LoTi Examples (September 5)

I've read about the Level of Technology Implementation (LoTi).  It's interesting that they are talking about using technology to enhance student learning.  I work for a Virtual School, so we use many resources that are entirely technology based to develop a course.  Students use all sorts of information.  Now I'm having to go in and look at how classroom teachers are using such resources.  This is where we could really step in and train Face-to-face teachers on proper use of technology.

Technology allows teachers to implement differentiated instruction.  It teaches students how to collaborate effectively.  They'll need these technology and collaboration skills as they enter the workforce!  So besides teaching them subject matter, they'll need to know how to use it.

Before I talk about my examples, I want to discuss my project.  After really looking at what is required, I think I'll need to change my initial project.  Although, I'll still be helping his son and possibly his friends with his college algebra class, I don't think it meets the criteria of the project.

I'm a certified High School math teacher and during the summer I had the opportunity to attend a training for the new Advanced Mathematical Decision Making course.  I was fascinated by the finance unit of this course.  I think we leave so much of this out of the current math curriculum.  At Georgia Virtual School, we are currently developing a Math 4 - Finance course.  So I'm planning to use what I learned in the AMDM training as well as the GPS for our finance course to develop a lesson we can use in that new course!  I'm excited about developing a lesson that will really help students apply their math knowledge in a very real-world situation.

With that said, I've been focusing on various HS level Finance lessons that use technology.  I've found five activities so far, but here are a couple...

Pay Credit when Credit is Due:
This first lesson is very lengthy.  It's actually a 3 day lesson.  Students would walk through a variety of activities to explore what happens when you delay paying credit or pay the minimum amount.  Students will use the internet to research various credit cards.  Annual fees, rates, penalties, and benefits.  They will work in groups and come up with 3 possible cards they may be interested in and create an infographic that displays the information.  They will also be required to write up a "report" justifying their selection of card.

I really like this lesson as a senior level activity.  I have a freshman in college and we explored credit cards with him.  We knew that credit card companies tend to focus on college students and credit is something that can cause problems for a newly independent student.  Knowing what to look for will be very helpful to these students.



Introduction to Mortgage Loans
In this activity, students are introduced to Mortgage loans through a video lesson.  The students then have to do some investigation of various banks and requirements for getting a mortgage.  They will determine available rates as well as down payment requirements.  The students will then look at real estate prices in their area and find a property to "purchase".  They will compare three different available loans and determine which would be the best option for their situation.

Again, being an adult who has experienced the housing crisis, this is something these students should know about.  So many people who have lost homes were in the situation because they got themselves into a loan they could not afford.  The bank made some special financing available in the immediate future that allowed people to get into houses they could not afford.  When the adjustable mortgage went up, they quickly found they were in over their head.  Some knowledge ahead of time might help these students to avoid this as home-buying adults.

I'm excited about this new direction in my project.  I think I can develop an intriguing lesson that the students will be very excited about.  And the best part is that we can use it in a real Georgia Virtual School course!