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SCIENCE: USING THE INTERNET TO
SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC THINKING
Science education is not just about learning
facts. At its core, science education helps students to think scientifically.
This means helping them to ask questions and seek logical answers through
observation, reading, writing, and critical analysis. As noted in the National Science Education
Standards, science education needs to provide both a “hands
on” and a “minds on” experience. Thinking scientifically also includes the
use of new literacies. Developing the new literacies required by the Internet
and other ICT provides access to exciting demonstrations of scientific principles,
scientists who are willing to answer students’ questions about their research,
ongoing scientific studies in which students may participate, and much more.
Teaching with
the Internet: Anne Miller’s Class
Over the summer, Anne had discovered an exciting science
project on the Internet, called SETI@Home.
This project allows anyone with an Internet computer to participate with the
research team in searching our galaxy for radio signals from intelligent life.
You may download the screensaver software from the
SETI@home
site. It is an exciting new way to conduct research.
They even used iSight video
cameras along with iChat AV software and held video conferences
with their partner classes once a week in the spring.
By reading This Planet has No Atmosphere
by Paula Danzinger and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle,
Anne created an integrated science/language arts until and created links
at their classroom homepage for Journey to
Mars , the Mars
Exploration program, The Nine Planets Tour,
and the Hubble Space Telescope
Site . Her class had followed the work of the scientific teams
directing several Rovers that landed on Mars during the winter.
Ann also monitored several online communities for
science educators, following the conversations to see if she could get additional
ideas for her class. One of these conversations mentioned the National
Standards for Science Education. She explored this site
and its links, learning about the national standards for science, getting
several useful ideas, especially the concept of science as inquiry.
Over a holiday break, Anne discovered the location
for NASA Quest,
a wonderful site with opportunities for her students to work directly with
the men and women scientists at NASA. She also found The Mad Scientist Network,
a place on the Internet where students could ask a scientists questions.
Lessons From the Classroom
Science is
as much a verb as it is a noun. Having students identify questions they
wish to answer and then helping them to develop techniques for answering
their questions is important in preparing students who not only know science
but also do science.
Directories for Science Education
If you only have time to visit one directory, pay
a visit to the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
for Mathematics and Science Education. This federally funded
project provides K–12 teachers with the best online source of information
on mathematics and science education, linked to national standards. It now
provides five different ways to quickly locate links to important resources
for your class: Classroom Calendar, Digital Dozen, ENC Focus, Lessons and
Activities, and Ask ENC. The
Classroom Calendar provides links to topically organized resources
for science education. The
Digital Dozen provides you with the twelve best sites
found on the Internet, one per month, for math and science education. Clicking
on ENC Focus provides
you with links each week to a new topic for your class. Lessons and Activities
gives you a traditional directory of instructional
links to math and science topics. If none of these great resources provide
you with exactly what you need, just select Ask ENC
and direct a question to the talented experts at the Clearinghouse. They
will reply promptly and point you to great standards-based resources for
your class.
A second useful directory in science is the National Science Teachers
Association Science Websites . You should also visit
the directory for science in the United Kingdom organized by the British Broadcasting Service,
Science. This location contains many interactive resources
using Flash and Shockwave technologies. It also contains links back to a
more general directory in education that is organized by age level.
Another site to use as a jumping off point is Frank Potter’s Science Gems
. This resource contains over 14,000 links to outstanding science resources
on the Web. One location with exciting demonstrations is Whelmers.
Developed by Steven Jacobs, these demonstrations catch students by surprise
and get them to really think about physical principles.
TEACHING TIP
Demonstrations, such as those found at The
Exploratorium Science Snackbook provide a wonderful way to catch
the attention of even your most reluctant young scientist.
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Keeping
It Simple: Using Internet Workshop
Locate a
site on the Internet with content related to your science unit, perhaps
by using one of the directories described above, and set a bookmark for
this location. Next, develop a thoughtful activity that requires students
to use the information at the site. Then, assign the activity to your students
to complete during the week. Finally, share your experiences during a workshop
session.
In addition to using directories such as the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for
Mathematics and Science Education, 13 Internet Workshop assignments
may be developed from resources located at outstanding science museums around
the world.
Try Science,
a great resource with links to an exceptional collection of activities, live
web cams, and science museums around the world.
Science Learning
Network is a directory for museums and science education around
the world. Their
Explore Our Resources Page contains links to outstanding,
highly interactive, science activities. These range from a virtual cow’s
eye dissection for a unit on optics to a visit to Leonardo da Vinci’s workshop.
