reflections

Instructional Goals and Learning objectives using the Mobile Lab
The mobile lab has been a huge asset in both my Physics and Astronomy classes. In physics I use the lab to accomplish lab objective with my students. Before we had to share old slow computers that required a lot of maintance before each use to ensure they would work. Now students can do labs faster, with better results and I can even to individual virtual labs! It is so great.

In astronomy i use the computer lab for a variety of projects. We do comic life posters, digital videos of astronomers, presentations on planets, research, and a I use a free star gazing programs "stellarium" with them to give them the night observations we can't do in day time class. My students love it, and enjoy comming!!

Reflection on the Student Response System
I was sceptical about how useful this would be. I think because I didn't want to bother with setting it all up and making sure it works. I must say I was pleasantly surprised and love to use the Clickers. My students love it to and it forces them all to answer questions!! Then they immediately can see if they were right or wrong without the whole class knowing. It is safe for them and they enjoy it.

I also use them as an evaluation tool (peer review) for projects and presentations. I simply post the rubric have have students grade others. I print of the results so they get my evaluation, thier peer's evaluation, and thier own. It has been fabulous and fast once I got it all set up.

Reflection on the use of the Document Camera
The document camera has come in handy a few times. I don't use it a lot because I have to set it up each time and usually forget I have that option. With my computer hooked up to the projecter it is often faster to pull up a file that way. I have used it to show answer keys though, and that was nice.

Reflection on my future plans for my Engaged classroom in the following years.
This has been an incredible year for me. I have been so busy with this technology stuff that at times I felt overwhelmed by it. However, as I am finishing the year I have figured out for the most part what is useful for me and my classroom goals and what is not. I have tried some things that worked really well that I will continue using, made modifications that hopefully will work better in the future and fallen flat on my face with other ideas. Isn't that teaching? I love being able to apply technology to so many learning goals. My students seem to be more involved and enjoy those projects. My classroom is online now, which is something I have wanted since my first day at work. With what I have learned it is now so easy for me to do, and my students like it too. Just today I had a student ask me to update a file online because he is going there. I was so excited to hear that! Hopefully my web page will just continue to grow in usefulness to students, and they will be able to go there for homework help. I also plan to use the clickers more to get quick evaluations of my students. It is a great way to do a starter. I am in the process of writing quick quizzes to check understanding. I want to continue to make my assignments meaningful and with the new avenues I have to teach with I am already re-writing lessons and doing new things to try and improve student learning. In fact right now I am in the middle of developing a new nuclear physics unit based on the web rather than showing the fusion video that I have in the past year (let’s be honest, it may show the concepts but it is a little dry) Thanks for this opportunity!! I feel I now can make great strides in the way I approach student learning. It has made me a better teacher by changing the tools I have to teach with. 