Week+6

=Week 6: The Sixth Level: Creating=

toc The topic of this week is on the balance between different types of tasks in mathematics, and the controversies surrounding Bloom's Taxonomy and other category systems, such as computational fluency vs. conceptual understanding.




 * The objectives** of Week 6 are:
 * To analyze tasks for balance among different activity types
 * To focus on student-generated math content

The main technology tools this week are Diigo, screencasts, blogs, email groups, live webinars, online videos and wikis.

Audio Introduction
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The class live meetings happen three times a week, one of them required, the other two recommended for doing weekly tasks together. During these times, we will meet [|in Wimba virtual room]. You are welcome to invite colleagues and friends to this open room, if they are interested in participating. You can also use the room for class collaboration outside of these hours.


 * Monday 7-8pm** community study and Q&A hour
 * Wednesday 8-9pm** weekly class discussion
 * Friday 8-9am** community study and Q&A hour

Musical Interlude
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Task Grids
. Pick up math tasks for each of Bloom's levels. You can use your previous class work as examples or make up new ones. For each task, briefly describe two assessment types you would use. You can link other people's explanation of the assessment technique instead of the description.
 * || **6-1**

If a task encompasses many levels (for example, most projects and unit studies do), use two assessment ideas per level.

Some sources of assessment ideas: []

Task builder toy: [|The Differentiator] || **6-2** Using the list of mathematical entities you created in the second week, Task 2-2, design student activities that call for students creating three of such entities. How will you assess these Creating level tasks?

This does not mean that students, for example, will be required to create (or re-discover) the Pythagorean theorem or any major, fundamental, important math entity of global interest to mathematicians everywhere - their creations can be small and situated within their tasks. Think of student math creations as a lively sketch one draws for a friend, not as "Mona Lisa" destined for fame eternal. || **6-3** Open a math textbook of your choice, preferably one you have used or will be using with your students. Analyze a chapter from it according to Bloom's task levels. How is the level balance for your taste? Does assessment focus on all task levels appropriately?

Share your thoughts and your data visualization in your blog or a screencast, using photos or scans of pages if necessary. ||
 * GraceA || http://gk1as.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/blooms-assessments/ || http://gk1as.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/assessments-on-creativity/ || http://gk1as.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/math-textbook-engaging-or-discouraging/ ||
 * MariaD ||  ||   ||   ||
 * KateG || http://ktgee24.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/math-tasks-according-to-bloom/ || http://ktgee24.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/creative-student-tasks/ || http://ktgee24.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/math-textbooks/ ||
 * aheleniak || http://teachy79.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/blooms-leveled-tasks/ || http://teachy79.wordpress.com/2010/08/17/creating-level-tasks/ || http://teachy79.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/math-book-chapter-analyasis/ ||
 * Peterhorn33 || http://wp.me/pZvA3-1h || http://wp.me/pZvA3-1k || http://screencast.com/t/YWNhNDllN2Qt ||
 * EthanL || http://wp.me/PZtr1-2M || http://wp.me/PZtr1-2O || http://wp.me/PZtr1-2Q ||
 * Paul McDowell || [] || [] ||  ||
 * Sam Morrison || [] || [] || http://semhouston1.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/lesson-from-algebra-1-text-does-it-follow-blooms-taxonomy/ ||
 * GRice || [] || [] || [] ||
 * Doug Snyder || [|Math According to Bloom] || [|Linear System Student Activities] || [|Trigonometry According to Bloom] ||
 * RStock || [] || [] || [] ||
 * Al_J_Williams || [] || [] || [] ||

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Paste this url of Keith Devlin's rant on thinking vs. remembering into your web search: http://www.maa.org/devlin/devlin_06_10.html
 * || **6-4**

Find a blog or a forum post you like that discusses the topic, and leave a reply. It's probably a good idea to read what Keith himself had to say, as well. Before submitting, copy the reply and paste it into your own blog, together with the link to the blog you found. Sometimes blog owners lose comments. Add the link to that discussion to Diigo. || **6-5** Revisit task: Find a partner in the class. Your goal is to help one another build on designs of last week's student tasks. You can work together and discuss "what can you do with it" - add resources, pose interesting problems, make introductions more intriguing, ask students deep questions, and so on. Post improvement suggestions as comments to your partner's blog post from last week, and reply to comments in your own blog post, until you feel a substantial progress is made on both. You can also discuss your designs on the phone or in the Wimba room, and post summaries in blog comments. || **Make-up task (optional)**

