Geometry in Architecture WebQuest

Here's the link to the WebQuest... https://sites.google.com/site/webquestavo/

My Professional Website

Here's the link to it... https://sites.google.com/site/avoovakimyan/

Classroom Smart Boards?

Smart boards in the classroom are not essential but can really help facilitate learning according to studies. I do not see smart boards as a necessity in the classroom, but students who are kinesthetic, auditory, and visual learners can benefit from them. Students who are kinesthetic learners can move around and get some hands on work done. Those students who are visual and auditory learners are able to see and hear the activities which engages them. It is definitely important to reach all these types of students, but these needs can be met with a mere creative lesson plan. 

If you really think about it, smart boards are just like projectors and have very little difference. From my experiences with: talking to teachers, seeing smart boards being used in the classroom and hearing about the pressure schools put on teachers to use them is totally lame. I do believe that smart boards can be utilized with great lesson plans, but I do not think that it should be used every day. The reason I say that is because those teachers who have a smart board create their lessons to that source of technology only and that completely takes away from the child having a balanced education in regards to the natural world and technological world.

I do think that smart boards are very helpful for shifting your classroom to a more technological one. I think that one good quality that smart boards have is the ability to save all of the work that was completed. This way, teachers can share this information to the class via email or a blog. I think this will allow students to reach the information more easily in case they missed a class or two.

I'm not against smart boards, though I'm not exactly for them either. I would put more time and effort into another source of technology that services my students a little more than projecting/interacting with internet sites. 

QR Codes in Math

20.0 Students know and are able to use angle and side relationships in problems with special right triangles, such as 30°, 60°, and 90° triangles and 45°, 45°, and 90° triangles. 




Students will scan this to read about and takes notes on a 45-45-90 triangle.

Students will scan this to read about and takes notes on a 30-60-90 triangle.

After students have taken copious notes on triangles, they will then complete the next two worksheets...


Worksheet #1:




Worksheet #2:






After students complete the given assignments, they will then work in pairs to create their own QR code which answers the question, "How does the 30-60-90 triangle or the 45-45-90 triangle apply in real life?" Copy and paste the QR code for the teacher to see.

ISTE Standards and My First Year of Teaching Goals

The National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers are important for all new teachers. It is definitely something I will use when I begin my career as a teacher. The following are my goals during my first year of teaching.

1. Technology Operations and Concepts: To uphold my technological skills and knowledge, I will constantly be using technology to hone my skills during my first year of teaching. This will allow me to explore different programs and websites that will help my students understand the content material. I will definitely always be on the search for the latest technological advances in education and do my best to incorporate these current events into classroom discussion whenever applicable or relevant.

2. Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences: I will first identify the technology I have in my classroom and try to add more to the classroom. I would definitely request the latest equipment the school has so I can be up-to-date with the newest gadgets and teach myself how to use them.

3. Teaching, Learning and the Curriculum: To facilitate learning and expand student's horizons, I hope to involve real-life scenarios into my lessons. By doing so, I will ask the students to use the internet to research anything that would have a connection to the lesson of the day. This would allow my students to tap into their "higher level skills" in a technological environment.

4. Assessment and Evaluation: By using a database, I can track my student's needs and find out more about them. I know that by collecting information in the beginning of the year will allow me to become more aware of data and help me improve student success.

5. Productivity and Professional Practice: The development of lifelong learning is important for all students and by incorporating Power Point presentations or cellphone activities could really engage students to learning about the material. They can take on this information to the next course and use these mediums as ways to present their materials in an "out of the box" way.

6. Social, Ethical, and Legal Issues: I will definitely pull out articles that relate to social, ethical, and legal issues from online sources and present them in class as supplemental material for students. Also I might even pull up Twitter as a way to present current trending debates on these topics. This is important as students will use these social networking sites to explore these ideas and come up with new ones.

These goals should help me open myself to technology and ultimately help my students relate to our technological world.

Student Survey

This is a student survey I made. Any teachers can use it in their classroom to get to know their students a little more.

What will the Classroom I Teach Look like in 10 Years?

My classroom will look like this in 10 years...

Haha! Ok maybe not so many computers. Maybe this classroom?...

Nah! I would have to say that I would have a classroom somewhere in-between. A class that is not as boring as the second picture, but a class that isn't so technology-based as the first picture. I think a classroom with some technology would be the perfect fit for me. 