Or, click on the link to Visit
Our Museums to travel to the several science museums this location
monitors.
Exploratorium
Home Page has so many exceptional science resources here that
we cannot list them all.
Here are several
examples of Internet Workshop assignments that might be developed for science
units:
•Virtual
Fish Tank Have your elementary or middle school students build
their own fish by selecting different types of qualities. Then, turn the
fish loose in the aquarium at the Boston Museum of Science or the St. Louis
Science Center and see how long each survives. Graph the results. Have students
conduct research on the qualities of fish that survive longer. Have students
share their data during a workshop session.
• The Science
of Cycling Gain a scientific view of a common activity—cycling.
Use a jigsaw grouping technique and assign small groups to different aspects
of the science of cycling: the wheel, braking and steering, frames and materials,
aerodynamics, and human power. Have each group explore their section, completing
the interactive simulations of items such as braking distance under different
conditions, and then prepare a short presentation during Internet Workshop
to discuss their results.
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E-MAIL FOR YOU
From: Elise Murphy <emurphy16@cox.net>
Subject: Enhancing Content Area Learning with the Internet
Students can search for rock types that interest them as well as locate
certain rocks that can be found in their own communities with the touch of
their fingertips. Two great places to start are the Yahooligans
Rocks, Gems and Minerals directory or the
Rocks
and Minerals Slide Show from Volcano World.
There is also a very nice collection of educational sites and lesson ideas
compiled by Jerrie Cheek from Kennesaw State University in Georgia called
Rocks and Minerals.
The reasoning skills required to specify and target fruitful searches is often
just as important as the content. My favorite kid-friendly search sites include
Yahooligans
and Enchanted Learning.
Elise Murphy Third Grade Teacher
Michael D. Fox Elementary School
Hartford, Connecticut |
•A Virtual
Dissection of a Cow’s Eye For units on optics or physiology.
Here students are taken step-by-step through the dissection with supporting
glossary terms for the parts of the eye; RealAudio sound clips from the Exploratorium
staff explain what is taking place. This location also contains a program
students can download to your computer that will help them learn the physiology
of a cow’s eye.
• Scientific
Thinking with Literature Visit this location and have students
choose to read different interactive mysteries. During your workshop session,
have students share the problem in the story they have read to entice others
to read it. Ask them to write up and turn in their solution to the mystery
so as not to spoil it for others.
• Snowflake
Study During your study, you might also read the award-winning
book, Snowflake Bentley , about a scientist in Vermont who spent his life
studying and photographing snowflakes. Internet Workshop assignments such
as these will enable you to support science units with Internet experiences
that require little preparation time yet provide important experiences for
your students.
Using Internet
Project
Internet Project
is useful in science for several reasons. First, it creates situations in
which students help one another discover important concepts. Internet Project
takes natural advantage of opportunities for socially mediated learning—opportunities
that are powerful within the Internet for science education.
As you begin to consider Internet projects
around science topics, be certain to visit the locations for this approach
described earlier to find examples of Internet Project:
Global SchoolNet’s Internet
Project Registry,
Oz Projects,
the
CIESE
Online Classroom Projects,
Kidlink, or the
SchoolNet’s
Grassroots Project Gallery.
Examples of projects
posted at these locations previously (many continue to run each year) include:
• International
Boiling Point Project This Internet project site has your students
gather data, contribute your results to a common forum, and then analyze
related data from around the world. A great Internet project for any class.
• Earth Day
Groceries Project Each year participating classes obtain grocery
bags from local supermarkets, decorate them with environmental messages,
and then return them to be used at the grocery store by customers. Students
share photos and reports of their accomplishments at a central site. Over
1,200 schools around the world participated last year.
• The
Global Water Sampling Project Gather and share data about the
water quality of a local river, stream, lake, or pond with other fresh water
sources around the world. Projects run in fall and spring. This project is
coordinated by the Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education
(CIESE) located at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.
• Monarch
Watch The site contains an extremely comprehensive set of resources
for studying Monarchs and sharing your observations, especially of their
migration through your area. Find out about migration patterns, join one
of several science projects, learn how to raise and release Monarchs in your
classroom.
• The Journey
North Participate in this annual tracking of migrations and
changes in daylight, temperatures, and all living things. Students share
their own field observations with classrooms across the Hemisphere. Students
are linked with scientists who provide their expertise directly to the classroom.
Several migrations are tracked by satellite telemetry, providing live coverage
of individual animals as they migrate.
