Nearing the finish line...

(well for this class anyway...)

Week 6 of Fall 2 classes wrapped up today. Week 8 is in sight, which means I really need to be working on my time management. Statistics has a big project due at the end of the class, and while there are intermediate deadlines along the way, it is easy to put it off until the end of each week. I don't want to let myself get behind.

Now that I am back to taking one class at a time, I've find myself getting a little lazy. Time management is really important for online classes, and when I was so busy, I was better at watching that everything got done ahead of time- now it's more like "right on time".

In addition to the large research project, we also have problem sets that carry across multiple weeks- yet another thing to procrastinate on! As Christmas gets closer and my schedule gets busier, I don't have the time to put things off (like this blog, usually I post earlier in the week!)

Does anyone have time management tips? I tend to use lists, and they work for me, but what isn't working right now is motivation. I have 2 sessions left, so I guess this is kind of what it feels like when you hit senior year in high school or undergrad. Just ready to be finished! It is really amazing how fast the program has gone- I did double up on some terms, but my Master's will be finished in well under 2 years!

I don't think I'm nearly as close to the real finish line as I'd like to think!

Ready for Spring!

Registration for the spring term took place earlier this month, and I am all set with the classes I am taking for the two spring sessions. I went to a very large university for my undergrad, and registering for classes was a huge pain. I have memories of sitting with six different telephones, hitting redial until one finally connected (and then when we went to web registration, the system was always busy!) It is amazing that I can just log into a system (on the first try), select the classes I want, know they'll have openings, and be done. It's so easy! I get a weird sense of accomplishment just having the classes registered for. They are ticked off my graduation plan, so now I can see the finish line in site! Problem is, I still have to take them (and then the summer term.)

We are at the half-way mark for the Statistics class, and it is going well. This is definitely the most difficult class for me so far, in that the curriculum isn't really familiar. Luckily, the instructors is the most involved one I've had so far. She emails the class regularly, and posts on the discussion board quite a bit. Some of the instructors are very hands off, so for a difficult class, I'm glad I got one who is hands on!


Wishing everyone a very happy Thanksgiving! I'll probably be working on statistics- we got a note to warn us it was a content heavy week...and to plan our time accordingly if we were planning on taking some days off. I'll admit I'm a little surprise a break isn't figured into the schedule.

Session 2...

Last week Fall Session 2 began. This session I am taking Statistics, more on that in a minute.

I am really happy to be back to taking just one class at a time. For one, taking two classes at a time, while also working full time and keeping a full schedule of after-work activities was kind of taking a toll on me. I felt really worn down. But also, session 2 is a good time for an easier course load. Between all the terms (winter-summer-fall) there is a bit of a break. Between the sessions, you don't get a break. The first session ends on Friday, and the new session starts on Monday. But, most of the time instructors take work through Sunday, so I don't finish up until Saturday afternoon, and if you wait until Monday to start your new course (which I usually don't, but did this time) you will find most of your classmates have already started working and feel behind.

The good news is it looks like Statistics is going to be a great class. It is set up to be very collaborative. Right now, we have two defined work groups. For one, the class is divided into 3 groups of about 5, and we do all our main discussions in these groups. This makes it more manageable then other classes where the discussions were going on among everyone. We are encouraged to "peak" into the other discussion boards, but I think conversation is easier knowing the five people we are mainly working with.

The second group is a private group- we can't see anyone else in the class. My group has two other people in it. This is set up as a sounding board for our final project. The final project is a statistical study, and is causing me a lot of stress. It seems like many people are planning to do a study with their students. I am not a teacher, so I don't have an easy group of 30+ people (we learned that it isn't recommended to do a study of less than 30 observational units). I am trying to come up with a study about inanimate objects, but I am having a hard time making it meaningful. For example, right now we are working with counting the number of raisins in a small box. It is an easy thing to collect data on, and models the process of collecting and interpreting data well, but it isn't very meaningful. I'm hoping inspiration will strike me soon!

