Comments for Ed Tech 4 Math http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com Education Technology & Software For Teaching Math Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:20:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on Engaging your children – there has to be a better way than just watching movies. by Rebecca Green http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/2009/01/10/engaging-your-children-%e2%80%93-there-has-to-be-a-better-way-than-just-watching-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Rebecca Green Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:20:43 +0000 http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/?p=513#comment-17 A universal remote???? I don't understand this article whatsoever. I'm not a kid person, but could come up with about 50 better ideas than what they published in that article. Being a part of the film/television community myself, I'd like to apologize on behalf of whatever silly person decided this would be a good spot for the Today Show. That being said, how exciting to hear from Amy!!! Many parents aren't aware of the films out there that are great for children and not one of the big cartoon blockbusters like Wall-E, in is not a kid's movie at all (at least in my opinion). Amy, Mad Hot Ballroom was such a beautiful film and I applaud you for breaking through the the film distribution barriers and not only making a movie that matters, but one that many, many people saw. It is the kind of movie that reminds me why I work in the film business. And thank you for posting on my sister's site! She works very hard atbringing alternative education to kids and I'm glad her students have benefitted from seeing your movie. A universal remote???? I don’t understand this article whatsoever. I’m not a kid person, but could come up with about 50 better ideas than what they published in that article. Being a part of the film/television community myself, I’d like to apologize on behalf of whatever silly person decided this would be a good spot for the Today Show.

That being said, how exciting to hear from Amy!!! Many parents aren’t aware of the films out there that are great for children and not one of the big cartoon blockbusters like Wall-E, in is not a kid’s movie at all (at least in my opinion).

Amy, Mad Hot Ballroom was such a beautiful film and I applaud you for breaking through the the film distribution barriers and not only making a movie that matters, but one that many, many people saw. It is the kind of movie that reminds me why I work in the film business.

And thank you for posting on my sister’s site! She works very hard atbringing alternative education to kids and I’m glad her students have benefitted from seeing your movie.

]]> Comment on Engaging your children – there has to be a better way than just watching movies. by Elizabeth Redmond http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/2009/01/10/engaging-your-children-%e2%80%93-there-has-to-be-a-better-way-than-just-watching-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Elizabeth Redmond Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:44:53 +0000 http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/?p=513#comment-16 A brief follow-up to Saturday’s post….. I was at my mom’s house this weekend, and took a look in the Goodhousekeeping issue (January 2009) to read the full feature titled “Beat Cabin Fever. Our stuck-inside guide to having fun at home.” The article actually had 6 recommendations.......and when I read through them, I remembered the 5th recommendation that was on the Today Show – get a universal remote. I must have been so flustered about what I was listening to on the television that I forgot this “solution.” I was hoping to read some better text about using these new gadgets, but again, I was dismayed. Basically, it was just an advertisement for the products. And that is unfortunate. Both the Today Show and Goodhousekeeping magazine speak to a lot of people. They should have put a little more thought into what they were promoting and think about the opportunities that were available (as I wrote of) in using the products in meaningful activities as a family. Oh, the 6th recommendation was to purchase a carpet stain remover and clean your house. Which can be a good thing…..and you can either listen to music on your new iPod docking station or watch a movie while cleaning! A brief follow-up to Saturday’s post…..

I was at my mom’s house this weekend, and took a look in the Goodhousekeeping issue (January 2009) to read the full feature titled “Beat Cabin Fever. Our stuck-inside guide to having fun at home.” The article actually had 6 recommendations…….and when I read through them, I remembered the 5th recommendation that was on the Today Show – get a universal remote. I must have been so flustered about what I was listening to on the television that I forgot this “solution.”

I was hoping to read some better text about using these new gadgets, but again, I was dismayed.

Basically, it was just an advertisement for the products.

