Overview
Curator: Chris Armour
Description of Resource: CK-12 is a free online text book warehouse. There are probably thousands of textbooks at different levels but I have been using the Algebra 1 book, pictured above. There are chapters just like any book and then individual sections in those lessons. This could be used for a teacher needing to brush up on a top, a website parents and students could access from home or it could be a book replacement instead of buying new books. Click on this link if you want to see an example of a lesson that went along with a section I just taught. This was used as a supplemental reading for students and not used in direct instruction for this lesson. 8.1: Exponential properties involving products
Technical & Cost considerations: This resource is free as far as I know. I haven't encountered any costs yet. It loads on all types of technology and is internet based.
Evaluation
Overall, I think this is a very worthwhile resource. It may not be used like other useful resources but its diversity in topics, accessibility via internet, free cost, and integrated videos with practice sets make it a great learning resources for math classes or any learning needing extra help. This online textbook is the closest thing that I have to a text book in my Algebra 1 class. Even if you don't follow the sections, you can easily link to sections and either assign it as a reading or give it as a supplemental resources. The integrated videos I think are the most beneficial feature. Students struggle to read math text books and to understand the examples and equations they read. Having the embedded videos allows students to visually see the solving process as well as hear an expert explain what they are reading. Even if you do not want to use a full textbook, you can easily search in the CK-12 site for various topics and you can find readings, videos, visuals, activities, interactives, real-world connections, study-aids, assessments and lesson plans. This site really is much more than just online textbooks. Click on the link in the description above and play around with all the parts of the resources. You can find something useful for any lesson you teach. Happy searching!
1. Learning Activity Types
2. What mathematics is being learned?
Since this resources covers an Algebra 1 textbook, then it is geared to all Algebra 1 topics and standards.
Standards
There are many ways to characterize the mathematical focus of instructional tasks and activities and to think about how the mathematical focus fits with learning goals. For now decide which NCTM standard(s) and/or Common Core standards are addressed by the tech tool. List those standards here:
~All Algebra 1 CCSS are addressed in this book. The book itself and the associated resources may not teach all the standards but they are addressed throughout the online material.
Proficiency Strands
3. How is the mathematics represented?
~Mathematics is represented in a logical mathematical order in a book. Sections of the book and topics can be easily searched and accessed with easy. Each section follows a logical pattern of introduction the topic, having some written examples and definitions, has videos that help deepen the reading as well as show how to work the problem out and visually shows the steps, and then finishes up with some more examples or applications and practice problems. The mathematics is see in both written language and symbolic manipulation as well as visual through the video.
4. What role does technology play?
~The video allows for dynamic problems solving and examples instead of just reading and not seeing how the process of solving a problem is carried out. Also, the video allows for explanation from an expert on how to approach the solving process. I think this is very benefical for students access this as a resource outside of the classroom and much more helpful then a paper textbook. Also, the extra practice problems, vocabulary links and resources all this technology to be much more powerful then a typical textbook.
Affordances of Technology for Supporting Learning
5. How does the technology fit or interact with the social context of learning?
I think this is more of an individual resource but you could easily have pairs read and work on a section together, watch the videos, work on the practice problems or interactive activities if they are associated with that section. This technology does not actively support or hinder group work or collaboration. I think this resources definitely helps parents and students interact at home over a lesson and can help parents be involved with there students learning if they are not confident to help on their own.
6. Additional Comments
I said it earlier but I think this is a great overall resource and it has so many resources and ways it can be utilized in your classroom from just supplemental resources to integrating into lessons almost daily. I have had kids tell me they liked these readings an videos I post that link to our daily lessons in class to help if they were absent, review a topic if they are struggling or if they are reviewing for a test.
Curator: Chris Armour
Description of Resource: CK-12 is a free online text book warehouse. There are probably thousands of textbooks at different levels but I have been using the Algebra 1 book, pictured above. There are chapters just like any book and then individual sections in those lessons. This could be used for a teacher needing to brush up on a top, a website parents and students could access from home or it could be a book replacement instead of buying new books. Click on this link if you want to see an example of a lesson that went along with a section I just taught. This was used as a supplemental reading for students and not used in direct instruction for this lesson. 8.1: Exponential properties involving products
Technical & Cost considerations: This resource is free as far as I know. I haven't encountered any costs yet. It loads on all types of technology and is internet based.
