Designing a multimedia learning tool for maths using google docs, desmos and video

So today was the first day of the girls working on the google doc that I had created on exponential graphs.

If you are interested in the resources its in my previous blog. It was a surreal kind of experience. They were quietly working, headphones on as they listened to the videos, then working on the doc, using calculators to assist their working. There was discussion, although somewhat minimal, with very few questions.  I had spent a lot of time making the resource a comprehensive guide that could be completed without me present. It certainly seemed to be successful in that regard.

I had very little to do. The creation of the document was labour intensive, but implementation was a non-event. I really struggled as to what to do with myself. Normally I would have expended enormous energy with the proverbial song and dance of the Sage. The girls were quietly engaged and my hope is,  that because they are having to think as they go, their inquiry around the topic and their understanding will be enhanced...time will tell.

Tomorrow I will have a wrap-up session to be sure that all students came away with similar messages and to answer any questions. Then there will be practice to help consolidated their knowledge.

I don't necessarily see flipping a lesson as a viable strategy simply because if all classes were doing it it would mean students would be spending incredible amounts of time at home on their learning. I still believe that school is the place and time for learning of new material. But with this approach 3 things happen. It frees me up to address every student's concern immediately, and it gives them and anyone missing the lesson a complete interactive resource on a particular topic. Lastly it allows students who need to see instruction more than once, an opportunity to do just that.

I won't have the time to make an entire unit of work in this frame, but I can see its true merit, and I will be doing more of this type of structuring of my class ......it was fascinating to watch.

Next, student feedback on the process.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VCqGiNPh00cEQqEZv6zQuY7GTSgun_f5j8sKqz5-CbY/edit?usp=sharing