Washington, D.C.
14 years ago
Monday, January 26, 2009
New SciFi Technos
This week was fun to explore all the possible science links and tools. I am a huge fan of Google earth and I always have fun using it. But this assignment introduced me to some cool new websites and ideas. For this science activity my group explored the virtual pond website and the utility of digital microscopes. I think that digital microscopes would be a good tool in the classroom because of the hands on experience that it would provide students with. I always loved microscopes when I was young and I think every kid enjoys exploring through a 'new lense'. The microscope would allow them to make sense of what they are seeing because they would be the one viewing the content. I am a huge fan of the utility of a digital microscope.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
TPACK smack
I had never heard of TPACK before this lesson and I find the idea interesting. I always had teachers who used technology in the classroom but I never realized that it was for the enhancement of a concept. They just seemed applicable to what was being taught. I think this knowledge is necessary for teachers because of the teaching aid that it can be. I found this information helpful for me and I am not even a teacher yet. This knowledge can only help teachers be more effective in all content areas. Involving technology alongside teaching allows students to learn with various teaching tools. Technology also may be a tool that excites and involves students who get bored by standard classroom settings. I think this information is very useful.
I Teach Science
As a teacher in the increasingly tech savvy world we have created a way for students in the 6th grade classroom to explore different microorganisms through the use of digital microscopes and an interactive Internet website. We believe that through the use of these aids this lesson will be more meaningful for the students.
The objective that we are focusing on for our science lesson is to observe and summarize information about microorganisms. For this lesson we are going to introduce the students to the concept of microorganisms. We will discuss a few different types of microorganisms that surround us in our environment. After we have sparked the interest of this new concept we will then explore the website http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html. This link will take you to Virtual Pond Dip and it is an interactive activity for students. It allows you to see the physical form of various microorganisms. In the pond, each component is a link and has specific information concerning each individual microorganism. The virtual pond will allow students to explore various microorganisms and their information.
After this activity of exploring microorganisms in the pond water, we will then introduce the students to the digital microscope. We plan on using small sample of pond water for the students to view through the microscope. Only a small drop is required under a digital microscope and it allows students to see these small organisms up close.
As students have opportunities to explore microorganisms online, they will be able to clearly see and identify the differences between the various organisms. Using the Virtual Pond website students are able to easily view and classify microorganisms. This easily enhances their ability to pick out the microorganisms and identify the various components involved with each. As students learn about each microorganism they are not only viewing the physical characteristics, but also the make-up and movement of each. This provides the perfect introduction into classifying microorganisms before students view real life microorganisms from a nearby pond. Students are able to truly learn the differences between each microorganism, making time spent looking through the microscope more useful. Students will be able to truly learn the differences without feeling burdened and overwhelmed with staring through a microscope for many hours. This technological feature also makes the distinctions between the microorganisms more clear, enhancing their ability to classify, identify and observe microorganisms. Using this technology not only saves time in the classroom, it also develops students use of the Internet and observing abilities. Students learn skills in many areas as they learn about the microorganism from the Virtual Pond website.
We chose this picture of a pond to illustrate the point that microorganisms can be found in every part of our environment. This pond also ties to the virtual pond water experiment and the pond water that the students will be exploring through the digital microscope. Pond image found at: http://www.dinternursery.ca/PondMay.JPG
This digital microscope is an example of microscope that would be useful for students to use to examine microorganisms up close. Microscope image found at: http://www.microscope-microscope.org/basic/microscope-images/digital-microscope-420tc.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.microscope-microscope.org/basic/buyers-guide.htm&usg=__JnlfUfrdaatuA6CIuRQ6Q-qrbMQ=&h=399&w=300&sz=18&hl=en&start=6&sig2=QOq6u6ijcEeCmRXDDdbUrg&um=1&tbnid=pPf1BE_EUHlPTM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&ei=ADt-SbaCA6TUMaSxnJoH&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddigital%2Bmicroscope%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
The following four screen captures are of the Virutal Pond website. These screen schots show the opening page of the virtual experience, and some of the useful pages. This gives a brief overview of what a teacher can expect of the experience.
The objective that we are focusing on for our science lesson is to observe and summarize information about microorganisms. For this lesson we are going to introduce the students to the concept of microorganisms. We will discuss a few different types of microorganisms that surround us in our environment. After we have sparked the interest of this new concept we will then explore the website http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html. This link will take you to Virtual Pond Dip and it is an interactive activity for students. It allows you to see the physical form of various microorganisms. In the pond, each component is a link and has specific information concerning each individual microorganism. The virtual pond will allow students to explore various microorganisms and their information.
After this activity of exploring microorganisms in the pond water, we will then introduce the students to the digital microscope. We plan on using small sample of pond water for the students to view through the microscope. Only a small drop is required under a digital microscope and it allows students to see these small organisms up close.
As students have opportunities to explore microorganisms online, they will be able to clearly see and identify the differences between the various organisms. Using the Virtual Pond website students are able to easily view and classify microorganisms. This easily enhances their ability to pick out the microorganisms and identify the various components involved with each. As students learn about each microorganism they are not only viewing the physical characteristics, but also the make-up and movement of each. This provides the perfect introduction into classifying microorganisms before students view real life microorganisms from a nearby pond. Students are able to truly learn the differences between each microorganism, making time spent looking through the microscope more useful. Students will be able to truly learn the differences without feeling burdened and overwhelmed with staring through a microscope for many hours. This technological feature also makes the distinctions between the microorganisms more clear, enhancing their ability to classify, identify and observe microorganisms. Using this technology not only saves time in the classroom, it also develops students use of the Internet and observing abilities. Students learn skills in many areas as they learn about the microorganism from the Virtual Pond website.
We chose this picture of a pond to illustrate the point that microorganisms can be found in every part of our environment. This pond also ties to the virtual pond water experiment and the pond water that the students will be exploring through the digital microscope. Pond image found at: http://www.dinternursery.ca/PondMay.JPG
This digital microscope is an example of microscope that would be useful for students to use to examine microorganisms up close. Microscope image found at: http://www.microscope-microscope.org/basic/microscope-images/digital-microscope-420tc.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.microscope-microscope.org/basic/buyers-guide.htm&usg=__JnlfUfrdaatuA6CIuRQ6Q-qrbMQ=&h=399&w=300&sz=18&hl=en&start=6&sig2=QOq6u6ijcEeCmRXDDdbUrg&um=1&tbnid=pPf1BE_EUHlPTM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&ei=ADt-SbaCA6TUMaSxnJoH&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddigital%2Bmicroscope%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
The following four screen captures are of the Virutal Pond website. These screen schots show the opening page of the virtual experience, and some of the useful pages. This gives a brief overview of what a teacher can expect of the experience.
Monday, January 12, 2009
RSS and Web 2.0 are tricky!
I learned a lot about RSS this week. Considering the fact that I have never heard of RSS. RSS is a new concept to me and I found it quite interesting that I have never heard of this resource. Web 2.0 is also very helpful because it is an open resource for others to view. I have always doubted the blogging system but I see where it is helpful in this class because you can see what others are doing if you are confused. This new knowledge will be helpful as a teacher because I will know how to condense all my favorite and useful websites into one place.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
My life with technology....
I have had some experience with technology because I went to an elementary school in a district that stressed the importance of technology. We always had current computers and programs. We often had small lectures on the new gadgets that were being invented. I then went onto Junior High and High School and took a few computer resource classes. I feel like I understand Macintosh computers very well, but only briefly understand how to use PC's.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