Bittersweet

There is so much emotion and exhaustion in this final blog of mine for Website Design 6009. I have pushed myself really hard in this class to learn as much as I could in a very short eight weeks. I say very short, because this easily could have been a six month class, in my opinion. There was so much to learn and do. I am definitely the type of student that needs lots of practice to really assimilate the information I am learning. This class provided plenty of that! I was enlightened to a whole new world with even more acronyms that I still am confused with. I learned a lot and I am so greatly impressed by the work of my classmates. I look at their work and wonder how I compare. Just when I thought I was getting the hang of things, I see what others have done and I am impressed and at the same time depressed. I know I will never do web design full time, but I at least know a few basics. I don't know if I could get a site up and going all by myself, but maybe Bill would love another email from me! I was the student that was constantly sending emails; asking questions, and asking for help. Bill is probably greatly relieved that this class is over and my emails will finally end.
There is another ending here for me. I have just completed my Master's program at Lesley. I will greatly miss the constant communication with teachers and classmates. I will have some free time on my hands and probably not know what to do with it. I have greatly enjoyed every moment of being a graduate student. I am so glad I did this program. Today, I am physically exhausted from the long hours put into this class, emotional about the end, proud of my accomplishment, and excited to use my new skills and education. It is so bittersweet.

Expected Value

The topic this week in Probability was Expected Value. Unlike many of the topics, which I have been exposed to before, this one was completely new to me.

It is such a useful idea! If McDonald's has 5 different Happy Meal toys (do they still do that? Or do unhealthy foods advertising to kids not allow it anymore?), and there is an equally likely chance you will get any one toy, how many should you expect to buy to get them all? The answer is about 12. Now, you may be lucky and get them in just 5 purchases, or you may get unlucky, and have it take many many more than that, but on average (say you and 1,000 of your closest friends are all collecting the toys) it should only take 12 purchases.

One of my favorite things to do at a store is buy a grab bag. If you know 20% of the grab bags are worth $100, and 30% are worth $50, and 50% are worth $10, is it a good idea to pay $25 to choose one at random? Expected value can help you inform your decision. On average, the return of a grab bag is $40, so paying $25 is a reasonable gamble.

Probability classes are generally a lot of coin flipping and dice rolling, so the real life application of expected value was what really made me interested in my topic. On a phone call with my Dad, who works in finance, I mentioned the topic we were covering, and he immediately started talking about how he uses expected value all the time at work. That made me smile, because students always ask about math "when am I going to use this?" It is nice to hear that someone really does!

A unique experience

This class in writing HTML and designing webpages has been a total love/hate relationship. I love what I am learning and get so excited when I see a finished product that does what I want it to. On the other hand, I hate when I think I have it all under control and I look at a preview to see things are not what I wanted. Just adding a "td" or "tr" can totally screw up the works. The hours I have spent with the trial and error approach has my family wondering if this laptop computer is now an appendage! I have a new appreciation for those that can do this for a living. I am sure with a few more thousand hours, I could really get the hang of it. Fortunately, for all those out there I will not be switching careers to designing web pages. I have a friend who just designed her own web page for her business on her Mac with iWeb. I am a little jealous that it looks great and she did not have to be attached to her computer writing code for hours on end. I know that I could have cheated on occasion and used the editor, but I really wanted to understand and have control. I am admittedly a "control freak". I am also determined. I will finish strong and achieve my look. If you get a chance, check it out:
http://ada.lesley.edu/faculty/warrigon/Ecomp6009/wa110107/module5/unique.html . I was told in order to make myself stand out in this job market I needed to show how I am unique. This website is my attempt.

Photoshop

In this class, I am learning how to write html and how to use Photoshop. I must say that this class has me working very hard. I spend so much time in a trial and error mode that I feel like I am taking three classes at once with the amount of time I am putting in! I am still a little confused. You see, once I finally do get the desired look I want, I have spent so much time and various ways trying to do it that I sometimes don't know what I did do right. Do you ever get that way? Maybe I am just over tired and trying to do too much. Any how, I did managed to clone myself into a picture. A small success which I thought I would share. I am definitely a hard worker and I do have endurance, but this class is testing that.

