Technology Science Experience

I watched the voicethreads of Sam, Sarah, and Nancy. They were all different and very good.

I learned a lot about using technology to enhance science in an elementary classroom. I honestly never even knew that most of the technologies we could use existed. It is amazing to me even the simple things that technology can enhance to make them more efficient, interesting, or authentic. Children can have real experiences with technology such as digital thermometers, digital microscopes, and online technologies that they really may end up using in their careers when they are older and I think it is important to let them know the purposes behind them and how real the experiences they are having really are. This was a very enlightening project and I feel like I am much more aware now of many new technologies I could use to help my future students learn better.

voicethread story

Science technology lesson

My project will be a technology enhanced science activity about microorganisms for 6th grade. The standard I will be covering is Standard 5: "Students will understand that microorganisms range from simple to complex, are found almost everywhere, and are both helpful and harmful."

Students will gain knowledge about microorganisms and their complexity and prevalence by using the microbe zoo interactive website found at http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/zoo/index.html. Students will then use digital microscopes to view microorganisms and observe their characteristics.

The pedagogy involved deals with a focus on the students observing the world around them, particularly the micro world using digital microscopes to enhance and deepen their ability to observe. Students will also be acquiring and processing data they encounter through their observation of different microorganisms. This will help them to analyze the data and connect their learning experience to the real world around them.

As listed above, the technology the students will use will include the microbe zoo interactive website and the digital microscopes. These technology tools will be especially beneficial for teaching the content and for accomplishing the intended pedagogy because they allow the students to observe and really experience the world around them in a way that they are discovering a whole new micro world.

tour reviews

I downloaded and looked at the virtual tours created by Alli Whitzell, Julie Chatfield, and Sarah Kunz.

I think the positives to using Google Earth in the classroom have mostly to do with engagement levels. It makes different sites in history or different concepts in science and biology seem so much more real when you can see where they are located in relation to other places and when you can use so many resources about that site all in one little computer screen. These places seem so much more real and it is a very intriguing way to keep students engaged.

I think the drawbacks to using Google Earth in the classroom would be that some students could become frustrated with the technology. However, with teacher help and scaffolding, this should not be a huge issue. Also, the issue of having enough computers pops up, but if there is a school computer lab that could be used, there should not be a big problem here either.

virtual tour description

My virtual tour will cover the 6th grade standard 1 objective 1. It states: Standard 1: Students will understand how ancient civilizations developed and how they contributed to the current state of the world. Objective 1: Explain why physical geography affected the development of early civilizations.
I chose to do a virtual tour about this topic mainly because I love learning about different ancient civilizations. I really like the idea of bringing these ancient civilizations to life through a virtual tour. The virtual tour helps these civilizations that are so far removed from our students seem more real to them.
I think a virtual tour would be one of the most effective ways to teach this core curriculum because it brings these civilizations to the lives of our students so they can relate and be excited about something that is otherwise just another story to them.

Virtual tour plans

Here is my tour on Google Earth about the formation of ancient civilizations and the connection to physical geography.

Location	Activity Description	Google Earth Content
1. Ancient Greece	View slideshow of information and pictures about how geography affected the civilization. (Compare and contrast with each civilization).	Google pictures/boundaries/information/geography and terrain features
2. Ancient Jerusalem	View slideshow of information and pictures about how geography affected the civilization	Google pictures/boundaries/information/geography and terrain features
3. Ancient Egypt	View slideshow of information and pictures about how geography affected the civilization	Google pictures/boundaries/information/geography and terrain features
4. Ancient Rome	View slideshow of information and pictures about how geography affected the civilization	Google pictures/boundaries/information/geography and terrain features

digital story with music and credits