This will count as a task, to replace any one you miss during the course for grade counting. Read "Lockhart's Lament" on [|Keith Devlin's column] or in its [|book form]. Review it in your blog. || . Attend the live class meeting on Wednesday. //Bonus task: attend community study hours on Monday and/or Friday//
 * GraceA || [] || [] || [] ||
 * MariaD ||  ||   ||   ||
 * KateG || http://ktgee24.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/105/ || did make up task for this week || http://ktgee24.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/lockharts-lament/ ||
 * aheleniak || http://teachy79.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/keith-devlins-rant-on-thinking-vs-remembering/ || I did the make-up task for this week in lieu of this assignment. || http://teachy79.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/lockharts-lament/ ||
 * Peterhorn33 || http://wp.me/pZvA3-1p || http://esivel.wordpress.com/week-5-2/week-52/ ||  ||
 * EthanL || http://wp.me/PZtr1-2V || [] ||  ||
 * Paul McDowell ||  ||   || [|Review of sub-page organization of WordPress] for classes ||
 * Sam Morrison || http://semhouston1.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/response-to-gas-station-without-pumps/ || [] ||  ||
 * GRice ||  || [] ||   ||
 * Doug Snyder || [|Do Computer Geeks Need Math, Too?] || [|Comment on Bobbo's Blog] ||  ||
 * RStock || [] || [] posted on Doug's blog ||  ||
 * Al_J_Williams || http://ajw0812.wordpress.com/2010/08/17/keith-devlin/ || [] ||  ||
 * || **6-6**

[] || **6-7** Attend one or more of the following live events happening online this week. Follow links for instructions on how to use platforms. You can add other events to this list. They must be free, open to everybody, and recorded.

Say what alias you used to participate, if it's not your name. **Contribute something during the meeting - a question, comments in chat, references.**

Briefly reflect on the event in your blog. Constructive criticism is especially helpful for event organizers. The blog post needs to link to the event's page.

MariaD will add events on Sunday - many of them are only announced a few days ahead of time.


 * Math ed events:**
 * Expert ways of seeing: Transforming novices through visual learning Wednesday 9:30pm
 * [|Math 2.0 interest group: A year in review and brave new plans] Wednesday 6am
 * #mathchat Monday 3:30pm and Thursday 7:30pm
 * [|An overview of Mathematica for education] Tuesday 2pm
 * [|A brief overview of Mathematica] Friday 2pm
 * [|Working with data collections in Mathematica] Friday 6pm


 * General ed events:**
 * [|One idea/One action microevents] Tuesday 1pm
 * [|EdTechTalk] Tuesday 2pm
 * [|EduBlogs Serendipity] Thursday 7pm
 * [|Classroom 2.0 live: VolunteerSpot] Saturday noon
 * [|ISTE cultural differences in tech] Thursday 8pm
 * [|TappedIn tour for teachers: Collaboration Special] Saturday 1pm
 * [|#edchat] Tuesday noon and 7pm

http://teachy79.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/expert-ways-of-seeing-transforming-novices-through-visual-learning/ || Make up from last week http://wp.me/pZvA3-1v || MathFlo algebra workflow system ||
 * Sources of events**
 * http://mathfuture.wikispaces.com/events
 * []
 * []
 * []
 * []
 * #mathchat
 * [|Wolfram Education]
 * [|#edchat]
 * [|EdWeek] ||
 * GraceA || Wed and Fri || Visited Mathematica Fri 2pm - there was no seminar scheduled for that time or 6pm watched on demand: [|http://gk1as.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/][|wolfram][|/] ||
 * MariaD ||  ||   ||
 * KateG || Wed class || tried to do both Friday sessions, both had no seminar scheduled ||
 * aheleniak || Wed class meeting || Expert ways of seeing: Transforming novices through visual learning Wednesday 9:30pm
 * Peterhorn33 || Wed class meeting || http://wp.me/pZvA3-1s
 * EthanL || Wed || http://wp.me/PZtr1-34
 * Paul McDowell || Schedule conflict this week. ||  ||
 * Sam Morrison || There Wednesday (a little late--oops!) || I visited Mathematica Friday at 2 also with no luck. Will check out another this wknd. ||
 * GRice || Mon & Wed || [] ||
 * Doug Snyder || Wed class meeting || [|Mathematica Overview] ||
 * RStock || Attended Wed session || [|http://bobbo1.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/][|edublogs-webinar][|/] comments on [|EduBlogs Serendipity] ||
 * Al_J_Williams || Attended Wed session || http://ajw0812.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/expert-ways-of-seeing-accessible-to-novices/ ||

Voice explanation about tasks:

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