Due week #5

Part 1 - Social bookmarking seems to be a very powerful tool that I can utilize for myself as a professional and for the students in my classroom. I chose diigo for starters to set up an account. I did find it a little challenging because it was the first time I ever creating something like that. I was able to add bookmarks and tags but I don't understand the whole list thing yet. I was comparing the 'list' page to my teachers; what is private and public? As far as its use, I plan on this becoming a powerful communication tool for myself professionally. I can have colleagues visit my diigo account and my students can visit also; which means I can now assign reading assignments on the internet just as we do in class. All this will better prepare my students for learning in the classroom. Here is my link http://www.diigo.com/user/samedu610 - I am not sure which is more important though, the library or the lists. If you go to my list you can click on the 'library' tab and see what I have entered. I will continue to build after I clear some questions up with the teacher.

Part 2 - 5 excel ideas - well I chose to build on what we did in class. I too agree excel is something all students of the 21st century should be comfortable using. I actually worked today with our math coach to create a two part project which is similar to the two we completed in the classroom. See remeber I teach automotive technology at a secondary career and tech school. I have to incorporate academic standards such as math, english, and science into my program; so we have 'coaches.' Anyway, all students take an 'end of program' assesment and the end of their three years and their grades get distinguised as basic, competent, and advanced. The take a written component and a hands-on component. I am going to incorporate the use of excel by taking all their grades and their level of competency and making a two part project. I only have two computers in my theory room so I have a laptop cart signed out for October 3rd. The math coach will help me coordinate this lesson so I am well prepared. It also helps that she is very proficient in Excel. The students will learn the same basic principles of excel as I did and it will also be a chance for them so see where the grades fall into each level of competency so they are more prepared for their senior year. I will provide questions in a worksheet that will get them to sort different data and build different graphs.