What is the chance a probability instructor will email you back?

In my Probability class we have been working on a difficult conditional probability assignment for two (three?) weeks. The due date for it was extended because so many of us voiced that we were having a tough time with it. The assignment was meant to be a solitary assignment done over just one week, but the instructor felt that since this is an assignment used in the "brick and mortar" classes, we should also have the benefit of discussion. I was really glad for that, because I really struggled with one particular part of the problem.

Because there is just so much to get done trying to work full time and take two classes, I try to stay ahead of the due dates as much as possible. In this case, when the discussion board opened up, I found out that I was ahead of the class as far as my progress on the problem. My excitement over being able to discuss the problem was dampened because the discussion didn't really add much for me; I had worked all the beginning steps out last week, while others waited until this week to get started. (Let me add that I recognize that they are likely very busy too, and they have just chosen a different way to manage their time as far as when they do classwork. I know not everyone can front load their week like I do.)

So where was I to go for help? Email to the rescue! I am so pleased that our instructor decided to take the time to help me through the difficult steps, and I was able to turn the assignment in last night. We probably had at least 5 rounds of back and forth email over the past week. I am now well versed in writing out conditional probability notation. Solving the problem: no problem, just me and a trusty tree diagram, but the notation just killed me!

This isn't the first time an instructor has taken the time to respond to my email queries. In Algebra II I had a lengthy email chain with the instructor over an extension of a topic in the module, something beyond what the class covered.

So the chance you'll get an email back from my probability instructor? Experimental results say it is 100%

My first post!

Hi! I'm Jessica and I'm new to blogging with Lesley, but not new to blogging. I've been keeping online blogs and journals for over 10 years.

I am currently taking 2 online classes, Geometry and Probability. I've already completed 4 others towards my M.Ed. in Mathematics Education. I am thrilled that when the Fall 1 term is over, I will be over the half-way mark towards earning my degree. Since I am in Iowa, I will be doing the entire program online. I've found that the majority of my classmates are from New England (a few even take classes at Lesley's physical location) but I've also had classmates from all around the country, and one who was international.

Doing two classes at a time, working a full-time job, and maintaining my regular life can be a challenge at times, but it is definitely doable. With two classes there is a lot more to keep track of! It becomes a difficult balancing act during Week 4 and Week 8, when the self-assessments are due (I find that these papers take me a lot of time to do well), but all the other weeks it is just an exercise in time management. I still get to do the fun things I enjoy, but I have pretty much sworn off television- there just isn't enough time. Right now we are in Week 3, so as long as I do a little work each night, I know I will have enough time to get it all done.

Last night, I focused on my Geometry class. This class has been working on constructions, and we have been using three different methods for each construction: compass and straightedge, paper folding, and Geometer's Sketchpad. I'm a traditionalist, so I really like my compass and straightedge, but I've been really impressed with the capabilities in Geometer's Sketchpad. It is an inexpensive piece of software that can do so much. I've found that it is really intuitive to use and since computer use is so ingrained in students' lives, I think it is very important that we learn about technologies that can be incorporated into classrooms to help support their learning.

Web Design, Fun?

Here I am again, almost a full circle. I was the class blogger for one of my first classes at Lesley in pursuing my online graduate program and now I am on my final class to complete my Master's degree. I had never blogged before when I started. I now know so much more like, how to add video and pictures to a blog page (I'll try to find sometime to squeeze that in).

My final class is about web page design. I thought at first that this class was going to be a really tech type class with a lot of material that was above my head. Instead, I am brought back to my childhood when I would love writing secret messages in code.This class is about learning the HTML language used to write web pages. I am having a lot of fun with it. I write or place pictures into this code sequence, and then I can see it happen right before my very eyes. The instant feedback to see if I wrote the code correctly is a great way to learn. Of course, there are those moments when you try everything and it still does not appear the way you intended. That is when our instructor, Bill, comes to the rescue and usually untangles us from the web mess we created (no pun intended).

