DAVID WEES

Thoughts from a reflective educator.

Blogs

Assessment for learning

March 6, 2013

The director of our senior school, Brad Smith, is doing a workshop today in our staff meeting on assessment for learning. He's found the following quotes, which he wants to use in his presentation. I'm helping him edit his presentation (since I have time, and he does not), and I'm hoping to find some photos or other prompts which describe these statements to include in his presentation.

 



Online conference for mathematics education

March 4, 2013

The NCTM recently sent out survey asking their members how they feel about the timing of their major conference, normally held in April, asking them to consider alternate dates. I sent in my responses, and in the comment section proposed that another reason they may be seeing decline in their major conference (while seeing a simultaneous increase in their regional conferences) is that the money just isn't in the US system anymore to support as many people attending an expensive conference in another city.



Where can I get started?

February 28, 2013

If you are just getting started with technology integration in your mathematics class, then a sensible question is, where do I get started?

Here are four suggestions.



Everyone should learn to code

February 28, 2013

Code.org has released a video of some big names in the programming world talking about their first experiences in computer programming, and why they think everyone should learn to code.



Math in music

February 27, 2013

I'm always on the look-out for ways of finding connections between mathematics and other areas of knowledge. Music is one of the areas of knowledge that I know has some similarities with mathematics, and so I've been brainstorming ways one could incorporate music into a mathematics classroom. Here are a few examples.



The Number Hunter

February 26, 2013

Stephanie Glen shared with me this interesting project she is working on. The objective of the project is to produce a series of videos to get students excited about mathematics in much the same way that Bill Nye excites students about science. Here's Stephanie talking about the project in her own words.



Using my iPhone as a wireless microphone for my computer

February 26, 2013

I've watched a lot of online webinars and presentations, and whenever there is a video of someone presenting at the front of the room, the audio quality is always horrible which makes the presentations hardly worth listening to. So that I don't end up in the same situation when I end up having presentations recorded, I decided to look into getting an wireless microphone, but I quickly discovered that these are very expensive.



Math in movement

February 26, 2013

Bon Crowder shared this very interesting TED talk about some of the mathematics in movement and dance. I recommend reading her post to see some more resources on the mathematics of dance and movement.

 



We need to rethink our anti-bullying efforts

February 25, 2013

I watched this video, and I was reminded of the primary reason I became a teacher. As a bullied youth, I wanted to try and help prevent this from happening to other children. I cannot see how I have been remotely successful in this goal.