Online Learning Experiences

Our middle school math department will be implementing, for the first time, a web-based, artificial intelligent assessment and learning system call ALEKS (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces). On one hand, I am very excited about this technology and the possibilities it has. On the other hand, these are still kids and that is a lot to expect from ten to fourteen year olds. I have struggled this summer to grasp just exactly what my class flow is going to look like. I think I have come up with a way to still have face-to-face instruction throughout the year. I still feel it is so important for students. I plan to provide whole group and small group instruction as well as one-to-one sessions when needed. I also realize, they probably would not like to look at the same program everyday all year long. So I have to mix it up a little.

Looking through the Guidelines for Online Learning, I see ways to incorporate more online experiences for my students. I plan to incorporate WebQuests into my classroom next year to provide students with an opportunity to explore math in another web-based environment. It also allows for a lot of creativity and game play. There are many math WebQuests already available online, but making my own would be a great personal resource. I have even thought about having the students make their own WebQuests with a partner to encourage collaboration within my students.

I would also like to incorporate online simulations into my classroom. I have found two math simulations already that provide rich math content for middle school students in a game format. They cover things from elementary geometry to cost analysis and problem solving skills. However, the two I have found probably would not keep the attention of my eighth graders even though I see how much those skills are needed. I will continue my search.

One aspect of an online learning experience that I think would be difficult to incorporate into my classroom would have to be: interactive discussions between students. I realize the importance of collaboration and group work, but find with limited time, it is so much easier to just pair them with someone already in their class. Then I can give them time to work with their groups or partners in class. I can also monitor their work along the way.

I realize I could provide them with the tools and instruction to complete these projects on their own time, but would they really complete the tasks? I bet they would surprise me, and it would probably save me class time in the long run. It is something that I will have to think about more and possibly incorporate towards the end of the year.