Digital Toolbox for Science Teaching and Learning

Britt Gow, Hawkesdale P12 College

Science and Maths teacherHawkesdale P12 College

SW Victoria

Technoscience blog since 2008

Twitter @brittgow brittgow@gmail.com

“Science is the foundation of our future and it’s very important that we remember that.” ~ Megan Clark, CEO of CSIRO and recipient of the Order of Australia this year.

Today’s learner’s are:• Multi-taskers• Digitally literate• Mobile and connected 24/7• Experiential and Social• Visual / spatial learners with • Fast response times & short attention spans

• The Power to Engage• Students use technology already • It's not going to go away...it will only grow• Professional development• Employers want their workers to use internet tools

Over 50,000 views and 1,200 downloads onSlidesharehttp://www.slideshare.net/brittgow/malaria-powerpoint

http://www.slideshare.net/brittgow/year-7-minecraft-maths

https://www.youtube.com/user/brittgow/videos

Polycom with Gene Technology Access Centre, Melbourne

http://moourl.com/

How can I find out what my students already know about a topic?

Try creating a group word cloud using Google Docs and Wordle or Tagxedo.

https://drive.google.com/

For collaborative presentations and documents.

http://www.tagxedo.com/

How can you encourage students to connect different concepts or show their understanding of how ideas are related?

Inspiration (edustar), Bubbl.us (online) and Freemind (download) are free digital mind

mapping tools that are easy to use and display on blogs.

https://bubbl.us/

How can students demonstrate theirunderstanding of a topic?

Create a website or blog – Smore is especially easy to use!

https://www.smore.com/app

https://www.smore.com/pd5eg

http://www.weebly.com/

http://www.heliohost.org/home/

http://sbs.heliohost.org/obp/

How can I get to know my students better at the beginning of the school year?

Try using Survey Monkey or Google Drive to create a student survey about theirstrengths, interests and concerns.

How can I introduce a new topic with web2.0 tools?

You can use Flickr and PowerPoint to create slideshow of interesting images around your topic.

How can I connect with experts using web2.0 tools?

Use Skype or Blackboard Collaborate to participate in presentations, ask questions and connect with scientists.

We use Skype and Blackboard Collaborate to connect with our Scientist in Schools partner, Melissa Toifl,

from CSIRO Land and Water Technologies, in Highett and Clayton.

Connecting with experts in the field increases motivation and engagement by allowing students to ask questions and

actively participate in presentations.

Peter Barnett, Geologist from Hot Rocks Ltd.

Participation in web conferences with ActWild, facilitated by the Melbourne Zoo, develops student knowledge and

empathy for our wildlife.

Students collect data about tree growth to upload to the Smithsonian Institute website, where scientists use the data for climate change research.

Since 2011 I have used Blackboard Collaborate to teach Unit 3 and 4 VCE Environmental Science to students from different schools around the state. We connected for 90 minutes each week synchronously and used my blog, email and Facebook asynchronously.

We have met at Ecolinc, Bacchus Marsh in term 1, Grampians in term 2 and at EcoBeach Apollo Bay YHA during term 3 holidays.

How can mobile devices be used effectively to enhance science learning?

Use mobile phones to scan QR codes, take pictures or record data during excursions and trips outside into the school garden.

Students can create their own webpage in a wiki and use the URL to create a QR (quick response) code that

directs the user to the information in their webpage.

How can you encourage students to work together, collaborate on projects and share their results?

Google Drive and Wikispaces are free tools that allow students to work together online.

International Energy Challenge150 students, five schools, three countries and 12 energy sources.

http://energychallenge.wikispaces.com/

My students have difficulty remembering definitions of scientific terms – how can I help?

Quizlet is an online tools where students can create digital Flashcards, which can be used online or printed out. There is a similar app for iPods and iPads called Flashcardlet.

How can I help my students revise effectively for tests?

Quiz Revolution and Quizlet are free tools for creating online quizzes. It is simple for students to create their

own quizzes and send a link by email to their friends and teacher or embed the quiz into a blog.

How can students demonstrate their understanding of a topic?

Ask students to create a digital story using Animoto, Slideshare,

Photostory, Windows Movie Maker or iMovie.

How can students ask questions or give you feedback about lessons?

Use student, teacher or class blogs to connect, communicate, collaborate and

learn collectively.

How can you get feedback about what your students have learned?

Students can post comments on your Blog (or theirs!) or add ‘sticky notes’

to a Padlet wall.

• What did you learn about cells today? • How could you get a magnification of x400?• What is the difference between a light

microscope and a stereo microscope?http://padlet.com

Present your Learning

• Create a digital poster (Wix)• Make a slideshow (Haiku Deck, PowerPoint,

Keynote or Prezi)• Create a web page (Heliohost, Smore, Tumblr,

Weebly, Wikispaces)• Produce a video (Windows Moviemaker,

ReelDirector, iMovie)

http://www.edpuzzle.com/