Personal Technology Goal

In preparation for the continuing implementation of technology in your classroom, develop a statement or paragraph reflective of a personal goal for technology use in the classroom. Consider each level of technology use outlined in Grappling's Technology and Learning Spectrum and how those levels are applicable in the classroom.

Respond to this post when you have developed your goal. Please comment on one another's goals as well. Remember that we are a learning community and you all have much to share. I look forward to reading about your goals for this coming year by the end of next week.

Welcome 2008/09

This blog is intended to keep the lines of communication open and serve as a repository for ideas and resources between sessions. I hope that there will be a lively discourse on educational issues related to social studies and technology.

Please respond to this post to introduce yourself. I'm interested in how long you have been teaching, your favorite teaching memory, and your thoughts about the work we will be doing as a group.

Science Blogs

To find blogs about science, you can do a search. Go to Google Blog Search and type in the type of science you would like to read about. Please find and write about a science blog that you would like to investigate. Include the URL in your post. If you're not sure how to make the link active, go back to the Blog page of the initial assignment.

Jane's Link

Inquiry Resources

Center for Inquiry-based Learning
http://www.biology.duke.edu/cibl/exercise_catalogue.htm

Classroom and Online Activities
http://www.cosi.org/educators/activities/

28 Questions to promote Inquiry
http://tlc.ousd.k12.ca.us/~acody/inquiryquery.html

Science Inquiry Entomology
http://entomology.unl.edu/k12/index.shtml

Lots of Science Lesson Links, Not all Inquiry
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/matrix.cfm

Resources and Lessons
http://www.fcatmentor.com/science.htm

eMINTS Inquiry
http://missouri.emints.org/area1/science/

Exploratorium (Look for the Inquiry Link)
http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/handson.html

Valentine's Day Evaluation

Thanks for spending the day looking at Inquiry-based learning. We have one more session together, and I would like to share some Web 2.0 tools with you, such as wiki's, podcasts, blogs etc. Before that, I would like you to do the following:

Leave a comment here that addresses one or more of these evaluation statements/questions.

* Write a headline about today's session.
* List 3 key ideas or points from todays session.
* What could have made this training session better/easier for you?

December Reflection & February Preview Task

Hi all,

After reading your reflection on the December session, I have made some decisions about where we will go for the next two sessions.

I agree that inquiry is an incredibly important piece, especially for science teachers. I'll devote at least half a day to that process. I will also provide you with a couple of lesson plan templates that you could use to make sure that your lessons are more inquiry-based and less teacher-driven. No one will be successful, yourself or your students, if you plunge headlong into full inquiry lessons right away. Hopefully the session on Valentines' Day will give you some place to start. Remember it's new to the kids as well!

Here is a link to 3 articles. Choose one to read and comment on prior to the next session:

http://www.brynmawr.edu/biology/franklin/InquiryBasedScience.html

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ifi/resources/classroom/inquiry_based.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquiry-based_science


Chris, don't forget the chocolates!! :)

I will also help you look at blogs and wikis, although I might not get to that at the next session. I will give you someplace to start looking at exemplars of classroom use of these tools for the final session.

See you in a month!!
Martha

Reflection

What is one thing that you can take away from today's session and use in your class right away?

What is one topic that you would like to cover in one of the two remaining sessions?

Managing WebQuests in Your Classroom

Using the packet about WebQuests that you were given today, reference the blue sheet and the yellow sheets as you respond to the following questions:

What are you most excited about when you think of using WebQuessts in your room?

What are you most concerned with?

What one tip did you find most useful?