M6 Reflection

My particular subject of teaching is science.  Technology supports science and science is what makes new technology (Robyler & Doering, p. 308).  According to the text “America’s economy and environment progress depends on the character and quality of the science education that the nation’s schools provide" (Robyler & Doering , p.308).  Professional development plays such an important role in teaching science considering it’s a discipline continually evolving. 

Advantages

Distance-education PD programs

Science teachers are in a unique position of teaching a subject that is continually advancing on a daily basis.  One critical advantage technology offers to science teacher is Professional Development programs.  Online Professional development programs offer a collection of materials that can be used to address teacher’s needs for “accurate, timely science information and teaching materials” (Roblyer and Doering, p. 318).  

Involving Students in Scientific Inquiry Through Authentic Online Projects

Advantages

 

Authentic Science involves having student’s “do” science and online projects connect science to student’s lives and life experiences. (Robyler and Doering, p.319).  Such projects are Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE), Project Feeder Watch, and Journey North.  The GLOBE program is an amazing kind of all-purpose project.  Here’s a brief video demonstrating the capabilities of what students can investigate and also collaborate on in real scientific situations.

 

Journey North projects also does a wonderful job in connecting students and scientists in real-life research (Roblyer and Doering, p.319). 

http://www.learner.org/jnorth

These internet projects provide environments that support all phases of an authentic science experience (Robyler and Doering, p.319).

 

Teachers don’t always have time to commit to long-term projects that show entire scientific process

Advantages

As a science teacher and student time is always of the essence in performing experiments, collecting data, testing hypotheses, etc.  Websites such as the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) and Phet Independent Simulations assist students by helping them obtain and locate information to support scientific experiments.  This makes data collection and analysis more manageable, and the experiments can be visualized and understood in a timely fashion.

 

http://phet.colorado.edu

Technology Integration in Science

Disadvantages

As a science teacher and student, I simply don’t see any disadvantage in incorporating technology in the classroom.  In an era of constant internet reference and tools teachers have fingertip access to science information.  These resources provide educators with a plethora of sources, lesson plans, information and lesson plans (Roblyer and Doering, p.320).  They way science and technology are so intertwined we must utilize these resources to keep students engaged and update with modern day scientific studies.

 

M6R1 http://t.co/2uSvhHpdbd National Science Digital Library A science library for K-12 excellent resource #ED527UM

— David Iradji (@DavidIradji) November 18, 2013