• Measuring
the Circumference of the Earth Have your students repeat this
means to measure the Earth that was first discovered by Eratosthenes using
simple tools and the shadow of a stick at noon. This exceptional resource
has a guide for teachers, a location to post your data and use data from
other classrooms in your calculations, reference material, a discussion area,
and an “Ask An Expert” feature. A wonderful project for your students.
Using Internet
Inquiry
Internet Inquiry
is a perfect vehicle for helping your students think scientifically, critically,
and carefully about the natural world. Students have so many questions about
the world around them and there are so many resources on the Internet to
engage them in careful study of natural phenomena that Internet Inquiry should
be an important part of your science program.
TEACHING TIP
General Locations for Contacting Experts in Science
• Ask an Expert This
is a general site with links to a wide range of experts.
• Ask a Mad Scientist
This wonderful resource will put you in touch wide a wide range of scientists
around the world.
• Ask a
Science Expert
Obtain answers from experts
in many scientific fields from the experts at the journal Scientific American.
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E-MAIL FOR YOU
From: Ruth Musgrave <seamail@whaletimes.org>
Subject: Using Ask-an-Expert Sites Effectively
One of the most popular portions of our website WhaleTimes SeaBed
is “Ask, Jake, the SeaDog.” Kids and adults from all over the world have
written Jake to ask about whales, dolphins, sharks, penguins and other ocean
animals.
Best wishes on your journey!
Ruth Musgrave, Director <seamail@whaletimes.org>
WhaleTimes SeaBed http://www.whaletimes.org
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Using WebQuest
If you teach biology, for example, have your students complete
the webquest called DNA
for Dinner?.
If you teach physics, have your students complete the webquest
called How Far
Does Light Go? In this debate project students are challenged
to examine the scientific properties of light using evidence from the Internet.
If your class is exploring ecology, explore the webquest
called Conflict
Yellowstone Wolves. This requires students to investigate both
sides of the issue surrounding the reintroduction of wolves into the Yellowstone
ecosystem.
If you are interested in additional webquests for your science
classroom, be certain to stop at the science section of Blue Web’n.
Visiting
the Classroom: Leslie Bridge’s High School Biology Classes in New Jersey
At Leslie’s Biology Index
Web Pages, you will find links to her general biology class
and her Advanced Placement biology class. These links are carefully
chosen to provide exactly the support students might require, whether it
is a virtual cell simulation for an understanding of cell biology, practice
problems in genetics, or links to the Mendel Web for
additional information on the life and experiments of this important biologist.
Assignments are neatly organized by marking period and thoughtfully constructed.
New
Literacies in Science
There are two important
goals in science education: (1) teaching the content domain knowledge in
the various disciplines of science; and (2) developing scientific thinking.
The Internet is an important new tool to help you accomplish both of these
goals. As we engage in Internet Workshop, Internet Project, Internet Inquiry,
and WebQuest, we will see new enthusiasm for learning and new levels of
understanding. However, this will only happen for all of our students if
we support each of them in developing the new literacies the Internet requires.
This requires us to integrate the development of new literacy skills as we
teach science.
Additional
Science Resources on the Internet
AeroNet
Interested in the physics of flight as well as the history of aviation?
Here is the site for you. A ThinkQuest award winner. Amazing visuals and
demonstrations.
Air Travelers
This resource provides an introduction to the basic principles of buoyancy,
the properties of gases, temperature, and the technology involved in hot
air ballooning. It includes activities, teacher background information, and
a gallery of photos.
Critical Issues Forum
Participate in the study of public policy about how best to address issues
and circumstances involved in safeguarding nuclear weapons. You will find
challenging curricula in five areas focusing on the nuclear world. Give students
a say in decisions regarding our nuclear future.
El Nino
or El No No Students gather background information then analyze
both historical and real time data from a buoy at the equator as well as
in San Diego to construct a model to determine if we are currently in an
El Nino cycle. They write a speculation paper on the possible effects of
El Nino and submit their work to a local community leader in San Diego.
Ewe 2 This inquiry-oriented activity explores the science
and ethics of cloning. It places students in the position to ask great questions,
seek out the answers, develop new relationships, and take a stand on a current
hot issue: cloning.
The Franklin Museum Science Institute
is devoted to helping children think scientifically
and explore the fantastic world around them. Explore the science of thrill
rides or an interactive exhibit on the workings of the heart. Explore the
adaptations of animals to urban environments. You may even follow the life
of a high school biology classroom.
General
Chemistry Online Here it is with everything you and your students
need to supplement your classroom work. A great resource!
The Great Plant Escape This series of mystery adventures
is designed for 4th and 5th grade students who are asked to “help Detective
Le Plant and his partners Bud and Sprout unlock the amazing mysteries of
plant life.” The site combines web activities with hands-on experiments.
