Teacher Web Reviews

Steve Rinard -

I like the teacherweb. Especially the icons for each folder. The computer surfing is the best for the web 2.0 links page. The about me page is cool too, I didn't realize he is married. I really am not a fan of the project reflection because I don't like math and the questions were a bit wordy. The review quiz is a little weird as well because in order to answer a few questions you would have to have been on who wants to be a millionaire or something. I am also very disappointed that there is no class on veteran's day. I love November 12th!

Teacher Web Reviews

Kyle Hoffman -

I liked the teacher web. It is very colorful and looks like a place that students would feel comfortable going to and looking for class information. I liked the web resources. There are a lot of web sites that can be useful for students. Especially ESPN, I love that site man. I also, enjoyed his about me page because it really gave me a sense of who he is and where he comes from. I thought the review quiz might be a little challenging for some students at a high school level, but I was able to answer most of the questions because I am in the field. I also didn't really like the black background color because it was kind of hard to see some of the other icons. Overall, I like the teacherweb and think could come in handy later down the line.

Engaging Students with Concept Mapping

1. Using concept mapping activities to engage students in their gives students a different variety or way the content or information is presented. When introducing or teaching the content on the central nervous system is a good way to use the concept mapping idea. It can show how the different parts of the system are interrelated, such as the limbic system and the basal nuclei. Another example of this could be to use in weight training when teaching students the different muscle groups and show how they all work together to perform a movement.

2. The concept mapping strategy changes the way the information is presented first off. It also gets away from the traditional lecture notes style, where the notes are written out. Concept mapping can help demonstrate how some subjects are interrelated and connect to each other. The concept mapping method can show links between two things better than traditional notes. Also, the ability to use icons or images to represent some the topics in the content can show a link to the real world or give students an idea how the subject applies to their everyday lives. I plan on using this method quite frequently to give students a visual aid for all those visual learners out there.

Concept Mapping Summary

Concept mapping is a great way to link things in many classrooms and subjects. Concept mapping can help students see how what they are learning can be closely linked to what they already know. This can also be a great tool for visual concrete learners who need to see things written or laid out for them. Concept mapping can also help organize information trying to be learned or taught. The organization of information is very easy to read and difficult to follow with concept mapping. Being able to integrate new information verbally and visually makes it easier for students to learn. I personally feel that concept mapping can be best utilized in history, English, and science. In physical education, it is hard to use webs and concept maps during class because of the lack of classroom resources, such as a white board. In the Health and Fitness world, the main place concept mapping and webs would be used is in the Health classes.

You could probably use concept mapping in physical education to link the history and technique of a certain sport. Being able to link where a sport was originated from and how the technical skills came about can help students get an idea of the sport they are about to learn. Concept maps can also serve as a good tool to integrate other subjects, such as history into the physical education field. Concept mapping and webs can be a good introduction to an activity or sport, but can also take time away from actually teaching the skills, techniques, and movements of a sport.

In a physical education class beginning a basketball unit, using concept mapping can be a good way to introduce the sport. You could brainstorm or make a list of what students already know about the sport. I can almost bet you would get a comments or ideas about Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. Having those names brought up in a concept map or web can help introduce and trace back into the basketball past. You could link those names to early players and styles of the game and analyze how the game has changed and progressed. You could also create a link between the equipment used now and in the past. In the past, Dr. James Naismith invented the game to help football players with foot work and agility. The equipment used back then was a peach basket and a soccer-like ball. Compared to now, the equipment has changed due to technology. The basket has a fiber-glass backboard and breakaway rims. Being able to see the connection and origin of the sport can give students a better understanding of the sports culture, techniques, and key contributors.

Concept mapping can be more effectively used in a health class than in a PE class. In a health class concept mapping can used to explore the problem of obesity. You could make a concept map with a first column that is for what the students already know about obesity. And then provide a second column for questions that need to be answered that can help learn about obesity. Then, you could have bubbles or clouds that link the information students already know to new information, such demographics, statistics, and risk factors.

Using concept or idea mapping to explore family and social health can also be affective in a health classroom. You could again start by brainstorming what the students already know. Then have students brainstorm questions that might help them answer what they came up with in the brainstorming section of the map. You could then make one big stress cloud and show how everything they came up and new content presented is in some way related to family, friends, and communication aspects of health. You could then have students use what they’ve learned in the concept mapping part of class and have them act out skits or role play ways to reduce stress and improve communication skills.