Brief Description

In this ongoing lesson, students will use a blogging site to answer math problems posed by the teacher.  This forum will allow all students to participate and respond to their peers in a non-threatening environment.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

• 4T-E1. Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information and communicate with others in support of facilitated and independent learning

Throughout the course of the year, many state math standards will be touched upon, with particular attention to:

• 6M-E2. Construct, use and explain algorithmic procedures for computing and estimating with whole numbers, fractions, decimals and integers
• 6M-E3. Use if . . . then statements to construct simple valid arguments

Academic

• Students will determine the best solution for a given problem
• Students will explain why their solutions are the “best” for a given problem

• Students will communicate with their peers using the Internet

• Students need to be familiar with navigating a web page.
• Experience using E-mail or a discussion board is helpful, but not necessary.
• Comfort using a keyboard is essential.

• Computer with Internet access
• Math problem of the week (can be taken from a variety of sources)
• Copies of student rubric (see assessment section)

• Gifted Students: These students can be encouraged to create their own problems to be posted by the teacher.  Perhaps a section of student-created problems can be created to be utilized by all the students.  These students might also be recruited to help students that need extra support.
• English Language Learners: These students can be paired a native speaker to help with the reading and writing.  They may also be encouraged to draw a solution instead of using words, if possible.  Students may use an online translator, such as Babel Fish Translation (http://world.altavista.com/) to translate the problem into their native language, then translate their answer back into English to be posted.
• Special Education Students: These students may need to have a partner to work with to help with reading or writing.  They may also be required to only explain their answer orally to the teacher and have it entered for them.  They may also need more information given to them than is in the problem.  The teacher should anticipate what this might be for each new problem and be prepared to give it out as needed.

Prior to the lesson:

1. The teacher will visit http://www.nicenet.org and create a class. Note the class key (needed for students to join the class).
2. The teacher should set class preferences to desired settings
3. The teacher can sign up individual students for the class, or students can do it themselves (see below).
4. The teacher should gather some math problems for the students to solve.
5. The teacher should set up an initial conferencing topic for the students to use to learn the NiceNet site.  Introductions or information about themselves works well.

1. At the computer lab, students go to http://www.nicenet.org
2. Students should click on “Join A Class”
3. Students should enter the Class Key in the box and click “Join this Class”
4. Students will then set up a user profile.  Students will need to enter a username, password, and their first and last names.  Entering an e-mail address is optional.  If students do not enter their name, they will show up as “Anonymous” on the blog.
5. Once students have set up a user profile, they can log in to NiceNet.  Have the students log in to make sure they set up their user profile correctly.
6. Students can then go to the Conferencing link and click on the topic the teacher set up prior to the lesson.
7. The teacher should demonstrate to the students how to post a message to the topic and how to reply to a specific message.
8. Students should all have a chance to post a message and reply to a message.
9. Teachers should be sure to discuss with students proper “netiquette” and the consequences of posting something inappropriate.

1. The teacher will post a new topic containing a math problem that focuses on problem solving skills.
2. Students will be required to log in to NiceNet during the week and post a solution to the problem.  Students can do this at home or school, depending on access.
3. The teacher should log in often and read student posts, monitoring and responding as necessary.

Eventually, students may be encouraged to create their own problems for the class to solve.  The teacher may decide to have the students take turns posting the problems each week.

Initially, students will be assessed on whether or not they posted an answer.  After a few weeks to get accustomed to the process, the teacher will assess the answers, based on the following rubric.  Students will also use the rubric to assess their own work and reflect about how to improve their answers.
 

6 points=A+  5 points=A  4 points=B  3 points=C  2 points=D  1 or 0 points=F

Teacher Name: Liesl Mitchell
Site: Coronado K-8
Date Submitted: October 29, 2003