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Website Evaluations (2)
1. http://www.nsta.org/
- National Science Teacher Association
- The purpose of the website is to connect science teachers around the world and also give them information to use in their classrooms.
- This is intended only for teachers; there are no resources that would be useful for students who are in high school science.
- The website would help me teach any of my contents standards and benchmarks. There are many resources that range from Physics to Earth Science.
- There are no specific authors for this website. It sells many different reading resources and also allows for teachers to develop professionally by way of conferences and books.
- The NSTA was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Arlington, VA. The mission of the website is to “…promote excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.”
- The information on the website is current and innovative. The NSTA is focused on helping science teacher’s model excellence; champion science literacy; value scientific excellence; embrace diversity, equity and respect; enhance teaching and learning through research; collaborate with partners; and exemplify a dynamic professional organization.
- It is required for all visitors to sign up for a membership in order to view the content on the website. Non-members can browse the website but can only view a small portion of the articles that are available.
- There are different levels of membership for those who want a membership. The levels are decided by the user and are dependent on how much money you’re willing to pay. The more you pay, the more you’ll be able to access.
- The website gives access to professional journals that have been published and reviewed. This website’s information would be very useful if you had the money to buy a membership.
- The website was organized in a very user friendly way. The website is meant for teachers who want resources that will help them develop professionally. Also, they sell books that have content materials and also books that have professional development material.
- I would use this website for my own personal use in the future, but it would serve no purpose for my students in the classroom. There is no content area knowledge located on this website; it’s only for teachers who are looking for professional development tools and resources.
2. http://www.noaa.gov/
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- This is one of the best websites out on the internet that could be accessed by science teachers who are teaching about Earth Science related topics. This domain name is .gov and the website has a specific link that allows users to view education resources. There are multiple ways that a teacher could take advantage of this website, but it’s great that it has a specific link for educators to utilize.
- The website would allow me to meet benchmarks and indicators that are related to Earth Science topics. Some of these topics include: oceans and coasts, climate, weather and atmosphere, marine life and freshwater life.
- There are so many videos and graphics that could be used in the classroom when dealing with these related topics. Also, these would be accessible to the students at all times; whether they are in study hall or their own house, they could access these materials.
- The government supports the website, so any natural disaster information that is presented to the users could be biased. The government would possibly leave out certain facts or figures to cover up things they wouldn’t want the public to know. This could be true for any topic that the government would be involved with. (Ex: BP Oil Spill, Global Warming, Energy)
- From my knowledge, I think that the website provides very valid/reliable information. Teachers should definitely browse the information and double check it themselves regardless of what website they choose to utilize for classroom use.
- I think the reading level is a little high for most high school students. I would introduce the topics myself and then use the website later in the unit when students have grasped some the basic ideas and concepts.
- I don’t know when the website was last updated, but the website talks about the tsunami that occurred in Japan. This means it has been updated within the last few weeks.
- There is no membership needed to access information on this website. It is available to anyone who enters the site and doesn’t have any restrictions when it comes to videos, graphics and articles.
- The website provides lesson plans and learning activities for teachers to use in their classroom.
- The website is very easy to navigate and user friendly. There is a search box in the upper right hand corner of the webpage at all times that allows the user to find specific information.
- I think that this website would be at the top of the list when it comes to educational value and student engagement. The information on this website is valid and reliable and focuses on Earth Science content.
- I don’t think that the website gives any new perspective on the topics that it covers. But it does cover these materials in a very comprehensible and engaging manner. I will most certainly use this information in my classroom when covering Earth Science content. Lastly, the website provides an informational quality guarantee and explains the laws that must be abided by this .gov website. I appreciate this website and will utilize its content and resources in the future.
- Create a virtual cell: I would use this to create the environment of a cell and have them explore the different parts of the cell. They would be engaged and see all the cell organelles.
- Create a virtual solar system: I use use this to allow my students to explore the surfaces of the different planets of the solar system to compare and contrast each one.
- Create a virtual digestive system: I would use this to allow the students to explore all the different systems of the body. This would give them a broad understanding of how each one works together to function our entire body as a whole.
- Create a virtual ocean: This would be used to explore the different animals of the ocean. It would be engaging and allow the students recognize behaviors of fish or other sea mammals.
- Create a virtual plant: This would allow me to give my students a different experience when learning about photosynthesis. It would bring context to these different processes involved.
- Create a virtual world consisting of dinosaurs: This would be fun to show the students how we believe Earth was when the dinosaurs roamed our planet.
