Waterville eMINTS PD

Personal Technology Goal

2008-10-02T12:46:00.000-04:00

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

2008-09-30T11:33:00.003-04:00

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

2008-04-10T23:23:00.003-04:00

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

2008-02-14T14:10:00.007-05:00

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

2008-02-14T13:47:00.002-05:00

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

2008-01-14T12:01:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-18T00:44:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-24T13:47:00.000-04:00

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?

Welcome to the Waterville Jr. High eMINTS Blog

2007-10-23T20:33:00.000-04:00

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 science and technology.

Below you will find 10 posts with different classroom scenarios. Technology is incorporated into each of these lessons. I would like you to use the notes from the discussion on Grappling's Learning and Technology Spectrum to comment on each lesson.

Please be specific about which level you think the lesson is on, give valid reasons from the chart and/or readings. If you are not the first one to comment, be sure to respond to at least one other person's comment.

Classroom Scenario #10

2007-10-23T19:31:00.002-04:00

Students use Paint to illustrate their original story.

Classroom Scenario #9

2007-10-23T19:31:00.001-04:00

Students collect daily weather data and use this information to compare the accuracy of four Internet weather websites. Then students use weather data to make their own weather predictions.

Classroom Scenario #8

2007-10-23T19:30:00.000-04:00

Students use Excel spreadsheets to chart data, create and print graphs to represent information of their choice.

Classroom Scenario #7

2007-10-23T19:29:00.000-04:00

Students develop an interactive PowerPoint to teach their second grade buddies about the human body.

Classroom Scenario #6

2007-10-23T19:28:00.003-04:00

Students create and manipulate geometric figures to observe the effects of changing various parameters using Geometer's Sketchpad software.

Classroom Scenario #5

2007-10-23T19:28:00.001-04:00

Students use online resources and primary source documents to develop a multimedia presentation on the Industrial Revolution complete with video, still images, and sound.

Classroom Scenario #4

2007-10-23T19:27:00.001-04:00

Students working in small groups collect information on scientist and use PowerPoint to present their findings to the class.

Classroom Scenario #3

2007-10-23T19:25:00.000-04:00

A teacher shows clips from the Missouri Heritage Videos during a unit on Lewis and Clark.

Classroom Scenario #2

2007-10-23T19:14:00.000-04:00

Students learn how to use PowerPoint by creating a slide presentation called “My Life,” which has three slides that use varied transitions, sound and/or images.

Classroom Scenario #1

2007-10-23T17:40:00.000-04:00

Students are allowed to perform an online simulated frog dissection after they have finished their regular assignments.