used in either form, as a monitor or TV. They seemed open to the idea up to a nineteen inch model. The delay started when I mentioned possibly needing a larger one for my students to also be able to see from a further distance.
So far, I have not come up with any new questions. I am sure in time to come I will though. One that still concerns me is how do I reach the masses of students? It seems from recent study that working toward the perimeter students allows for me to catch the mass of the students in the middle.
All this would be a lot simpler if I could only know what subject or grade level I was teaching this coming year. It is only two weeks away and I still do not know.
Well, I welcome your suggestions and critiques. Please let me know if I am forgetting or missing something. Perhaps it is so simple that i would never see it when it is going to otherwise slap me in the face.
Another thing I am working on is my aquisition of a Classroom Response System (CRS). With these tools, I would be able to keep accurate and current data on what students know and what they do not. The system I am looking at is not one of the most advanced ones in the market, but it will allow me to track who is answering, what they are saying and respond to any needs that come up from this data. Price may be a factor as well. I am looking into outside funding to purchase such a system. Most CRS systems are a bit pricey for outright purchase, but perhaps I can receive either a matching or grant to further the exposure of my students to technology.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteI understand how frustrating that it can be not knowing what grade level you will be teaching or what equipment that you will have...I have been there.
I have a Promethean board and projector in my room. The boards are about as expensive as a T.V. so I would look into a board instead of a T.V. I can do everything and more with the board as with a T.V. I think that you will get more out of a interactive board then a plain T.V.
Also I noticed that you were looking at "clickers" or classroom response systems. I would spend the extra money and get the system that let the students text in. You will get a better understanding of your students and the students love them.
You can check all this out with a search or go to Promethean planet.com
Thank yo for the suggestion. Perhaps I should consider the more advanced unit. If I do, I will have to look into building the collection over a couple years. Perhaps a dozen each year of the CRS. I have avoid the Promethean system because I do know that they are one of the pricier sets.
ReplyDeleteSMART is a bit more cost effective and we have a couple in my school already. I am just not sure. One of the reasons why I was not leaning toward the interactive white board is that it would also be used as my main monitor. It would be considered a modification for myself as a low-vision modification. The TV/Monitor would be sufficient, however, the board would be a bit harder to sell to the Americans with Disabilities Association.
Any ideas?