My video lesson plan is on the subject of Following the Financial Markets which would be used in a social studies curriculum. Specifically, the lesson would be tailored for a history, economics, or general business class. The introduction and the lesson plan itself involves using a prezi presentation along with two websites that I find very useful in following financial markets both in the United States and throughout the world.
The introduction of my plan was done through the website, Screencast-O-Matic. This site is very interesting as it gives the ability to voice record over a presentation given through your computer.
The goal of my lesson plan is to give students some general ability to follow the financial markets and also impress upon them the importance of this knowledge. Most people at some point in their adult working lives will have money invested in the markets through retirement plans or their own personal savings.
The lesson itself will begin by comparing how financial markets were followed both 50 years ago and today, and highlighting the great world changes that have occurred in this time period. Next, we move to some specific sectors of the financial markets necessary in my opinion to have some ability to understand what moves the markets up or down. Finally, a discussion of specific financial websites that can help students both understand and follow the financial markets.
I would conclude this lesson by giving students an assignment to find and review three financial websites. The review would include why they did or did not like the site, and what specific knowlege regarding the markets they were able to obtain from each site.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Legal Concerns of Teachers
My legal concerns of teaching involves the financial aspect of education as a whole. The leaders of the country have correctly stressed the need for increasing the numbers of teachers to keep the United States competitive with the rest of the world. Yet, the legal concerns involving lack of money for teachers only seem to increase, which creates uncertainty for the future.
I've spent my post-college years employed in the financial sector. Questions have come to me from family members and others working in education concerning their financial future. The common question concerns the ramifications of reduction or eventual elimination of deferred compensation plans or pensions. My common answer unfortunately is, "I don't know".
Regardless of the future uncertainty of education, so many still view the profession as a very worthwhile and necessary endeavor. It is very encouraging to see so many motivated students in the classes that I am taking. Personally, I'm excited to pursue a career in which having to do something combines with the excitement of wanting to do something. I hope that the increasing legal questions that coincide with financial concerns aren't stopping others from pursuing teaching at a time when the country needs them in increasing numbers.
I've spent my post-college years employed in the financial sector. Questions have come to me from family members and others working in education concerning their financial future. The common question concerns the ramifications of reduction or eventual elimination of deferred compensation plans or pensions. My common answer unfortunately is, "I don't know".
Regardless of the future uncertainty of education, so many still view the profession as a very worthwhile and necessary endeavor. It is very encouraging to see so many motivated students in the classes that I am taking. Personally, I'm excited to pursue a career in which having to do something combines with the excitement of wanting to do something. I hope that the increasing legal questions that coincide with financial concerns aren't stopping others from pursuing teaching at a time when the country needs them in increasing numbers.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Redefining Instruction with Technology - Article Review
The article entitled Redefining Instruction with Technology: Five Essential Steps was written by Jennie Magiera in the magazine, Education Week Teacher, published in January 2012. In the article, Magiera who is an elementary teacher in the Chicago Public Schools describes her experiences when iPads initially became an integral part of her class. She goes on to highlight the problems first encountered with the new technology, and the challenges faced in the implementation. The class eventually began to thrive with the iPads, and Magiera narrates how the technology eventually benefited her students to a high degree.
I found the article interesting and helpful. Magiera stressed two things that really stood out for me which were the importance of not being rigid, and embracing failure to improve teaching methods. Fear of failure and wanting to do things the same way are personal characteristics of mine. Everyone makes mistakes, and learning from these mistakes is an important education tool for students and should be for teachers as well. Technology can be intimidating, but looking outside of the box for different teaching methods can go a long way in improving the educational experience for everyone. My family purchased an iPad for ourselves as a Christmas present just this past year and the opportunities presented with the technology regarding education and beyond are quite impressive. I was initially lukewarm to the idea, having been skeptical as to the importance of the iPad. In these past two months, I have come to really enjoy the iPad and am glad we took the step and engaged with this new technology as we have all benefited.
Please click here for a link to the article.
I found the article interesting and helpful. Magiera stressed two things that really stood out for me which were the importance of not being rigid, and embracing failure to improve teaching methods. Fear of failure and wanting to do things the same way are personal characteristics of mine. Everyone makes mistakes, and learning from these mistakes is an important education tool for students and should be for teachers as well. Technology can be intimidating, but looking outside of the box for different teaching methods can go a long way in improving the educational experience for everyone. My family purchased an iPad for ourselves as a Christmas present just this past year and the opportunities presented with the technology regarding education and beyond are quite impressive. I was initially lukewarm to the idea, having been skeptical as to the importance of the iPad. In these past two months, I have come to really enjoy the iPad and am glad we took the step and engaged with this new technology as we have all benefited.
Please click here for a link to the article.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Giving Prezi a Try...
As someone who only a few years back had not yet used PowerPoint, learning a new way to present material can be daunting. I have decided to go all out in trying the website Prezi for my upcoming presentation on the legal case Engle v. Vitale.
At first Prezi was difficult to understand, and caused myself some frustration. While having some similarities to PowerPoint, it really is quite advanced in comparison. After getting more comfortable with Prezi, advantages are becoming apparent. Prezi allows you to present the material in a different, more interesting manner. As a teacher, Prezi gives students additional opportunities for presenting individual work, and especially group projects.
A great benefit of Prezi is the ability to change material in the presentation through the internet. I find myself as a student coming up with ways to change or improve my own presentation at different times and locations throughout the day. With Prezi, simply log on to your account, and make the changes to your presentation. I think this especially benefits students in a group setting. A student can come up with an idea outside of a formal group meeting and implement the change onto the group presentation site. This gives a student who may feel uncomfortable in a formal group setting the chance to make significant contributions in a less structured situation. After all, secondary school students come up with many interesting ideas during non-school hours, and Prezi gives them the opportunity to place these thoughts into a presentation at any hour, day or night.
Here is the link to Prezi: http://www.prezi.com/
At first Prezi was difficult to understand, and caused myself some frustration. While having some similarities to PowerPoint, it really is quite advanced in comparison. After getting more comfortable with Prezi, advantages are becoming apparent. Prezi allows you to present the material in a different, more interesting manner. As a teacher, Prezi gives students additional opportunities for presenting individual work, and especially group projects.
A great benefit of Prezi is the ability to change material in the presentation through the internet. I find myself as a student coming up with ways to change or improve my own presentation at different times and locations throughout the day. With Prezi, simply log on to your account, and make the changes to your presentation. I think this especially benefits students in a group setting. A student can come up with an idea outside of a formal group meeting and implement the change onto the group presentation site. This gives a student who may feel uncomfortable in a formal group setting the chance to make significant contributions in a less structured situation. After all, secondary school students come up with many interesting ideas during non-school hours, and Prezi gives them the opportunity to place these thoughts into a presentation at any hour, day or night.
Here is the link to Prezi: http://www.prezi.com/
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