It includes six cases, a glossary, links, and a guide for teachers. In Spanish,
too!
The Jason Project
Each year, the JASON Foundation for Education sponsors an amazing scientific
expedition with curriculum developed for Grades 4 through 8. Students participate
in the expedition through live, interactive programs.
NatureShift This
exceptional resource is loaded with wonderful multimedia programming, and
great lessons and activities for students, all organized around a fine instructional
model. A truly exceptional site. Do not miss it!
Of
Mind and Matter: The Mystery of the Human Brain The brain is
one of our most amazing organs. Turn it loose at this amazing site to learn
all about it. Many excellent animations and interactive tools too help you
understand the human brain.
Physics
2000 From the University of Colorado, this site introduces principles
of physics in an interactive and friendly manner with interactive simulations.
Subjects range from electromagnetic waves and particles to microwave ovens
to classic experiments in atomic physics.
Rainforest Web
If you are engaged in an ecology or rainforest unit, here is a great location
to find out about the latest efforts to preserve these important parts of
our ecosystem. Many links for those who are serious about preserving our
planet and its systems.
Science:
The Interactive Body This site is an important tool when studying
health issues. It contains a number of highly interactive learning features
on senses, organs, the nervous system, muscles, and many other links. It
includes a very useful section on puberty, so be certain to follow guidelines
about this topic developed by your district.
The Science of
Hockey Why is ice slippery? How can you make a puck fly 100
mph? Are you fast enough to stop a puck? Developed with the assistance of
the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, this site explains the science behind hockey.
It includes RealVideo and Audio interviews with top scientists and NHL players
and coaches.
Skateboard
Science Want to get your skateboarding students interested
in science? Here is the place. Wonderful resources to explain how skateboarders
perform all their tricks. From the talented folks at the Exploratorium Museum
in San Francisco.
Virtual Frog Dissection
Kit An outstanding demonstration of the potential of the Internet
for science education. Think of all the poor frogs that will be saved! This
site contains a great dissection experience in which students learn about
a frog’s internal organs and systems. Videos are also available. At the end,
students may also play the Virtual Frog Builder Game, where they try to put
a frog back together. Set a bookmark!
Virtual
Labs and Simulations If you are looking for a way to demonstrate
different scientific phenomenon with virtual modeling and simulations, here
is the place for you. A wonderful set of simulations including things such
as Galileo’s Law of Falling Bodies, Newton’s First Law—Inertial, Hooke’s
Law, Kinematic Friction and Kinetic Energy, and much more. If you recognize
any of these, be certain to pay a visit. Great examples for your classes
to see.
VolcanoWorld
Here is a wonderfully interactive location to explore volcano science. View
maps of active volcanoes, talk to vulcanologists, view videos of the most
recent eruptions, and explore a host of educational links.
Webcytology: An
Exploration of Unicellular Life Designed for students
in Grades 5–12 interested in exploring unicellular biology. The site contains
an amazing interactive simulation where “. . . users create their own species
of life and then put it to the test in a virtual Petri dish where it will
both respond to varying environmental conditions and interact with other
people’s organisms.” Create your cell and see how it survives.
The Why Files
Funded by the National Science Foundation and located at the University
of Wisconsin, this location provides you and your students with science
information behind recent news stories. What evidence is there of life on
Mars? Does a climatologist study changes in the Earth’s climate? What causes
Mad Cow disease and how do humans catch it? How does amber preserve DNA?
These and many more questions are answered here along with related links
to other sites on the Web.
Online
Communities for Science
Goddard in Your State Keep up to
date with Goddard Space Flight Center and learn about events and programs
in your state as well as keep up with science curriculum issues.
Subscription procedures:
majordomo@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov
Homepage: http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/pages/listserv.html
K-1 Earth Science Listservs Here
is a directory of many listservs that are available for teachers of Earth
Science. A nice collection.
Homepage: http://dlesecommunity.carleton.edu/k12/listservs/
The National Science Teachers Bulletin
Board This location contains a number of forums for science educators
including bulletin boards discussion areas for elementary, middle school,
and high school science.
Homepage: http://www.nsta.org/main/forum/
PHYS-L This list is dedicated
to physics and the teaching of physics. Traffic varies from 0 to 60 messages
per day with an average of about 10 messages per day. There are about 700
members from 35 countries.
Homepage: http://physicsed.buffalostate.edu/PHYS-L/index.html
Archives: http://lists.nau.edu/archives/phys-l.html
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