Summary of Teaching with Technology

The webquest, I believed, best enhanced the learning process, unlike many of the other technologies we used, the webquest was error free. The webequest allowed for a more interesting, interactive, and hands-on learning. The use of the webquest helped learning far beyond the subjects topic. While creating the webquest I noticed that all the lessons created helped the student in both learning the topic as well as familiarizing them with other subjects such as web browsing, possible writing skills, and any other topic included when role assignments are given. The other technologies were limiting to single skills or were faulty. The smartboard was a hassle to use, especially with younger children because the random change in alignment of the board, the need to keep your hand off the board, the need for projectors on some of the boards, and height issues. All of the problems cause distraction from the lessons. The use of chatting can cause distractions in the classroom as well, students can have side conversations with other students, students might have issues with responding especially if they are not fast typers. Blogging is great for the enhancement of writing skill but as for other skills it is similar to the students using paper to work. Digital movie making was fun but I learned more from the lesson I created than the making the video, also depending on how interesting the video is, children might not learn much. The online exercises were interesting and seemed like they could work but it would also be good for the students to be able to have printed out versions that they could keep to study off of or to just show their work. Because of all the listed difficulties with all of the other technologies, webquest seemed the best technology we used in the classroom. It would be interesting to have a webquest that include all of the other technologies, I feel, the inclusion would be helpful and fun for students.

Gravity and Sir Isaac Newton

• Grade: 6
  

• Standard 4: The Physical Setting

Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

• Key Idea 5: Energy and matter interact through forces that result in changes in motion. Students should be able to observe and describe relative positions between objects in their world. Exploring the observable effects of gravity and magnetism may help students develop an understanding of the reason for the direction of an object’s motion. Manipulation and application of simple tools and machines may help students learn about the relationships between forces and motion.

• PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 5.1

Describe the effects of common forces (pushes and pulls) of objects,
such as those caused by gravity, magnetism, and mechanical forces.
**Reference**

Student's will be exploring gravity and the individual credited for acknowledging its existence. Students will be broken into various roles such as scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, architect all exploring the wonders of gravity.

Student will use the internet and various websites in order to obtain the needed information. Students will then create blogs presenting the information they found.
The scientist will provide facts about Isaac Newton and explain what has changed about his finding.
The person playing Isaac Newton will provide blogs in the form of journal entries by Isaac Newton about his ideas about the importance and purpose of gravity.
The architect will explain the way gravity effect the way our areas look, how gravity effects our building? Specifically The leaning Tower of Pisa.

What is gravity?
What roles does it play in our lives?
How does it effect architecture?

Links:
Read Up on Newton's Laws of Motion historian
Read Up on, What is Gravity? Newton
The Gravity Song
Gravity
Architects and scientist (present day)

SMART Board Response

i enjoyed the presentation about the SMART Board, it was a bit familiar to me because it is similar to the tablet PC programs we used in high school. I like that the SMART Board provided templates and specifically catered to teachers. While meeting with my group to talk about our project we found that there were some difficulties. We had to realign the mouse twice, the board we used worked through a projector making it difficult present without blocking the projection. The help program on the SMART Board was very useful and it allowed us to used the board more easily. I enjoy the SMART Board but it seems like it could get frustrating having to deal with technical issues. Also the board is extremely high making it difficult to reach certain things if you are short (e.g. young children)

Rubric

Blog Rubric:
Each student is allowed the chance to receive 20 points for their blog based on the following criteria: content, coherency and organization, accuracy, and creativity and progression. In each of these sections the student can receive a maximum of 5 points. 1 being the lowest point and 5 being the highest point. In order to receive a 5, students must meet all the requirements set for that specific section. If the student fails to meet the required criteria they will receive 1 point. Point are given according to the amount of effort shown by the student through their blogs.

1. Content- Did the student include the correct information that was taught in the classroom? In showing an understand of content did the student apply their learning in a way the shows that the student has an understanding of the material?
   

2. Coherency and Organization -Can the teacher or any other reader understand what is being stated in the blog? Is the information in the blog posted correctly?
   

3. Accuracy- Is the the blog grammatically correct?

4. Creativity and Progression - Does the student show a better understanding of how to use the blog and different ways to present material within the blog? Do the blogs show a progression in blogging skills?

**Source**

Lesson Plan

• Subject: Science
• Grades: 4
• Objectives: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the water cycle. Students will be able to explain the process of the water cycle as well as its importance. Students will have an understanding of the vocabulary used to describe the processes involved it the water cycle.
• Standards: Standard 4: The Physical Settings "Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical
  setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science." (Reference)
• Materials: Computer, Internet, Paper, writing tool (optional), headphones
  

• Procedure:

1. Students will watch Bill Nye The Science Guy's video on the Water Cycle.
   

   • Video 1
   • Video 2
   • Video 3

2. Take notes on the process and importance of the water cycle an post as a blog.
3. Make a list of important vocabulary.
4. Use the internet to find definitions for

   • evaporation: changing of water (liquid) into water vapor (gas)

   • condensation: changing of water vapor (gas) into water (liquid)

   • precipitation: rain, sleet, snow, hail

   • runoff: water flowing on Earth’s surface

   • groundwater: water that moves downward into the ground (Reference)

5. Answer questions provided by teacher on blog pages
6. Write a blog about what you have learned from the teacher as well as from the video example. Include:

   • The vocabulary listed in procedure.
   

   • Where each of the processes takes place.

   • What causes the processes to occur

   • The various forms of precipitation.

   • The various forms of ground water.

   • Why is the Water Cycle important?
7. There should be a total of 4 blogs:
   

   • Notes
   

   • Vocabulary

   • Answers to provided questions

   • Reflection
8. Students will be asked to comment on their peers blogs. Students can help their peer know if they missed any information and positively suggest what can be added to the blog. Students can also comment on any other topic as long as it is relevant to topic and the comment contains constructive criticism.
   

• Assessment:< Students will be assessed on a 0-4 scale.

  4 -Student show an understanding of the process of the water cycle. All vocabulary is included and all procedure requirements are met.

  3- Student includes a majority of the steps involved in the water cycle but not all. Some understanding of the cycle

  2- Blog includes very few vocabulary words and little understanding of the process.
  

  1- Student include no vocabulary words show poor understanding of the Water Cycle.
  

  0-Student creates no blog.

  (Reference)
  

• Accommodations For Special Needs Students: Depending on the student the following will be provided -

  • Any visual or audio equipment necessary.
  

  • Extended time for video, questions, & reflection.

  • Teachers guidance (offered to any student)

  • Any necessary alterations to allow for a more comfortable learning experience. (Option not limited to this assignment)

  
  

Various Links:
Kidzone.com
EEK!
Water Cycle Song (performed by Science Explosion--David Bydlowski, Charles Kline and Fred Ribits)