Podcasting in the Classroom

Image from mashable.com

     Math is a difficult subject to teach.  It is also a difficult subject for students to get interested in, since most of the time, they hate it.  Especially by the time they get to high school.  I always thought that it is a better idea to show students how a problem is done, to walk them through the process, than it is to stand up and try to lecture them about a topic.  This is one reason why I never truly considered using a podcast for my future math students.
     However, there are several ways it is possible to use a podcast.  It is a series, and students can subscribe so they automatically receive any new posts that you put online.  This is always a plus.  Maybe if they receive it automatically, they are more likely to look into, than if I tell them to look it up.
     What about for those students who are falling behind or struggling?  How can podcasts help them?  Even as a math teacher, it is possible to find different ways to present a concept.  So as a math teacher, maybe for students struggling you can post a podcast series that will help them to better grasp a certain topic, or even explain a concept in a different way, from a different perspective.
    Then there are students who on average, understand what is going on in the classroom.  They do their homework with some trouble, but are making average grades.  How can a podcast series help them?  Maybe, the reason they are making average grades, is because math is not an interesting subject for them.  Finding a way to make it more interesting may help to boost their motivation.  A podcast series that helps students to dig deeper into a concept in math, or even to see how it applies to their lives, would be one way to accomplish this.
    Lastly, how can we reach those students who are acing their math class?  One way to do this is by presenting a podcast series that will challenge them.  Or maybe just one that will help them to become more interested in math.  Again, seeing how it applies to their lives outside of school.   Even for the smart kids, we need to strive to make math an interesting topic, in the hopes that they will retain their math knowledge, and maybe even study it later.
     Titus 2:7-8 says, "In everything, set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."  (NIV version)  As teachers, it is important to set good examples for our students.  This includes the use of technology in our classroom.  What we do with technology in our classroom, and what we say about it will stick in the students mind.  We want them to use technology as a tool, but not to abuse it.  Using it with integrity is another thing we should focus on.  Again, our classroom example will stick with them.  The kinds of rules we make should encourage them to cite their sources, to stay on sights that are clean, and to be careful with how much time they spend using technology.  Even though we cannot always say how they use technology at home, we can set a good example for them in the classroom.

Internet Games

As a Math Education teacher, it is somewhat hard to find different ways to get students interested in math.  Especially when they have hated math their whole life, because it's hard, and they don't always get it.  No one likes the subject that is difficult, and seems impossible.
As someone learning how to become a Math Education teacher for high school, I have noticed that it seems even harder to find ways to make math interesting.  Even looking online for games, I have seen more games for younger kids where the math is easier and simple than I have for more advanced subjects.  However, here are just a few games I've been able to find, and hopefully it is possible to implement them somehow into the classroom.

1.  http://www.ixl.com/math/geometry/lines-line-segments-and-rays
Ok, ok, ok, I know, this doesn't really have math games per say, more like mini math quizzes.  But did you notice the range of subjects in math it has?  What about the timer and the score that is being kept once you click on a "game"?  These are both useful tools in the classroom.  Set the mini quizzes up, then have the students compete against each other.  Competition is often a good way to get students motivated.

2.  http://hotmath.com/games.html
Here are some actual games you can use in the classroom.  They are for middle school and up, and are a little bit more interesting than the quiz format above.  You can use them for review, or anytime you want to see how well students know graphs.  Even though there is not a large variety of games, find one the students enjoy, and they will ask you to play it over and over again.

3. http://www.mrlsmath.com/20-free-online-math-games-for-students/
As the title suggests, this site offers 20 free online math games.  However, I noticed that not all of them are simply math games, several links lead to other websites with a variety of math games.  This is a good resource to use for when there is a little bit of free time at the end of the day, give this website and let the students explore the different games.  Of course, you will want to make sure that the math games are appropriate if you are going to let the students explore.

4. http://www.mangahigh.com/en_us/games
This site has games that are more animated, and seem less focused on math.  But, they are still definitely good to use, especially in an attempt to help students learn when they do not want to.  By using these games to make it more interactive, maybe students will learn without realizing it, and enjoy it as well.

5.  https://sites.google.com/site/gameonlearning/math-high-school-games
These games are more focused towards the high school level.  I would probably use them more for review, or at the end of class to try to help the students remember what we went over in class that day.

These are just five resources, I'm sure if you look you can find several more.  Though online games can be useful to get students involved, it is still important to not get to caught up with the concept!  Do not let the games teach your students.  These games are a helpful resource to help animate math.  Take some time to explore for yourself, and even play a couple.  But be careful, some can be addicting!!

from hotmath.com

This is an image of one of the math games concerning graphs.

Videos in the Classroom

     Think Well is a channel which has a variety of videos which you can use in the classroom.  These videos range from science to mathematics.  He has 38 videos specifically teaching to Calculus . 
     That Tutor Guy gives good advice, also for Calculus, but especially in referring to memorizing the unit circle.  Besides many tips for memorizing the unit circle, he also has videos from derivatives to limits.
     Your Teacher.com has a math help channel, which not only has upper level math classes, but lower level as well.  It seems to be a good sight mostly because it has many different teachers who are in the videos.
      The Ohio Resource Center has a whole selection of videos on tutorials for high school math.  This website also includes math from subjects such as Algebra to Calculus.
     Finally, this channel, Alleyoop, has different videos for different ways you can use math in the real world.  It also has several videos of different careers in which people use math. 

     In Proverbs 22:6 gives advice on how parents should monitor a child's practices or activities.  It to "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  This verse is giving great advice in how to raise a child, and monitor his or her activities.  As parents, people should raise their children in such a way that is pleasing to God.
     When it comes to technology, this could relate to many different things.  Some of that includes teaching a child to be wise with what information goes inside one's head, because we are told as Christians to think of things that are noble and good (Philippians 4:8).  This would include teaching where to draw the line, and what the internet should and should not be used for.  God has called us to be pure and holy, and one of the ways we can do this is by using the internet wisely.
     As a teacher, it is hard to monitor a classroom full of computers and teenagers.  The teenagers are going to do what they want, unless they feel held accountable.  As a teacher, it would be wise to find a way to hold the students accountable.  Some ways to do that are to have all the computers facing the teacher, so they can easily see what is going on when the students are on the computer.  Another way is to, as teacher, carefully research the websites and videos you want to use in class before hand, so you have an idea of what to expect, and to ensure there is nothing inappropriate on them.

Example of That Tutor Guy:

And for those days when math is too hard to understand, here's a bit of encouragement:

Links to each site mentioned in the above blog:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ThinkwellVids?feature=watch
http://www.youtube.com/user/ThatTutorGuy?feature=watch
http://www.youtube.com/user/yourteachermathhelp?feature=watch
http://www.youtube.com/user/OhioResourceCenter?feature=watch
http://www.youtube.com/user/alleyoop?feature=watch