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FETC LinksAt-Risk
Learners and Science Education Bookmarks
We'd
like to
thank all of those who attended the session the other day. We had a
chance to talk to a number of you over the next couple of days at the
convention. As stated during the session, the following
links are
intended to be jumping off points for further exploration. There is a
combination of both teacher resources and learning activities on this
page. However, we're going to add some additional materials to this
page in response to the discussions that occurred after the session. One item that came up frequently was the type of science probeware that we used during the activity part of the session. The probes are from PASCO Scientific. We like them because they're both durable and simple to use. Additionally, there is software that comes with the probes that includes EZScreen and DataStudio. The software allows teachers to use the probes with very, very young students all the way up to post-secondary level. To find more information on the PASCO probes, go to: http://www.pasco.com To
order,
free of charge, the NSF publication on best practices for getting more
girls involved in engineering, go to: http://www.nsf.gov/home/orderpub.htm Learning Science Through Inquiry http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/inquiry/support/ A product of the Annenberg Foundation, this site provides all the materials for a professional development workshop that focuses on the importance of hands-on, inquiry-based learning in science as a key way to engage students. The grade levels are K-8, but the general principles are universally applicable.
National Academies
Press: How
People Learn: Brain, Mind, http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9853.html The National Academies provides free access to entire professional books online. "How People Learn" is an excellent resource that connects research to the teaching world and offers insights for teachers into the powerful impact teaching techniques can have on the individual child. ENC Online: Learning in Motion http://www.enc.org/topics/edtech/classroom/document.shtm?input=FOC-002322-index The article discusses the use of a motion sensor in an early childhood classroom. However, the general principles described are equally applicable to Middle School. ENC Online: Technology Can Help You Meet the Standards http://www.enc.org/topics/edtech/classroom/document.shtm?input=FOC-001939-index The article is written from the perspective of a veteran teacher of mathematics and how she moved to integrate technology into the classroom setting. Science and mathematics are natural partners and the resources described in this article might assist those who wonder how to accelerate some aspects of math instruction while they are also working on the science area. ENC
Online: Using Technology to Help Children Form Representations http://www.enc.org/topics/edtech/classroom/document.shtm?input=FOC-000703-index This article is focused on math but shows how the use of a simple motion sensor can assist students to rapidly understand the abstract concepts behind ideas such as "slope." Again, it is another interesting demonstration of how science technologies can facilitate learning in both science and mathematics. ENC Online: Web Links: Science Topics http://www.enc.org/weblinks/science/?ls=ho From the wonderful people at the Eisenhower Clearninghouse comes a webpage of science topics that are linked to activities and ways of teaching about these topics. http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/index.html NASA has an amazing set of resources available for teachers and their students. Their KSNN network - cool science news that you can use - is aimed at early elementary and upper elementary/middle school. Many of the explanations provided would also be of interest to higher grade levels. The news video segments are very well done and certain to engage students. Don't miss them! http://connect.larc.nasa.gov/index.html Moving up the grades, NASA provides the NASA Connect website for middle school students. Here's a quote from the NASA site that explains all about NASA Connect. "NASA CONNECT ™ is an annual series of FREE integrated math, science, and technology programs for students in grades 6–8. Each program has three components: (1) a 30-minute television broadcast that can be viewed live or taped for later use, (2) an educator guide describing a hands-on activity, and (3) an interactive web activity that provides educators an opportunity to use technology in the classroom setting. These three components — television broadcast, educator guide, and web activity— are designed as an integrated instructional package. NASA CONNECT ™ is FREE to educators." The bottomline is that you get high quality, engaging material and it is FREE!!! What more can you want?! http://scifiles.larc.nasa.gov/treehouse.html The Sci Files site from NASA is again aimed at upper elementary/early middle school. The fact that the science concepts have been presented as a problem-based learning opportunity with relatively simple explanations, would also allow teachers at other grade levels to adapt these materials as a gentle introduction to problem-based learning for students who might be struggling or for teachers who are uncertain about incorporating science activities into their classroom. The topics come with online investigation activities, teacher guides, etc. Even if you don't use the material directly because you have much older students, the site will definitely spark some ideas for you! ENC Online:
ENC
Features: ENC Focus: Past Issues: Mathematics http://www.enc.org/features/focus/archive/special/ ENC produced a focus issue on Mathematics and Science for Students with Special Needs. It isn't designed to provide all the answers. Instead, it will invite you to participate in the conversation and hear what others have learned on their journey to include all students in science and math education. ENC Online: Including All Students in Hands-On Learning http://www.enc.org/features/focus/archive/special/document.shtm?input=FOC-003135-index A very practical article, Sami Kahn provides some basic principles for the successful inclusion of all students in the science classroom. http://nsta.tasco1.com/showItem.asp?product=PB169X2&session=D459D698ADE145D58952BC20A9A070CB One barrier teachers may face is lack of confidence in their own science knowledge. Bill Robertson has produced four books thus far, available through NSTA.org, that explain science principles in a way that will have you both chuckling and understanding. All of the books are available online to be read free of charge. You can also get the print copies. This link will take you to his book on Energy. Bill Robertson on Force and Motion http://nsta.tasco1.com/showItem.asp?product=PB169X1&session=D459D698ADE145D58952BC20A9A070CB This is Bill Robertson on force and motion. It's very entertaining. http://nsta.tasco1.com/showItem.asp?product=PB169X3&session=D459D698ADE145D58952BC20A9A070CB The principles of light are explained in a way that you, and your students, can understand. You are going to enjoy reading these books. Believe me! http://nsta.tasco1.com/showItem.asp?product=PB169X4&session=D459D698ADE145D58952BC20A9A070CB Here's the fourth book in the Bill Robertson series. This time the topic is sound. Don't miss it! http://www.sciencegems.com/ Frank Potter's Science Gems is a meta site of science links to all sorts of activities. He has thoughtfully categorized the links according to their science area. You'll find experiments, java applets, etc. The Center for
Science
Education @ The UC Berkeley Space Sciences http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/educators.html UC Berkeley's Center for Science Education has an exceptional collection of science resources for educators. Among those is the Space Science Education Directory that helps you find all the wonders at NASA. Office of Science Education Homepage http://science-education.nih.gov/ The National Institute of Health is another hidden gem when it comes to teaching materials that can spark the imagination. They have a variety of curricular resources that are free for teachers. http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/segway/ The SEGway portal is the "Science Education Gateway." Once again, students and teachers will find tons of activities to spark their imagination. http://alex.edfac.usyd.edu.au/Methods/Science/ScienceWWW.html From Australia, the University of Sydney has put together a great collection of annotated science links.
http://homepage.mac.com/yerrick/PhotoAlbum1.html Randy Yerrick has provided a digital diary of having students combine video capture with science probeware. |