I do not get to teach this unit very often. I am super excited for the next time I get to though!
I can honestly say that I have learned a lot through out this. I have pushed myself to get out of my comfort zone of using the same platforms. I have gained many ideas of what I plan to do with the platforms I have learned about, whether it be for myself or to introduce it to my colleagues. Our students just recently went 1:1 so now I have all of this to use. There is so much out there, but now I know how not to be overwhelmed with it.
I have also learned a bit about myself and my teaching styles. I can say that I do lean towards the grounded theory.
I will take away a lot about UDL and SAMR model and continue to use that when lesson planning.
For the SAMR model, I will continue to shoot for the Modification and Redefinition levels. I feel as though I am already at the Substitution and Augmentation levels with my calculator program because it does replace a lot of tools. However, the substitution and augmentation levels really shoot for changing the way you teach with the technology ADDING to the way you teach. Just replacing does not help, but adding technology that is really going to help the students learn is something completely different.
A big part of the UDL Guidelines for me is the engagement part. I was told once this year that one of my coworkers thought that my class suffered the most due to not being able to engage with eachother because I do a lot of that in my class. I strive for "think, pair, shares", partner work, math board games, and 1:1 in my classroom. If my students cannot engage with eachother, then that's a problem for me. So, a big thing for me is to find technology that will allow them to do this. Desmos was a good example for my software analysis because it has so many activities that have the students working with eachother. I would love to find more of these platforms. Representation is pretty huge as well. I need them to be able to practice their skills while tying it to something other than me standing there saying "this is what it is." Connections are so important in math.
I also have learned that even though technology is great, it may not fit with everything. Somethings just need to be left alone. Do not force technology where it doesn not go.
I really like the different activities you have planned for this lesson: the transformation golf sounds really unique. Again, I think you have a good mix of traditional, hands-on, and discipline-based activities for this lesson that will keep students both engaged and actively learning about the Math process. I think you have certainly come up with some ways to switch up the traditional process that will make it more fun!
I appreciate the comprehensive view you gave of this multi-day lesson. I've never had TI Nspires for my classroom, so I really like seeing how they could be used to push something out to a whole class. I also like that you were able to take something that already existed but tweak it to your needs. Looks like an awesome lesson!