Things are going pretty good so far except for my global classroom. I have been struggling to answer some important questions in my economics class and I believe the answers are within my reach, but not within my time. I am trying to get class to share information and obtain information about the stock market from European and Asian counterparts. We have a Stock Market Simulation game and many of our students have tried to make predictions about stick performance based on the global market. I want our students to ask other students about economies. I am a math teacher and feel a global economics classroom is the most effective way to help our students enter the college and possibly the work force.
I am a little worried that I may run out of time this year because Economics is only a one semester course and I may have to do more internet research over the next year to find the classroom I am looking for. I have found that my tablet is very beneficial for all classes. By using a twitter account and my web page I am able to answer questions from homework and classwork for more students than ever before. Student can post questions and if I cannot answer the questions online, I answer them in class the next day. It has really helped me to prioritize our class time.
I wouldn't worry too much about not completing your goal in such a short time. It takes time to develop new lesson with technology or integrate tech into existing lesson plans. The main thing is you have established a goal for your class and are working towards reaching it.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking your economics class could benefit from a collaborative effort with teachers from other countries. Maybe various lessons could be given via Skype from each teacher representing the different global markets. This would require some considerable upfront work on your part but could yield an amazing cultural experience for you and your students.
Is your stock market stimulation game something you made up or did you find it online? This sounds like a GREAT way to get studets involved in learning about the stock market. Do your students enjoy this game? Do they write a paper at the end or do a project to show what they have learned?
ReplyDeleteTo David: I would love to have communication with foreign classes but time difference is a big problem for Skype. The class ends in 3 weeks and I do not know when I will teach it again but it is something I will have to get right if the situation presents itself again.
ReplyDeleteTo Ahsley: My first year teaching Applied Mathematics I use The Stock Market Game from the Denver Post. One of my students actually won $50.00. However, when I started to teach Economics I realized this simulation did not require the research and work I felt necessary. I have the students use Yahoo, Google or other financial accounts to monitor their portfolios. The winner does not have to take the final exam but the final portfolio consists of a presentation (powerpoint is the minimum) and a research paper about their chosen companies. I feel strongly that 90% of the class enjoy the game and have really gotten something out of it. It is a supplemental simulation that really helps deliver economic content and 21st century standards.