And that is unfortunate. Both the Today Show and Goodhousekeeping magazine speak to a lot of people. They should have put a little more thought into what they were promoting and think about the opportunities that were available (as I wrote of) in using the products in meaningful activities as a family.

Oh, the 6th recommendation was to purchase a carpet stain remover and clean your house. Which can be a good thing…..and you can either listen to music on your new iPod docking station or watch a movie while cleaning!

]]> Comment on Engaging your children – there has to be a better way than just watching movies. by Elizabeth Redmond http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/2009/01/10/engaging-your-children-%e2%80%93-there-has-to-be-a-better-way-than-just-watching-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Elizabeth Redmond Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:09:49 +0000 http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/?p=513#comment-15 Everyone in my family loves the movie! My sister, Rebecca Green (who works in the film industry) told us about all 3 movies that I mentioned in my post! I'm looking forward to your next film! Thanks for inspiring our children! -Elizabeth Everyone in my family loves the movie! My sister, Rebecca Green (who works in the film industry) told us about all 3 movies that I mentioned in my post!

I’m looking forward to your next film! Thanks for inspiring our children!

-Elizabeth

]]> Comment on Engaging your children – there has to be a better way than just watching movies. by Amy Sewell http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/2009/01/10/engaging-your-children-%e2%80%93-there-has-to-be-a-better-way-than-just-watching-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Amy Sewell Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:08:26 +0000 http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/?p=513#comment-12 Hi! Thanks for recommending Mad Hot Ballroom! I'm the filmmaker. I'm always touched that the movie still resonates with so many (and is all-age appropriate) now four years after making it! I have 11-year-old twin girls and I find your tips for keeping kids engaged very helpful The trash movies that are out make me crazy! We all read together a lot. I also want to mention that I have a new age-appropriate documentary that is out -- being release now over Amazon.com VOD. It's called WHAT'S YOUR POINT, HONEY? and it is an entertaining, yet subtly educating movie about seven young women who want to run for president in the year 2024. You can view the trailer on our website (www.whatsyourpointhoney.com) or on YouTube or on Amazon.com/VOD. All ages love it -- once again and we are very proud to have made it. There is a Viewers Guide too (you will be able to download it for free soon off the website) to start a discussion. Boys like the movie too. Anyway, thanks for your tips on kid engagement and thanks for telling everyone about Mad Hot Ballroom. And yes, AZ is a beautiful state as I sit freezing at the keyboard in NYC! Amy Hi! Thanks for recommending Mad Hot Ballroom! I’m the filmmaker. I’m always touched that the movie still resonates with so many (and is all-age appropriate) now four years after making it!

I have 11-year-old twin girls and I find your tips for keeping kids engaged very helpful The trash movies that are out make me crazy! We all read together a lot.

I also want to mention that I have a new age-appropriate documentary that is out — being release now over Amazon.com VOD. It’s called WHAT’S YOUR POINT, HONEY? and it is an entertaining, yet subtly educating movie about seven young women who want to run for president in the year 2024.

You can view the trailer on our website (www.whatsyourpointhoney.com) or on YouTube or on Amazon.com/VOD. All ages love it — once again and we are very proud to have made it. There is a Viewers Guide too (you will be able to download it for free soon off the website) to start a discussion.

Boys like the movie too.

Anyway, thanks for your tips on kid engagement and thanks for telling everyone about Mad Hot Ballroom.

And yes, AZ is a beautiful state as I sit freezing at the keyboard in NYC!

