Using Technology to Enhance Science Learning - Chapter 8

Chapter 8 is all about using technology in the classroom and not always in the literal sense of computers but tools that can be used for instruction...computers? This chapter opens up by making the statement that "Most often technology is thought of in the context of computer use in the classroom" and then argues that technology resources go beyond computers (p. 128). Then quickly makes a 180 back and states that this chapter will focus on "the interface of technology with science education" (p. 128). While I found this opening to the chapter to be confusing and contradicting I am on the bandwagon that technology belongs in the classroom.

One of the first examples of how technology can fit into a classroom is through the use of WebQuests during inquiry lessons. This is essentially a structured way for students to use the internet to gather, analyze, and synthesis information. For our inquiry lesson I am going to try to use a hybrid WebQuest because I think I will like to direct the attention of the students to certain websites instead of everything that pops up during a google search. I also found this website, about everything WebQuests, that essentially has a search function that matches your desired topic into a google search with the phrase WebQuest. After trying a couple topics such as astronomy, boats, and plants, I realized that there are already many WebQuest templates out there from other teachers and professionals that can be utilized/tweaked to fit the need of lessons in the future.  

Other technologies that can be used include probes/sensors, digital microscopes, virtual imaging, simulations, and interactive white boards. Another resource the text mentions for creating authentic science experiences is GLOBE, Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment. It is a site that allows classrooms to contribute/interact with real world experiments from professionals in the field. While teachers have to get trained to use the site I looked into it and it would be a create resource for the classroom requiring very little infrastructure. For example one classes around the world can contribute to the data on the website is by submitting temperatures, rainfall amounts, and cloud coverage. These values need very little materials to collect data from and could take a matter of minutes to collect each day during class but the classroom would be submitting data to a real world database creating that authentic science experience.

This is a video of a TEDx Talk by Jessie Woolley-Wilson in 2012 that addresses technology in the classroom as well as the access to technology from one school to another. Even though I think technology should be in every classroom I also think that there are schools that have bigger fish to fry, however this means their students are falling behind on skills that will be essential to their futures. As teachers I think we will need to go to bat for our students to get them the materials they need to learn. This is just one of many websites that offer information on grants for technology in classrooms.