My first ever YouTube video

I created this welcome video to add to my MsFernandezMath wiki that I have already started using in my classes at Yavapai County High School.

Screencast of a Trig example

I created this Jing screencast to show my students how to work one of their trigonometry problems. I am using the Bamboo tablet in OneNote and this is new for me. I need lots more practice writing with this pen and using onenote as you will see in this video. But I'm excited about the possibilities of creating short videos for my students (since my classes are open entry, open exit, my students are seldom at the same place in the lessons at the same time so I find myself repeating the same problems one-on-one with them. These screencasts will provide instruction when I'm unavailable or to supplement my one on one time with my students) Very exciting!

My first audio podcast!

In this podcast, I give my students tips on how to do the problems in their Scaling and Proportion module.

Using Photosharing Sites

I am inspired by a classroom Precalculus Wiki that I visited in which students photographed everyday items that had an underlying math structure within them. They then drew and described the underlying math function. One cool math activity that my class could do then is to use a photosharing site to find photographs with underlying math structures in them. Each student could pick a math figure, say a circle, and then create a slide show of photos from the photosharing site that had circles in them. The slideshows could then be posted in the classroom wiki for other students, and parents to view.


I also like the idea of taking photos of students' projects and sharing the photos with parents through a photosharing site. I couldn't believe how easy it was to create the Picasa album with my Puerto Rico photos and then to upload the slideshow to the classroom wiki. I'm very inspired! As part of my students' geometry class, they create three dimensional polyhedra from templates they find online. I could take photos of the polyhedra, create a slideshow and share with parents, staff, and students. I like the fact that parents could comment on their students work as well. It'd be great for them to give their children "attaboys" or "attagirls" through the classroom wiki.

Social Networking Sites

I researched LinkedIn because this is a network that I've heard mentioned but never explored before. This social networking site targets the business community and business professionals from around the world. Its purpose is to provide a way for its users to build and list their business contacts. The site was launched in 2003 and is still in existence. Its competitors are Viadeo and XING, but with more than 75 million users, Linkedin is the most popular business SNS.

I would definitely consider creating an account and using it. I could use my account to follow companies and job postings that they may have. LinkedIn provides statistics about companies that would help me research future jobs. By having an updated profile, employers for whom I may be a potential job candidate would be able to contact me. By building a network of business contacts, business referrals may be initiated. LinkedIn also has groups that I may join such as my undergraduate institution's alumni group.

Building Effective Social Networks

After reading the Steve Hargadon's article, I came away with some ideas to help build a successful network. Foremost, the network must fulfill a need for its participants. A network where my math students could discuss ideas they heard in class, help each other prep for standardized tests, just get to know each other and develop a community would fulfill needs for high school students. Most high school students are familiar with social networking from their Facebook or MySpace experiences. To be able to tie social networking to their math class could engage some students who otherwise might not find the subject motivating. The article emphasized the idea that engagement is the key to a successful network and that early adopters can propel a network. To this end, since my students have probably more experience with social networking than I, it would be good to get their input on what things they would like to see in the network. Being able to foster some leaders in the class who would participate in the network by sharing and posting would also help develop the network. Making sure that I keep to my role as facilitator rather than trying to manage the network will also help. The math network would provide a place where my students could collaborate with each other in a way that may not be available during classtime. Setting boundaries and expectations as to appropriate posting behavior in the network is also an important part of developing a successful network.

Using a Wiki in my classes

Until this class, I had never understood what wikis were. In fact, although I had used Wikipedia, I didn't realize that the page was editable, or that there were discussion pages cataloguing the creation of each page. I am excited about the possibilities that are available in my use of wikis in my high school classroom.