1. Use technology to help me evaluate how well students are understanding concepts.
Both immediately- using clickers to their best advantage, and longer term ( formative assessments?)
2. Use technology to engage students in the learning process: help them be active, not passive learners
Us e wiki more effectively by requiring feedback from students
3. Use technology to collect data.
In the lab with the probes
4. Use technology to allow students to access large amounts of data and interpret this data.
Use of excel . probe software and databases
5. Use technology to flatten the world for students. Expose them to scientists and researchers from all over the world.
Investigate how scientists can be brought into the classroom, and use short videos on topics in the curriculum that tie on current happenings with content
6. Use technology to establish help-lines for students.
Provide means of support for students who have questions on homework or provide opportunities for self-study
Mary-
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your comments. I think your a spot on with all of your comments. In particular, I enjoyed your discussion of education in America vs. other countries.
Taylor
Mary,
ReplyDeleteYou have posted some great ideas about using technology in classroom. #5 is a powerful idea. It makes a lot of sense to highlight the latest developments while teaching a science concept/topic. I hope that would inspire the students to think and act 'new'. A few weeks ago, I have read about how an eleventh grader's science fair project, using supercomputers, shed more light on Cystic Fibrosis, and scientists believe that the student's work might hopefully lead to finding a cure in the near future.
Mary
ReplyDeleteCould you comment on how you use the 'clickers' in your class? I am thinking of using them to assist in my data collection for my capstone project. I am studying how computer simulations benefit students' conceptual understanding of quantum physics topics. the clickers could be used to collect pre-assessment data (I think).
Kristian
I think #5 is at the top of my list. I often refer to it as "thinning the walls" of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI have been using them for about 5-6 yr. now. I use them in 3 basic ways. 1. I insert questions into my lecture presentations (pwrpt)to make sure they are understanding,paying attention, or getting practice working chem problems. 2. We use them for review games before a test 3. Sometimes if awe are working problems in class, I can put up an answer key, so they can sub,it there answers as they work them, and know if they got them right or not. Some teachers use them so kids can correct there own homework. I have only done this s few times.
ReplyDeleteI will say students really enjoy using them (especially game days) and it especially helps them work out problems-they will ask their neighbor or me if they get a problem wrong on what they did wrong.
I especially like the idea of using technology in the science labs. My students use vernier loggerpro and Pasco in many of the Physics labs. The collection of data is elaborate and precise and students find data processing fairly interesting.However I believe that not all of the labs should make use of the data logging devices becuse traditional methods of collecting data is important in many ways. Students learn more about precision, errors and limitations and the actual procedure of setting up a lab when they actually do them using appropriate tools and equipments.
ReplyDeleteMary, just as Eric stated...I like #5! I didn't think of adding that to my guiding principles:( It made me realize our science classes are doing something similar! Our principal challenged us to bring in guest speakers once a month from our community so that our students can see the "real world" application to our particular curricular area. Before the scientist comes into the classroom, I have students do research on the speakers' job and develop questions to ask the guest. As I learn more about this Web2.0, I am brainstorming ideas to allow the students to stay connected with the guest speakers we bring in (either through class blog, skype, podcasting, ???) How do you use guest speakers in your class?/Any tips or ideas?
ReplyDelete