Blog

 Fractions Blog   []

Explain in your own words what you think a fraction is and give an example.

Explicaţi în propriile cuvinte ceea ce credeţi că o fracţiune este şi dau un exemplu.

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**Description of Blog:** Blogs seem to be one of the original Web 2.0 tools. The assignment was to create a blog that went hand-in-hand with our virtual classroom. We were to include two different types of media, translate our post into another language, and basically learn how to use and manage the site. My blog (as you can see the topic above) is a site where students can go to learn, comment, reflect, and enjoy fractions. I added the top YouTube sites for "What is a fraction?" to present students with key information that will help them discuss this topic without ever leaving the site. The blog also has a picture representing the parts of a group component of fractions. Not only is the first post provided in English, but it is also in Spanish. I added a daily calendar to help students keep track of with day each comment is posted. The followers of the blog are also available to view, which I think is important for other students to see.


 * Process:** This process began as a very simple assignment. I created the Blog to have it incorporated in my virtual classroom. I had decided that I wanted to use this site as an easy way to communicate about anything fraction related. After looking at our rubric for the assignment, each day I went back and added something new to this blog to make it that much more technologically advanced. I started with a picture of "Happy Birthday" blocks that are an excellent way of representing parts of a group. Then I thought about other ways I could enrich the blog. While it is still simple in many respects, the site now has much more to offer students who view it. When I added the Video bar, I thought that would be a great way for students to have additional resources without even leaving the page. Then I found some really cool YouTube videos on fractions, so I decided to add those as well. They would take students away from the site though, which could potentially pose a problem if the students do not have adult supervision. As we all know, YouTube has all kinds of videos. I invited students from the class to my blog to view and critique.


 * Reflection:** As I was trying to determine how to use this blog for my unit on fractions, I thought about using it as a place for open communication. The reason for this is that I know how bogged down our Discussion Forum ends up becoming. Even though I have an area for students to communicate with each other as well as with me, I felt that it was important for them to have somewhere else to learn and reflect. The blog was the perfect solution! My original blog was incredibly simple to create. When I started going back to add the different components required on the rubric, I spent some time playing around with the site trying to find what could be useful for my fractions blog. I was able to use the EDT 6020 Blog to help me insert my RSS feed, which I am still a little confused about. I added videos that would definitely be beneficial resources. I added them two different ways, which was a learning experience for me. I am finally able to tell the difference inputting information on a website - creating a link and having it embedded. I think the more we use, the easier everything becomes. I still sometimes find it hard to believe how many useful resources are out there, at our fingertips, and yet we have no idea! This class continues to broaden my horizons and even though we have been creating pieces of a virtual classroom, I am still able to take many of these ideas back into my regular classroom to try.

(2010), //eBlogger//. Retrieved February 15-21, 2010 from Google, San Francisco, CA. Website:[]. (2010), //What are fractions?//, Retrieved February 19, 2010 from YouTube LLC, San Bruno, CA. Website: [].
 * References:**

(2010), //What are fractions?//, Retrieved February 19, 2010 from YouTube LLC, San Bruno, CA. Website: []