- It would be possible to allow another teacher or expert scientist to teach your class regardless of their location. This would be great to unify people from all over the world and spread knowledge without worry of obstacles in reference to finances.
- It would also be possible to have a teacher teach their class from the comfort of home. The teacher could teach from their home and also the students could be home as well. It’s obvious that there would be many cons with this option, but it would be able to reach students who had difficulty with transportation.
- Teaching in the virtual world would allow teachers to teach their students without any stereotypes in their minds. The teacher would only see the virtual avatar and wouldn’t see the student face to face. This allows the teacher to focus on all students without any pre-conceived notions of their class.
- Students may be more comfortable learning by using the virtual world. They may put their insecurities out of their mind and focus on the information being presented to the class. This would be good for those students who are frequently picked on and are nervous about going to school. Cyber-bullying would still be an issue though…
I am very curious to see how that the virtual world changes education here in the United States. I’ve never heard of this type of learning before and I feel that if utilized the right way may be ground breaking in our nation’s education. Glad we discussed this in class because it’s never been brought to our attention in our education program. Our school program needs to focus on this and other technology tools in the program more intensively. I feel many of this universities students may be outdated technologically when we enter the field.
Skype Content Area Topic: High School Science (Oceanography/Marine Biology)
Skype Activities Resource List (be specific about HOW you would use Skype for each activity)
1. Field trips. If I taught in Ohio, my students wouldn’t be able to visit the ocean.
2. Using Skype in the languages classroom. This will help my students study foreign languages from native speakers during this science class.
3. Interviews. Individual students can interview marine biologists one some point during the semester.
4. Connect special needs students. Students who may have to be out of the classroom due to special needs or IEP requirements don’t have to miss any special events in the classroom with Skype during the semester.
5. Foreign culture lessons. Skype allows students to see firsthand what people’s homes, schools, clothing, weather, and more looks like near the marine locations and coasts of the world.
6. Receive teaching feedback. Have an experienced or mentor teacher watch you teach via Skype and receive valuable feedback throughout the semester.
7. Share students’ work with parents. Let parents get a first-hand look at what their children are doing with Skype throughout the semester to integrate them into the classroom.
8. See me, Hear me: Skype In the Classroom. Read Skype Content Area Topic how these students had the opportunity to chat with any marine biologist to engage the student and add relevancy to the subject material.
9. Guest lecturers. Have marine biologists enter the classroom through this technology.
10. Present a performance. Marine biologists could presents some of their research procedures to the classroom or perform some of the research experiments for the class.
Podcast Content Area Topic: General Biology
Podcast Resource List (include the URL for the podcast and HOW you would use it)
*These URL’s are to podcasts that are in a series, not just a single podcast.*
1. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Biology/Cell-Biology-Podcast/21918 This podcast will be used when covering the unit pertaining to cells during the semester.
2. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Education-and-Professional/Medical/This-Week-in-Virology-Podcast/29933#listen This podcast will be used to discuss viruses and how that they affect cells within the body.
3. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Mathematics/Introduction-to-Statistics-Podcast/19721 This podcast will be used to show how that math is an integral part of biology research.
4. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Biology/Evolution-101-Podcast/18776 This podcast will be used to supplement instruction when covering the controversial topic of evolution.
5. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Biology/General-Genetics-Podcast/24269 This podcast will be when discussing genetics during the semester.
6. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Environment/Global-Warming-Podcast/21917 This podcast will be used to supplement instruction when covering the definition, chemistry and effects of global warming.
7. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Biology/Nutrient-Function-and-Metabolism-Podcast/24271 If given the opportunity to cover metabolism in my general biology class, this would be a great podcast to supplement instruction.
8. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Biology/Animal-Behavior-Podcast/16938 This podcast would be great to show how that biology relates to animal behavior; essentially this would add some relevance to the lecture.
9. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Biology/General-Biology-1A-Podcast/16914 This podcast discusses and covers all topics associated with general biology, so I’d have to narrow the selection down to the ones that relate to my lecture purposes.
10. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/-/Discovery-News-Video-Podcast/29855 This podcast resource is based on the television channel Discovery. It’s a very viable resource that I feel would engage the students and keep them informed on what’s going on in the science field. It’s not specifically geared toward biology, but they are still being engaged with science and listening to science principles and concepts.
This is the link for my introduction video on vimeo. I know the video isn’t that great, but it did take 5 hours to finish due to software compatibility issues on my computer.. in reference to the windows movie maker. All requirements are met within the 4 minutes of video.
