Technology in the Classroom

As I observed in the classroom and looked for different available types of technology, I was amazed. There is one transparency projector that is shared among each grade level. It was interesting to see that my teacher had it every day and would use it as a tool to show what the "agenda" or item of business they needed to write. It was a good way for all the students to see the writing. She also had a TV and VCR which she has used. She also has a CD player that is used daily to listen to books on tape while following along or to learn new songs to sing. I found that something as small as a CD player can be so useful as I think that students would get tired of hearing the teacher over and over again read the stories. One thing I noticed and wished that they had is that they do not have any computers that are use for the students in the classroom. If they wish to use a computer they need to have a scheduled time at the computer lab. It is fun to see how teachers use their technology to enhance their teaching. I also completed part 1 (midcourse evaluation) and part 2 (informed consent).

Science + Technology = FUN!

I learned so much about the different techniques I could use while teaching science within the classroom. I think that they all have a great ability to be more beneficial when a student can actually see the project being performed. I really liked seeing the probes, microscope, and stellarium applications. They make science more real to the students. I do think it is important to remember that even though it can be helpful, there can be other things that can go wrong while using our technology and so as teachers we need to be prepared for the unexpected and flexible. I am excited to use some of these different types of technology to teach science in the classroom and allow the students to enjoy the learning process. I also enjoyed learning of different ideas from Janae Browning- force plate science, Lauryn Paul- pH Mania, and Daren Parker- stellarium and constellations.

Science Project

Science Exploration

   For our science activity we will be looking at the phases of the moon throughout a period of time.  We plan to go off the 6th grade standard 1, objective 1b.  We will go over a lesson or series of lessons on the mood and the phases of the moon.  We will then use the program stellarium to look at the the phases.  Then using the program we will have an assignment where the students will be asked to look at the moon phases over a period of time and to draw them as they change.

   The content we plan to focus on is the change in the moon phases over time.  We would like to be able to see the actual change and understand why the moon changes.  Also to understand that the moon is always all there, it is just the light that is shown on the moon.

    The pedagogy will be a series of things including discussion, direct instruction, use of technology, and then moving around and actually looking at the moon to compare with the results one would have.  This is a good fit for the content because somethings will need to be explicitly taught so that the students are ready to carry on with the activity.  I also think it is important that we have chosen to use discussion as the students can collaborate and talk about how they view the different things.

    The technology we have chosen to use is the program known as stellarium.  We are using stellarium because it will allow the students to see the moon without cloud cover.  It makes the moon more accessible to students, especially in months that there is often rain or snow and still allow them to see the process of the moon.  It also helps with allowing the students to use technology and look at the moon when they otherwise could not.

Please keep your arms and hands in the ride at all times (TOUR)

For looking at the tours I looked at Daren's religious buildings, Janae Browning's biomes, and Lauryn Paul's comparing communities. I really enjoyed watching them and getting more great ideas that I could use in my future classroom. I really liked that I could look at pictures and then really look at some of the buildings. I also thought it was neat that some of them put videos with their tour, that way you could connect whatever was happening in the video with the actual place.

Some positive things about using tours and google earth in a classroom is the ability to actually see places 3-D without really being there. It is almost impossible to take the students there to these foreign places on a field trip, so in a way this is real enough that they can see it. I also like it because not only can they see the place but we can add videos or text with the different things we are viewing and connect them.

Some negative things is that even after making a tour I still think they are confusing to maneuver. I just hope that the students can figure out how to work it. I also think that for some subjects it would be easier and more beneficial for the students to just read it. Overall it was a great experience.

Take a Ride on the Volcano Tour

If you want to take a ride and see volcanoes and learn characteristics of volcanoes, different kinds of volcanoes, how they are formed, and what land forms they create at: Volcano Tour

 I have chosen to do my google earth tour concerning volcanoes and the different volcanoes.  I have chosen to do 5th Grade Science Standard 2: Students will understand that volcanoes, earthquakes, uplift, weathering, and erosion reshape Earth's surface.  Objective 2: Explain how volcanoes, earthquakes, and uplift affect Earth’s surface.  After looking at different kinds of volcanoes and viewing the area around them I hope that the students will more fully understand why and how volcanoes are formed and the characteristics of volcanoes.  This will follow the beginnings of the lesson.  I think this would be an easier way to view the area around the volcanoes and to find little blurbs about each different kind of volcano, which would be easier and more enjoyable then using a map on the wall.  This will allow them to see the area.  I chose this topic because i think volcanoes would be interesting to learn about.

Location	Activity Description	Google Earth Content
1.Stratovolcano-Mount St. Helens, Washington	Look at picture and read paragraph about this kind of volcano.  How is the volcano formed? Does it produce lava?  What does the area around it look like?	Be able to see the pictures and terrain
2. Cinder Cone Volcano-Sunset Crater, Arizona	Look at picture and read paragraph about this kind of  volcano.  Make a chart describing the different characteristics of the cinder cone volcano.  How was the area around it affected?	Be able to see the pictures and terrain
3.Shield Volcano- Mauna Lao, Hawaii	Look at pictures and read paragraph about the Hawaiian islands.  Draw a picture of a shield volcano labeling all of the specific parts of the volcano.  How is it  different from the other volcanoes already seen?	Be able to see the pictures and terrain
4. Composite Volcano- Mount Rainier, Washington	Look at pictures and read about the history of the volcano?  Is it still active?  What does it mean for a volcano to be active?  Describe its characteristics.  What does the land look like around it?	Be able to see the pictures and terrain