Evaluation
Overall, I think this is a very worthwhile resource. It may not be used like other useful resources but its diversity in topics, accessibility via internet, free cost, and integrated videos with practice sets make it a great learning resources for math classes or any learning needing extra help. This online textbook is the closest thing that I have to a text book in my Algebra 1 class. Even if you don't follow the sections, you can easily link to sections and either assign it as a reading or give it as a supplemental resources. The integrated videos I think are the most beneficial feature. Students struggle to read math text books and to understand the examples and equations they read. Having the embedded videos allows students to visually see the solving process as well as hear an expert explain what they are reading. Even if you do not want to use a full textbook, you can easily search in the CK-12 site for various topics and you can find readings, videos, visuals, activities, interactives, real-world connections, study-aids, assessments and lesson plans. This site really is much more than just online textbooks. Click on the link in the description above and play around with all the parts of the resources. You can find something useful for any lesson you teach. Happy searching!
1. Learning Activity Types
- LA-Practice - practicing for fluency- if you utilize the practice associated with each lesson.
- LA-Present - (read or attend to) presentation of new content/ideas
- LA-Present-Demo - demonstration- there are videos in each section that go along with the reading to help show how the examples work.
- LA-Present-Explain - explanation- there are example problems and the videos that explain the processes and steps.
- LA-Explore - exploring/investigating mathematical ideas- some sections will have interactive resources or "games" (PLIX, Activities, or Simulations) that go along with the section. Not all have these exploration activities. You can also search in CK-12 for these types of resources. They may not be directly linked to the section in your book
2. What mathematics is being learned?
Since this resources covers an Algebra 1 textbook, then it is geared to all Algebra 1 topics and standards.
Standards
There are many ways to characterize the mathematical focus of instructional tasks and activities and to think about how the mathematical focus fits with learning goals. For now decide which NCTM standard(s) and/or Common Core standards are addressed by the tech tool. List those standards here:
~All Algebra 1 CCSS are addressed in this book. The book itself and the associated resources may not teach all the standards but they are addressed throughout the online material.
Proficiency Strands
- conceptual understanding- readings and videos associated with each section. Some resources associated with some sections may help cement understanding as well.
- procedural fluency- practice sets that are associated with each section
3. How is the mathematics represented?
~Mathematics is represented in a logical mathematical order in a book. Sections of the book and topics can be easily searched and accessed with easy. Each section follows a logical pattern of introduction the topic, having some written examples and definitions, has videos that help deepen the reading as well as show how to work the problem out and visually shows the steps, and then finishes up with some more examples or applications and practice problems. The mathematics is see in both written language and symbolic manipulation as well as visual through the video.
4. What role does technology play?
~The video allows for dynamic problems solving and examples instead of just reading and not seeing how the process of solving a problem is carried out. Also, the video allows for explanation from an expert on how to approach the solving process. I think this is very benefical for students access this as a resource outside of the classroom and much more helpful then a paper textbook. Also, the extra practice problems, vocabulary links and resources all this technology to be much more powerful then a typical textbook.
Affordances of Technology for Supporting Learning
- Computing & Automating - digital print that is accessable anywhere via internet connections. Practice sets associated to the section and practice problems integrated at the end of the reading in some sections.
- Representing Ideas & Thinking - videos integrated in the reading
- Accessing Information - videos as well as the extra resources and the easy search capability to other resources in the CK-12 website.
5. How does the technology fit or interact with the social context of learning?
I think this is more of an individual resource but you could easily have pairs read and work on a section together, watch the videos, work on the practice problems or interactive activities if they are associated with that section. This technology does not actively support or hinder group work or collaboration. I think this resources definitely helps parents and students interact at home over a lesson and can help parents be involved with there students learning if they are not confident to help on their own.
6. Additional Comments
I said it earlier but I think this is a great overall resource and it has so many resources and ways it can be utilized in your classroom from just supplemental resources to integrating into lessons almost daily. I have had kids tell me they liked these readings an videos I post that link to our daily lessons in class to help if they were absent, review a topic if they are struggling or if they are reviewing for a test.