Author
Cards
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Author
Cards |
1. A must visit for every mathematics teacher is the Educational Java Programs website at http://arcytech.org/java/. This site gives students opportunities for self-directed discovery and exploration by providing material in the form of online moveable manipulatives. It is a fantastic teaching tool, helping students to understand various mathematical concepts. Students are offered the opportunity to make discoveries and easily recover from any mistakes they may have made. Integer Bars of Cuisenaire Rods is one of the java applets available. It includes clear and easy instructions on using the cuisenaire rods, tutorials, activities, and exercises for students to complete. As students work through the concepts, they are provided with a self check evaluation system which will assist them in monitoring their understanding.
Fraction Bars is another java applets that is available. Lessons allow students to learn through the hands-on use of virtual fraction bars the following concepts: an understanding of fractions, equivalent fractions, ordering and comparing fractions, basic addition and subtraction of fractions, and fraction size notation.
Other java applets include It's All About Time, Pattern Blocks, Base Ten Blocks, Pythagorean Theorem, Discovering the Value of Pi, and Fractals. 2. The website Author Cards is similar to a webquest in that it offers a creative introduction to students as well as links to Internet resources they will need to complete their task. The assignment begins by directing students to the Author Cards website where the stage is set for students to produce a class collection of 'Author Cards'.
The students read two or three books written by the same author. They then create an ‘Author Card’ including the name of the author, his or her place and date of birth, and a critique of the author’s work. The site suggests that students use Microsoft Word but I direct students to the desktop publishing program, Microsoft Publisher 2002. I find it helpful to provide the students with a pre-made template (see below). Students compose a critique of the author’s work based on the books they have read. Author Cards can be printed and compiled in a book as a resource for your Library/Resource Centre.
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