Picture source:secretbunker.co.uk

Welcome to Lesley University's Online Student Blogs

Greetings! On behalf of the Online Division at Lesley University, we are excited to have current student bloggers to represent our programs. This blog has been created in an effort to provide our prospective students with an inside look at what it is like to be a student in an online program at Lesley University. The postings you are about to read feature the authentic voices of students who are in one of our three Master’s degree programs in Education, focusing in Math, Science and Technology. We have put together a diverse team of bloggers brought to you from all over the United States. To view our other program offerings, please visit Lesley University’s Online degree pages at: www.lesley.edu/online

Ecology Ends

The chemistry between the students and professor was tremendous in my Ecology course. In our discussion forum there was a constant flurry of comments from us all on what we were learning, what we were seeing in our observations and any conclusions we were making. The atmosphere was such that you felt comfortable asking questions. There absolutely were no "stupid questions". Several classmates as well as our instructor shared global connections that helped to extend our learning and help us to apply what we had learned to the world outside our Lesley class. One of our final assignments was to complete the exact same thought experiment we had completed in the first week. We were asked not to refer back to what we had written originally but to infuse all the knowledge we had gained in 8 weeks into the new version of the assignment. We were all floored at the major gains we had made since the beginning. I am moving into my first week of my next class, Biology. I already get the sense that this class is going to be as eye-opening as the last one. As my former classmate Linda would say........
"Science ROCKS!"

Ecomp 6202 Week 5

This week we worked with online assessments. Many in my class chose one site, I and a few others tried Quizstar. I really liked this one (mostly because many of its aspects are again free). I was able to add PDF documents to the questions which would allow someone to read and refer back to text or diagrams in order to answer a question. A definite plus! The site has many other great features.

I also completed my paper on computer-based testing and submitted it. My schedule has been rather hectic, but I pulled off getting everything completed. With the flexibility of working online getting things done around my schedule is so much easier than trying to drive somewhere to attend a class.

Week 4- Ecomp 6202

We worked collaboratively on a project last week. Each person in a partner group had to create an assessment, use it to score the same collection of responses, and then compare their results to their partners scores. As an educator, I found the experience to be reassuring. It helped to justify how I examine students' responses and score them. My partner and I scored similarly 80% of the time. Our differences were mainly  due to the construction of our different assessment pieces.

Personally, this term is moving smoothly. I am only taking one course and find that with the end of the school year, I made a good choice to slow down a bit with the course work. When I take a course or courses each semester, I always wonder whether or not I will be able to utilize it in my current position. So far, I have not been disappointed, much of the course work is flexible and pertinent to the different age groups. I teach in an elementary school setting and I have been able to adapt the content I have learned towards our school curriculum and share it with co-workers.

Week 2 of Ecomp 6202

I have been in the online masters program since September 2010. I should have all classes completed by December 2011. I am really enjoying the classes and have begun to integrate much of what I am learning (Despite what Bill Gates says of teachers' graduate work!). I am excited to learn more.
The class I am presently taking Ecomp 6202(Online Teaching: Assessment and Evaluation), is one of four classes that focus specifically on teaching a course online. I felt that it would be foolish to not take the opportunity to take all four. I have already taken Ecomp 6201(Online Teaching: An Introduction for K-12 Educators) with Lisa McBride and would highly recommend others to enroll in her course.

More Tools in my Bag of Tricks

Well, I have to say, Math 6003 added even more tools to my bag of technology "tricks".  I learned how to use InspireData, Graph Club, and Geometer's SketchPad. I discovered so many wonderful websites, lesson plans,, and activities to support math curriculum, and new ways to apply software that his commonplace in schools: Microsoft Excel.  As a result of this class, I am looking forward to sharing my new knowledge with colleagues both formally and informally. Although this class has been one of the most challenging with regard to the number and depth of the assignments, I can honestly say that I am glad that I chose it. I know that I am much more aware of the Math Process and Content standards, and potential supports for students and teachers in relation to those standards. I am looking forward to sharing the tips, tricks, and tools.!

