Project Proposal?

I have a few thoughts regarding my project ideas... But first,.....

I have to share with you some awesome news about me getting a set of ~10 netbooks in my classroom this next year! I've got some plans for using them for data collection (instead of our old CBL's), simulations, group lab reports, and much more! The tough part is deciding where to start. I'm pretty pumped about it!

Along those lines, I have a few ideas about my project and the technology I/we hope to be using with my students.

1) Have my students regularly comment on what they have learned after working (in groups) on one of the simulation websites (the PHeT website, to be specific). I was thinking that using VoiceThreading would be a good medium for them to post their comments and feedback. I do have a concern about that though, because I'm afraid that many comments are going to be the same, since they can view all the comments of everyone that posted before they did. (although, i guess i could just moderate them until they've all been submitted...hmmm..). Another thought is for them to create a screencast summary of their simulation investigations and then to post it somewhere like a class website (which I'd like to make some time). I already have created a Voicethread example I have posted earlier, if you want to take a look.

I wonder if this would this fulfill all of the project requirements? If not, here is something else I could add....

2) For my chemistry students, I was thinking that they could use some web tools to help them learn how to write a good lab report. For example, I would post 3 examples of lab reports (from previous students) to a Voicethread and then they could comment on what they thought of each report, and give it a grade according to the rubrics that I will be using to grade their lab reports, once they've got some practice at writing them. They could then work as a group, using Google Docs, on writing one collaborative lab report.

Any thoughts?

Week 6 PLN Report

This week I reconnected with three people that I hadn't spoken with in a few years. One is a college chemistry prof in Pennsylvania, one is a chemistry prof. at nearby University of Montana, and one is a former colleague of mine that now teaches at another HS in town. As a result of my conversations with each one, it now looks like my chem class may be participating in some air quality monitoring in our valley area, and I got some good feedback/ideas about managing the set of netbooks that I will be getting (instead of textbooks) for my physics classroom (Yeah!). I also got some good advice to seriously consider using Google Docs for some collaborative group lab report writing that my kids will be working on. All good stuff, I must say. Vive le PLN !! (as you might guess, I've also been keeping an eye on the Tour de France lately).

Project Potential

Here is a one potential portion of my class project. VoiceThread for formative assessment.

Physics VoiceThread

Here is a short VoiceThread I created using VoiceThread.com. I can see this being a useful tool and will consider using it in my classes.

Power(ful) Pointing

If you'd like to see PowerPoint taken to another level, check out this online article by Ken Costello. He uses a lot of motion in some of his slides, and he discusses some appropriate ways to use PowerPoint (not for lecture notes!). I think he has some good thoughts on the matter, although I think he must spend a lot of time creating them and I believe one might be better off finding other simulations/animations to insert in a presentation instead. You can download many of his presentations at his Chem 130 Homepage.

Chemistry Lesson Screencast

For my first screencast, I chose to narrate how I use a powerpoint presentation (not lecture) as part of a lesson on precipitation reactions in my high school chemistry class. I hope you might something useful in it. Enjoy!

Just PLaiN impressive!

Today I delved a little further into my PLN and Web 2.0, and boy was I rewarded! For the first time, I really looked into what was available in Classroom 2.0 and found an archived session on Google Search beyond just using key words searches. What I discovered was another layer to what Google contributes to the net. Specifically, I learned of ways to customize searches (and share them), how to use language translation tools, how to do more effective searches for news items (and follow them chronologically), and what Google Scholar is all about/what it can do. I really did not know that this stuff was even "out there" to use. I even liked the Elluminate chat session/presentation format. There certainly was a lot going on! Although I now have a bunch of new items I'd like to incorporate in my teaching and share with my students, I promised myself I wouldn't immediately dive into it all. I'll start with just one for now. So,.... which one will it be?.........

Google Earth

I've worked with Google Earth before, but never knew about the Google Earth Gallery. The World Oil Consumption and the World Energy Consumption files might even find their way into the energy and environment unit in my physics class.

Give a little bit....

This week has found me in a little different position regarding my PLN.... Turns out this week, I was actually on the giving end of my PLN. During a visit with an English teacher colleague of mine (who has given me some good teaching ideas in the past), I got to talking about what I've picked up about the power and potential of blogs and wikis in the classroom. I explained that I envision using wikis in my science classes on projects such as research papers and collaborative lab report writing and maybe some peer grading. Apparently, that was enough to provoke her curiosity about what wikis are, and how they might be used in her classes. I must say that after spending so much time on the receiving end of my PLN, it felt good to be able to give a little a bit back :)

Simulation Stimulation

Whoops,... thought I posted this already..

On Simulations

What I find especially appealing and useful about simulations, is their usefulness as a means to aid students in developing their critical thinking abilities, whether that be identifying and manipulating variables, analyzing information, or designing experiments. There is little worry about equipment not working, or breaking (or not having it to begin with!), or something disastrous happening. Students can really feel free to explore and try out their own ideas. Mind you, there is still no substitute for ACTUALLY working with stuff, and doing REAL experiments using simulations can be a nice way to coax them into the true inquiry nature of science.

I strongly believe that it is possible for students to learn the key facts, skills, concepts specific to their science class, ALL THE WHILE developing their thinking skills and reasoning abilities. They can actually know more and become smarter in the ways that matter most and prepare them best. And I believe that that is most effective when teachers focus on HOW they not teach, not just what they teach. The appropriate use of simulations is a tremendous tool that can help educators achieve that goal.

Week 3 Update

This week found me struggling with keeping up on my writing in my own blog, although I've been good about reading others' blogs. With a house FULL of family visiting me on vacation, it's been a busy week!

I did also manage to look into Classroom 2.0 and I signed myself up on iGoogle, which I think is a terrific thing! I don't know if it's officially what's called an aggragator, but it's another tool for better "one-stop shopping". I didn't quite find what I was looking for in the live sessions offered in Classroom 2.0. I am hoping I can learn more about the use of netbooks (instead of textbooks) in my classroom, and all of the things should be considered before transitioning from mostly paper media to mostly electronic media. I had this discussion with one of my administrators, and we both believe that this is the direction things are headed in education. I will keep searching for more on this subject, for sure. I also looked into Creative Commons, and found some alright resources there. I'll be going back to it occasionally, I believe.

Regarding The Educator's Guide to Copyright and Fair Use article, like many others, I found it marginally enlightening. Mind you, I have had discussions such as this with our library personnel, so much of it sounds familiar.

Great Laser Magic(?) Show

Found this video clip of a great laser magic show while checking out some other physics teachers on Twitter (still trying to expand that PLN, ya know!).

Downloads: Views: 111