If you want something done right, do it yourself!
I teach mathematics, usually Algebra, Geometry, and Calculus, to high school students. The students at our school come from very diverse backgrounds, but our staff prides itself in meeting students’ individual needs through a relevant and varied curriculum delivered by dedicated, caring professionals. We are committed to providing students with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the 21st Century.
The state of Oregon recently changed the graduation requirements for high school students. One of the changes was in the number of years of math required for graduation. Starting next year, all students must complete 3 years of high school math to earn a diploma. This requirement does not affect many of our students, but there are quite a few for whom this requirement will pose a significant hurdle.
In response to this requirement, the math department at our school has created a new course called Math Credit Retrieval. The course targets students who have struggled in first year Algebra and are therefore not fully prepared to move on to the next level of mathematics. The curriculum is an innovative combination of online videos and tutorials supported by teacher-developed materials. Each student has an individualized program to follow based upon the concepts they were not successful mastering in their previous math course. Students work at their own pace and are awarded credit when they have shown proficiency of the concepts they were previously unable to master. The course differs from regular online classes in that a teacher is present to support students in the classroom.
The problem is finding online modules that explain concepts clearly enough for students to learn independently. While I have been able to find good resources through a virtual school district in Oregon and through Teacher Tube, there are some concepts for which I have not found adequate resources.
The familiar phrase “If you want something done right, do it yourself,” seems to point to the solution to the problem I face. I have been teaching math for 20 years. Through the years I have learned how to explain concepts simply and clearly to students. I am good at what I do, so it hit me, “What better person to teach my students than me!” However, in this situation I cannot teach them through traditional means; I need to teach them through the computer. The technology to create my own computerized tutorials is available, but I need the resources to acquire it. I would purchase the equipment necessary to turn my classroom’s white board into a digital white board that interfaces with my computer.
This whiteboard digitizer technology would empower me to help my students in the very areas in which they are struggling, thus helping them to succeed. I could create entire units of curriculum or short tutorials that target specific concepts that are confusing to students.
The premise behind the Math Credit Retrieval program is to help students be successful. It acknowledges that all students learn differently and at different rates. In a time when large class sizes threaten the personalization of education, the Credit Retrieval program offers individualization in an innovative way. The program has been highly successful this year, but could be even better with the development of better resources. The digital white board provides the promise of strengthening the current program and offers the possibility of expanding it to even more students in various areas of our math curriculum. Currently we are helping more students succeed. Our goal is to help all students succeed. Acquiring the digital whiteboard brings us one step closer to that goal.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Anderson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.