Bread Mold Continued

I have been so wrapped up in my ecology class that I forgot to blog last week. We are in the final 2 weeks and I continue to be grateful for this valuable ecological experience. Last week we threw away our bread experiment after weeks of gathering data on mold growth. If you caught my blog a few weeks back you know that I was watching to see if changing the pH on top of the slice would keep the mold at bay.I am still watching for mold growth on my slices with vinegar, ammonia, honey and my plain control piece. No mold at all on those pieces. I had to get rid of my pieces dipped in milk and baking soda. The milk bread was so riddled with mold you couldn't tell that it was once bread. Some of the colors and patterns were intriguing. The baking soda piece was covered in a completely different form of mold evidenced by the difference in color and pattern. Sounds disgusting but remember this is where we got penicillin. The results of my bread trials provided evidence that substances with a higher alkalinity or higher acidity are indeed deterrents to mold.

The Final Project

It is coming down to the final stretch for me.  I have a ton of work still to do, but only 2 more weeks to do it! I have a final project that I am working on right now.  I am creating a workshop that will incorporate technology into the Math Content Standards in a K-2 class setting. I am thinking about how to integrate the technology tools and skills that I have learned into activities that will promote the academic goals. Since I am not a teacher and I don't have experience developing curriculum, I have to work a little harder to understand how it all fits together.  However, with the many resources and structured learning activities that I can rely on, I know that I will be successful.  It might just take me a little longer than someone with curriculum experience.  It is a challenge, but it will be worth the hard work.  I plan to present it to my colleagues during a staff development day this spring.

Key Assignments

This past week I completed my Key Assignment for class. Although it is a lot of effort and research I love how each Key Assignment for each class has the same effort level but the assignment is approached with thought and creativity. The Key Assignment I just completed for my class was excellent. We had to research a new Web 2.0 tool and then make a lesson plan according to this tool. I love to learn about new educational resources and to find new ways to incorporate it into the classroom. I decided to pick Gliffy.com and focused my lesson on graphic organizers and literary reviews and class discussion. I love that we get to see our classmates lessons and ideas as well as share what we have created and researched. I am continuing to love this program, the dedication of the professors and the creativity of the assignments.

Immigrant Activity

You wouldn't guess that by the title of my post, that this assignment was for "Using Technology to Integrate Math Across the Curriculum"!  We have been using a software program called InspireData to investigate real information from rosters of ships that brought immigrants to the US.  This particular activity involved creating a story about a family that we adopted from the boat, journaling about their experiences, and creating a budget for income and expenses.  It was absorbing!  The math aspect of the task was more than just the budget, we used the software to compare the occupants of the boat by age, occupation, family, etc.  By the end of the assignment I had a much deeper appreciation for what it might have been like to immigrate, as well as how to navigate within the software.  Carolyn

Ecology Continues

January 28, 2011
We’re up to our eyeballs in mold and decomposition in Ecology class. Currently we are monitoring 3 different experiments. In the second week of class we started a compost column with various produce, some potting soil and compost enhancers. The column is constructed out of 2 plastic soda bottles. 2 weeks later, the materials inside the column are covered with green and white mold and no longer recognizable. Thankfully the set up of the column allows for any liquid produced by the decomposition to be drained into a bottom portion of the column. We’ve been checking this brown liquid for nitrate and nitrite levels. This is by far the most aromatic of our experiments. Another experiment we are watching is the growth of mold on petri dishes with jello acting as a culture. There is nothing growing on my control but white spidery mold covers the petri dishes with soil samples on top of the jello culture. Our third experiment involves the growth of mold on pieces of bread. Each of us was asked to conduct this experiment changing 1 variable. I chose to look at whether or not a change in pH would have any effect on the growth of mold. I exposed my preservative-free slices of bread to the air in my kitchen overnight. Afterwards I dipped 1 side of each slice in one of the following: milk, vinegar, lemon juice ammonia, honey, baking soda. The lemon juice and vinegar have higher levels of acidity while the ammonia has a higher alkalinity level. Both the milk and baking soda are more neutral in pH. One piece, my control was dipped in nothing. I decided to include honey in the experiment because it is known as a natural preservative.17 days later the only bread with mold (36 cm) on top is the milk piece. No surprise there but is it the milk that is molding or the bread? Hard to tell. There is 39cm of growth on the bottom of the baking soda piece and 33cm on the bottom of the milk piece. It appears that these 2 two are promoters of mold. Surprisingly to me there is no mold on any part of any of the other pieces. It appears that substances with a neutral pH are better promoters of mold growth. I’m eager to see which slice will begin to sprout mold next. I don’t think they can resist it forever… or can they?