This is the assistive technology rubric that was completed for this week’s blog. I split the two assignments, intro video/at rubric, into two posts. The assistive technology rubric is kinda of compressed looking, but the information is there.
Assistive Technology Lesson Plan
The lesson plan is inquiry based and student centered. The planning would be put into worksheet questions, so there’s not a lot of information on the lesson plan like most teacher driven lessons would have.
The purpose of this artcle is to inform ourselves of the laws that protect the Special Education students that we’ll encounter in the field. There are laws that ensure all educators meet the needs of students, regardless of their disability. Each disability is treated in a different manner and has different laws. We must be aware of each student’s IEP and treat each student individually. I feel that by cooperating with the Special Education teacher, we will be able to find all we need to know on how to deal with different assistive technologies.
Special Education students will be using some sort of assistive technology most of the time to assist them in different activities. These devices are examples of technology that we will be faced with in the future when while teaching. It’s just as important to aquaint ourselves with assistive technology just as we have already done with SmartBoard and other interactive boards. IEP’s only explain what type of assistive technologies the students will need; in no way do these IEP’s explain how to use these assistive technologies or how the assistive technologies work.
I feel that by navigating this website and learning more through our class, I feel that I am more comfortable to talk about assistive technology. It’s not too often that our classes emphasize these assistive technologies because they are trying to endulge us in our content material. While the content material is important, it’s also the teacher’s responsibility to modify the lesson to the needs of the students with assistive technologies. I feel I can better serve these students with the knowledge I’ve aquired.
The only challenges that are presented in this article are the many different types of assistive technologies. It’s up to each individual teacher to aquire as much knowledge as they can. Because there are many diverse assistive technologies, it’s hard to know everything about every single one.
As stated before, by learning as much about these assistive technologies as possible I’ll be better prepared to meet the needs of these students in my classroom. By cooperating with my staff, I’ll learn more about each assistive technology I am presented with. My project focused on hearing assistive technologies, mobile units with assistive technologies, and the big keys keyboard. I know more information on these assistive technologies than any other, but during presentations in class I should learn much more.
The purpose of the article is to show that the standards and overall fundamental philosophy of special education is evolving. Special education is shifting to inclusion, which is where the special education students should sit in classes without being secluded. The NCLBA, No Child Left Behind Act really made the education system become more intensive when dealing with special education because are going to be required to score at the same level as the other students. Teachers are worried because they feel that the IEP, Individualized Education Plan, should be the main focus of their education, not state standards.
We read this article because education technology can greatly improve the success rate of special education students. By bringing these new technologies into the classroom, we reduce the obstacles hindering them in the learning process. The big keys, audible hearing devices, and mobile units with assistive technology are some of the most common forms of education technology we, core curriculum teachers, may be presented with. We need to familiarize ourselves with these type of technology because we will be teaching special education students with IEP’s in our daily classrooms. We must be able to include these new technologies into our lesson plans.
The benefits the article explains that the government is becoming more involved with special education. It’s shown that throughout the past decade, more restrictions are being put on schools and their special education departments. Government is creating and constantly progressing schools to include these special education in the classroom with their peers instead of isolating them in resource rooms or alternative classroom. The goal is to have the students in the classroom with their peers while having the assistive technology to aide them and lessen their disabilities.
The main challenge brought into discussion during the article is in regards to school funding. In the broad scheme of things, most schools are constantly dealing with state budgets not allotting enough money to school districts. School are constantly coming up with new and innovative ways to save a buck or two in order to effective use the money they are appropriated in the state budget. Special education is not funded enough and with these new laws in regards to special education students success, it is felt amongst these teachers that they should be allotted more in state and national budgets.
I feel like this article makes it apparent that special education is evolving in a way that all teachers must know how to effectively teach these special education students and those with IEP’s. In the future, many students will be in our classrooms with assistive technology and we need to know how to teach these students too. The article just explains that all teachers should invest themselves in learning these assistive technologies because in the near future we will be expected to incorporate them in our lessons.
EXTRA: The government needs to really consider increasing the money proportionated to all schools in all states. In the State of the Union Address, our President stresses the importance of our youth’s education in regards to the future of the nation. And on the other hand, school funding is constantly being reduced and teachers annual income is in jeopardy. It seems to me that the government is putting more responsibility on teachers and expecting us to diversify ourselves in so many ways. At the same time they are not increasing our wages and they are not increasing schools portion in the national budget. Right now Wisconsin is trying to pass legislation to make even more budget cuts and I feel it is unwarranted. I hate the fact that the government is expecting MORE and giving LESS.