I think transitioning students from the "olden day" classroom to the new technologically savvy one is critical for the current generation. Incorporating twitter, youtube, e-books, online quizzes, cell phones, and power points are tools which I will definitely have in the classroom, but will be used when needed. I don't think using all of these tools should be used everyday because students still need some of the "old-fashioned" ways of learning to ground material. 

My classroom will pretty much be a typical classroom you see today. A classroom with poster boards, examples, projects and motivating quotes. It will also entail a smart board, projector, computer and laptop. These are the necessities that I would hope to have in a classroom.

I don't want my students wired in 24/7...

They're still kids and need to experience life that isn't so... virtual. 

Social Media in the Classroom?

How would social media fit into the classroom? I know many people who would say "that would distract the kids," or "there is no benefit for the students." Both of these statements are false and social media can work in the classroom. The true question is, which social media outlets would best suit the classroom? And the answer to that question is different depending on the content area to the needs of the student.

So for those who say that social media would "distract kids," I say that it would distract them... from not wanting to do work. If anything, social media would engage students in wanting to learn more. And to those who say "there is no benefit for students," I have provided examples below on how social media could work in the classroom.

Art/Photography: students can easily post up their digital work on Instagram to show off their work to peers and possible future clients. They can view other's photographs/artwork and get ideas on upcoming assignments. Students can comment on other student work and provide positive feedback to each other.

History: students can create a Facebook page relating to historical events they are learning. Students can role-play by posting status updates in a timeline of events that occurred during a specific era. Students can also have discussions relating to the material. This can allow the teacher to assess students understanding of historical events.

Science: teachers can use Youtube in the classroom to show different models/structures in biology and chemistry. Students will get a better understanding through the visuals and audio from videos on this social network.

English/Government/Journalism: students can set up a Twitter account and follow news sources. This should give students story ideas and allow them to follow up with local stories for their school newspaper. English/government students can express themselves on current controversial topics and post their ideas about important topics.

There a hundreds of other social media sites teachers can use. Its just the matter of how creative you can be with them. I've actually redefined what social media is for me... a platform for a learning network.

A Phone's Cell

Cell phones did not exist before the year 1973. Today, it has changed how businesses, people and entities operate. It is the medium through which people can express facts, thoughts, and feelings. I think that it is an integral part of society and teachers should embrace them in the classroom.

It may seem silly that teachers are using cell phones in the classroom, but it is actually quite innovative and progressive in education today. Encouraging the use of these devices for the young ones could lead to many advantages…

An important advantage of a cell phone keeps the students connected. They can interchange numbers and help each other stay on track of assignments. The classroom will truly be a support system of learning for all students.

I have recently worked on a cell phone project in my computers in education class and it went well. Because we were all unable to meet together, we all had to complete our part of the project separately but connect it at the end in a powerpoint. The assignment was basically to take pictures with a cell phone of things that would represent a fairy tale. The pictures would then have to be used in class to help tell the fairytale story. I found the project to be interesting and very effective. The cell phone project definitely got me to think about different ways I can represent the plot. This brought out my creative side and I really enjoyed having to hunt for the images that I needed for the assignment.

I think collaboration is a key part of learning new ideas especially for those in K-12. In my project, I did not see any flaws in collaborating with others using my cell phone. I was able to complete the work on my own time while others were able to finish it on their time. I think giving students this option will not only encourage them to do this assignment, but will probably get better quality presentations.

Shift Happens

The "Shift Happens" video was very insightful and inspiring. I come from the technological generation where gadgets and gizmos rule the world and understand the role it plays in children's lives.

I truly believe the teachers who are aware of technology and embrace these new ideas will make better connections with their students. Creating connections will ultimately allow for students to grasp concepts and understand information on a higher level of thinking.

The information and knowledge that is circulated through media sources and the Internet are skills that the new generation will possess, and challenging our student's through these sources will definitely engage them. Not only will students be able to see trending debates on topics of the world, but will begin to establish their own thoughts and pave way for more ideas. Young ones can voice their thoughts and makes them feel like their opinions count.

Convergence makes people think about issues socially, economically, historically, politically and a bunch of other ways that end in "-ally." Society should enjoy this phenomenon because questioning it is just a waste a time. You never know, tomorrow something new may come up and you would have missed it all... so catch up while you can.

My Promise

I promise my future students that I will incorporate technology into my classes.