Up till now....

I have been learning more about how to incorporate technology into the classroom in more ways than one. I have learned how to make a Webquest and then through my own knowledge adapt it for a student with special needs. I have learned how to set up a blog and not only post words on it but a self drawn (electronically) picture to send to the blog. I have learned the simple keys on how to take a screen shot where I am in control of what information I want to capture. And some of those things are just the tip of what I have learned thus far. I am only on my third class through the TIE program but I have gained for that credits can show. I continue to wonder what will come next and what will be do with this type of assignment this week. The more exposure the more I will continue to grow and learn as an educator.

Adventures in assignments

There are several things that I have liked about the assignments in the TIE program.  I have found them to be relevant, interesting, and engaging.  I have been able to share them with other teachers as I am doing them, or adapt them to meet the needs of their learners. They have required participation, analysis and reflection.  I have developed many new skills like podcasting, vidcasting, blogging, and using tools like Audacity and Delicious.  Join the adventure! Carolyn

Non-traditional student

Hello, It is hard to believe, but I am have finished my first week of my last Lesley TIE class.  I have learned so much since I started in this program.  I am not a teacher, I am an occupational therapist with a background in Assistive Technology.  One of my goals in achieving my Masters in the TIE program was to understand more about the integration of technology into the regular education curriculum.  Through the very practical and carefully designed assignments/learning experiences, I have developed much greater insights and understandings.

If you do not have a teaching background, you too may be a bit nervous as to whether this program is a good match for you.  I would encourage you to blog with us and ask the questions that you may have.  I also found it really helpful to talk to the staff in the TIE program.  They know the courses and can help with advising you.
Carolyn

January 12th, Post one

I was thinking about what I wanted to share on this blog. I think the biggest thing that I have learned and want to share is the amount of resources and information I have gained in the past six months. From learning how to incorporate a variety of new programs from the internet to using the Web 2.0 tools to teach I have an abundance of sources. My classroom is unique and although a lot of the topics and resources we cover do not apply to my classroom setting I have already found ways to modify and adjust these sites for my students. Through my last class in the TIE program I am implementing a Diigo site for the 16 teachers in my school to share websites and information on one page. Sure enough once I presented that I am technology inclined I have been the point to person in any computer, copier and internet question. While I love the way technology has made its way into the educational world I would like to see the improvement of technology in the lives of students with special needs. So far I am happy with the program and excited for more to come!

Ecology Rocks!

I have to admit that I danced around the room when I received my kit for Ecology: Organisms, Nutrients and Environment. It is this course in Lesley's Science in Education program that I have had the greatest anticipation for. The best item in the kit: a handheld microscope. WOW! This beats a hand lens any day when looking at ROT on the move as we have done this past week. Our first assignment was to get outside and look for signs of decomposition and to post our thoughts on factors involved in the process. I already feel like I've gained a lot of knowledge about the subject.
Our leader, Suzanne Flynn has made great efforts to personalize the experience by touching base with each of us and posting right along beside us. My classmates are from all over the US as well Guatemala and Germany. They bring a wide variety of experience and knowledge to the course. This nine weeks is going to be a fantastic learning experience. Next week's session looks to be even more intriguing. We will be setting up a composting investigation and observing the decomposition of bread. I am currently exposing a loaf of bread to the air to encourage the growth of mold. We'll be putting that good old microscope to use again. (Contented sigh)....the wonders of ROT.