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Creativity in Science Learning
The document discusses strategies for engaging students in science learning using technology. It provides examples of how tools like Skype, Voicethread, Google Docs, and Animoto can be used to connect with experts, share results collaboratively, and demonstrate understanding. Recommendations are given for using mobile devices, videos, and games to enhance science instruction and help students learn.
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Creativity in Science Learning
- 1. ICTEV Annual StateConference: May 2012
- 2. Professor Suzanne Cory, President of the Australian Academy of Science, addresses The National Press Club on 28th September, 2011. “A decade ago, a review of Australian science education, revealed many students were disappointed with their high school science. Today, this disenchantment continues, as evidenced by the declining number of students choosing to study science in senior secondary school.”
- 3. Created online with“Create-A-Graph” http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/index.asp
- 4. Children are naturallycurious about how the world around them works; so why do we have a shortage of scientific expertise?
- 5. Today’s Learners are: • Multi-taskers • Digitally literate • Mobile and connected 24/7 • Experiential • Social • Visual/spatial learners • Fast response times, short attention spans © 2006 “Teaching the 21st Century Learner” http://depd.wisc.edu/series/06_4168.pdf
- 6. Traditional science teachingmay not be engaging our tech-savvy, globally-connected future leaders. They need to be critical evaluators of evidence, decision-makers, problem-solvers and great communicators – and science can help them gain those skills.
- 7. Why do weneed to teach with technology? 1. The Power to Engage 2. Students use technology already – educate them to use it for good and not for evil! 3. Professional Development 4. It's not going to go away...it will only grow 5. Employers want their workers to use internet tools http://www.emergingedtech.com/2009/05/5-reasons-why- educators-need-to-embrace-internet-technologies/
- 8. “How can yousuccessfully integrate digital tools into science classes to enhance student learning?”
- 10. I get overwhelmedby all the choices – there are so many different web2.0 tools and informative resources to use! Try a social bookmarking site:
- 11. How can Iget to know my students better at the beginning of the school year? Try using Survey Monkey or Google Docs to create a student survey about their strengths, interests and concerns.
- 12. How can Iintroduce a new topic with web2.0 tools? You can use Flickr and PowerPoint to create slideshow of interesting images around your topic.
- 15. How can Iconnect with experts using web2.0 tools? Use Skype or Blackboard Collaborate to participate in presentations, ask questions and connect with scientists.
- 16. We use Skypeand Blackboard Collaborate to connect with our Scientist in Schools partner, Melissa Toifl, from CSIRO Land and Water Technologies, in Highett and Clayton.
- 17. Peter Barnett, Geologist from Hot Rocks Ltd. Connecting with experts in the field increases motivation and engagement by allowing students to ask questions and actively participate in presentations.
- 18. Participation in webconferences with ActWild, facilitated by the Melbourne Zoo, develops student knowledge and empathy for our wildlife.
- 19. Students collect data abouttree growth to upload to the Smithsonian Institute website, where scientists use the data for climate change research.
- 20. In 2011 and1012 I have used Blackboard Collaborate to teach Unit 3 and 4 VCE Environmental Science to students from different schools around the state. We connect for 90 minutes each week synchronously and use the Ultranet, my blog, email and Facebook asynchronously. We met at Ecolinc, Bacchus Marsh in term 1 and plan to meet at EcoBeach Apollo Bay YHA during term 3 holidays.
- 21. How can Ifind out what my students already know about a topic? Try creating a group word cloud using Google Docs and Wordle or Tagxedo.
- 24. How can youencourage students to connect different concepts or show their understanding of how ideas are related? Inspiration (edustar), Bubbl.us (online) and Freemind (download) are free digital mind mapping tools that are easy to use and display on blogs.
- 27. "StoryJumper" is anon-line tool for creating children's story books - "kids teaching kids".
- 28. "Pivot" is softwarethat allows creation of stick figure animations that can be converted to video.
- 30. Using Comic Lifeto illustrate student understanding of Forces. The brief was to create a cartoon to demonstrate that: “Forces can start motion, stop motion, change the speed, direction or shape of an object or have no effect at all.”
- 32. How can mobiledevices be used effectively to enhance science learning? Use ipods, mobile phones to scan QR codes, take pictures or record data during excursions and trips outside into the school garden.
- 33. Students can createtheir own webpage in a wiki and use the URL to create a QR (quick response) code that directs the user to the information in their webpage.
- 35. How can youencourage students to work together, collaborate on projects and share their results? Google Docs and Wikispaces are free tools that allow students to work together online.
- 36. International Energy Challenge 150 students, five schools, three countries and 12 energy sources. http://energychallenge.wikispaces.com/
- 37. How can studentsdescribe experiments or work together to explain the results of investigations? Voicethread is a simply wonderful way to use images with audio and text.
- 38. Evaluate and Create • Predict, Observe and Explain an experiment Eg. "Separating Mixtures” • Record a process Eg. "Making Paper from Grass“ • Describe a system Eg. "Water Cycle Posters“ • Collaborate with students from other classes, countries and continents. Share with parents, relatives and friends. • Some great examples for using Voicethread in education
- 39. Other audio tools... Audiotools are great for students with poor writing skills to make predictions, record their observations and explain their results. Creating a character to speak adds interest for both the student and the listener (Blabberize and Voki). I have just added SpeakPipe to my blogs for student questions.
- 40. My students havedifficulty remembering definitions of scientific terms – how can I help? Quizlet and Flashcards db are online tools where students can create digital Flashcards, which can be used online or printed out. There is a similar app for iPods and iPads called Flashcardlet.
- 42. How can Ihelp my students revise effectively for tests? Quiz Revolution (formerly My Studiyo) is a free tool for creating online multiple choice quizzes. It is simple for students to create their own quizzes and send a link by email to their friends and teacher or embed the quiz into a blog. Quizlet is similar.
- 44. How can studentsdemonstrate their understanding of a topic? Ask students to create a digital story using Animoto, Slideshare, Photostory, Windows Movie Maker or iMovie.
- 45. Your students canenter the 60 second science competition by explaining a scientific concept. http://www.60secondscience.net/
- 46. Creating and Evaluating- Video • Create "60 second science" videos to explain a science concept. http://www.60secondscience.net/ • Use Photostory, Windows Moviemaker, Voicethread, Kahootz, Pivot, MonkeyJam or other animation software. • "How to Make a Rainbow"; "How a Wind Turbine Works" and "Life and Death of a Star".
- 47. Creating and Evaluating- Video • Flip video to record presentations, experiments, dissections, role plays, interviews and mock TV programs. • Use Video tools - YouTube, TeacherTube, Vimeo or Viddex to embed in blogs and wikis for student evaluative comments • Use the 3,2,1 rule - 3 positive encouragements, 2 questions and 1 suggestion for improvement.
- 48. How can Ifind out what students learnt during a lesson or what they may not have understood? Wallwisher can be used as an exit slip – a short, low-stakes, assessment task. A prompted (or unprompted) written reflection that is posted online.
- 49. • What didyou learn about cells today? • How could you get a magnification of x400? • What is the difference between a light microscope and a stereo microscope?
- 50. REFERENCES • Prof. SuzanneCory’s National Press Club Address on 28th September, 2011 http://theconversation.edu.au/science-maths-and-the- future-of-australia-3577 • Bored students image from http://ap018.edublogs.org/2010/10/17/pop-culture/ • Survey by STA and Academy of Science at http://www.fasts.org/images/News2010/science%20lit eracy%20report%20final%20270710.pdf (04/10/2011) • Teaching the 21st Century Learner at http://depd.wisc.edu/series/06_4168.pdf