C4T #1

 

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Honestly, I had some difficulty understanding the relevance of the proposed math curriculum on Jennifer Brokofsky’s blog. I believe my difficulty centered around who the video blogs were intended for…1) are these videos intended for teachers to learn how to execute learning strategies in the classroom?, 2) are the videos to provoke discussion amongst teachers?,  or 3) are the students supposed to watch these videos themselves? I commend her ability to relate difficult math concepts by using relevant child-oriented math problems a typical child would encounter, but was lost at who the audience for the videos was intended for on this particular blog. 

Jennifer Brokofsky is an Instruction Consultant with Saskatoon Public Schools.  Her blog  Three Act Math Movies: Candy Colours was an interesting view.  I like the way she has connected everyday life situations with the basic fundamentals of mathematics for all ages.  Jennifer’s hands-on methods of problem solving initiates educational concepts such as the differences of equality and inequality, basics of addition and subtraction, and the comparing of different sets.  Depending on the age, her videos of sharing skittles have possible connections with second graders thru fifth graders.  I believe her goal is to show students the relationship between mathematical education and everyday social situations so they will have a more intense desire to learn. 

Three Act Math Movies: Sharing Pizza ran parallel with the first view.  However, the three part skittles videos were more exciting to watch as the pizza videos lacked sound.  Both sets of videos used technology to demonstrate real life child scenarios that could illustrate math education.  Ms. Brokofsky’s ideas on “possible curriculum connections” made a lot of sense but may require clarity in how they should be executed by the educator.