Amy

]]> Comment on Teaching Ordered Pairs Using Technology by Elizabeth Redmond http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/2008/09/20/efficient-ways-to-teach-ordered-pairs-using-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Elizabeth Redmond Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:48:14 +0000 http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/?p=253#comment-4 NA: As Pete Seeger sang, "To everything ... there is season ... and a time for every purpose under heaven." As so is true with calculators. As a math educator, one of the decisions we have to make is how and when to use technology in our lessons. Calculators (and other technology) enhance and speed up the learning experience. They can eliminate the time spent on long and sometimes complicated series of computations and allow students to focus on the problem solving. Here two articles that explore this topic further: http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/nonProductSingle/research_therole.html http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080819160203.htm The article from Science Daily discusses current research about the importance of children needing to learn how to calculate answers on thier own, but that the calculator is also a good tool for the basic facts. My friend and colleague, Rusen Meylani, made a post today on the use of calculators in the classroom.....you might consider reading his thoughts too! Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for us teachers to know when exactly to employ the use of a calculator. We need to consider the lesson or task we put before our students and ask ourselves what role the calculator would play. Best of luck in your studies! Hope to see you back on the blog soon! -Elizabeth NA:

As Pete Seeger sang, “To everything … there is season … and a time for every purpose under heaven.” As so is true with calculators. As a math educator, one of the decisions we have to make is how and when to use technology in our lessons.

Calculators (and other technology) enhance and speed up the learning experience. They can eliminate the time spent on long and sometimes complicated series of computations and allow students to focus on the problem solving.

Here two articles that explore this topic further:
http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/nonProductSingle/research_therole.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080819160203.htm

The article from Science Daily discusses current research about the importance of children needing to learn how to calculate answers on thier own, but that the calculator is also a good tool for the basic facts.

My friend and colleague, Rusen Meylani, made a post today on the use of calculators in the classroom…..you might consider reading his thoughts too!

Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for us teachers to know when exactly to employ the use of a calculator. We need to consider the lesson or task we put before our students and ask ourselves what role the calculator would play.

Best of luck in your studies! Hope to see you back on the blog soon!
-Elizabeth

]]> Comment on Teaching Ordered Pairs Using Technology by Ruth Green http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/2008/09/20/efficient-ways-to-teach-ordered-pairs-using-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Ruth Green Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:30:34 +0000 http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/?p=253#comment-3 Catch the Fly was very easy to use. I imagine that students would much rather be graphing on-line as opposed to on paper. However, the stress of the time limits on Locate the Aliens was very intimidating! The boxes should be identified as x and y for better understanding. Also, I would like to see an icon to click your answer as opposed to press enter. Again, much more fun than identifying coordinates of a point on paper! Catch the Fly was very easy to use. I imagine that students would much rather be graphing on-line as opposed to on paper. However, the stress of the time limits on Locate the Aliens was very intimidating! The boxes should be identified as x and y for better understanding. Also, I would like to see an icon to click your answer as opposed to press enter. Again, much more fun than identifying coordinates of a point on paper!

]]> Comment on Teaching Ordered Pairs Using Technology by NA http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/2008/09/20/efficient-ways-to-teach-ordered-pairs-using-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-2 NA Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:59:36 +0000 http://www.ed-tech-4-math.com/?p=253#comment-2 I am currently studying for my teaching license and MAT to teach secondary mathematic. I have been substituting in various grade levels for several years and have noticed quite a dependency on calculators. While I completely agree with incorporating the use of technology in the classroom as much as possible for many reasons, I feel it is essential that the students still know and understand how to do the basics by hand and in their head. This would include being able to draw a quick graph for reference on a piece of paper with a pencil, and this does take practice. How do teachers know when to allow the use of calculators on a regular basis and how do you suggest a teacher make sure the students know the basics before depending on the calculator? Thanks for any suggestions! I am currently studying for my teaching license and MAT to teach secondary mathematic. I have been substituting in various grade levels for several years and have noticed quite a dependency on calculators. While I completely agree with incorporating the use of technology in the classroom as much as possible for many reasons, I feel it is essential that the students still know and understand how to do the basics by hand and in their head. This would include being able to draw a quick graph for reference on a piece of paper with a pencil, and this does take practice. How do teachers know when to allow the use of calculators on a regular basis and how do you suggest a teacher make sure the students know the basics before depending on the calculator?
Thanks for any suggestions!

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