Technology in the Science/Mathematics Classroom

1. Technology in the Science/Mathematics Classroom Rebekah K. Nix, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer, Teacher Development Center The University of Texas at Dallas Research Fellow, Science/Mathematics Education Centre Curtin University of Technology

2. 2009 • New educational uses for cellphones • Teaching with games and simulations • Virtual field trips • Online learning opportunities for struggling students • Tips for locating valuable online tools for the classroom • Using collegial networks to see how technology can generate practical teaching ideas • Rural community initiatives to integrate video iPods, computer games, and wireless technologies on school buses

3. Information overload… • Learning Environments Research • Teaching Educational Technology • Resource Links

4. My journey to date… ‘97 Science educators online… ‘99 Training at TeleCampus… ‘00 Field trips online… ‘02 Merging theory and practice… ‘02 Keeping up with ‘IT’… ‘04 Taking them to the top! ‘05 Maintaining a balance… ‘05 Taking them to the top – again! ‘06 Realizing the potential… ‘08 Ed Tech redesign…

5. Learning Environments Research • Refers “to the social, physical, psychological, and pedagogical contexts in which learning occurs and which affect student achievement and attitudes” (Fraser, 1998) • Is the class dominated by the teacher or is it student-centered? • Do students actively participate in class or sit and listen? • Do students cooperate and discuss with each other or do they work alone? • Is the teacher supportive and approachable?

6. CLES: Educational Reform in Science

7. CLES: Pedagogical Aspects of ICT

8. Scalability of LER • School or Classroom level • Class or Personal view • Actual or Preferred form

9. Ed Tech learning environment • Attitude • toward your subject area and technology, • Knowledge • about your subject area and technology, • Experience • with your subject area and technology (what works), • Hardware • for your subject area and technology (what they have/need) • Support • ideas/tips for integrating your subject area and technology.

10. New Technologies & You • I like being more available to others because of cell phones and other mobile devices. • When I hear about a new technology or a new electronic device, I want to try it right away. • When I get a new electronic device, someone else usually has to set it up or show me how to use it. • I am more productive because of the eDevices that I use. • Using a variety of electronic devices • improves my ability to do my job. • improves my ability to learn more. • improves my ability to keep in touch with friends and family. • improves my ability to work with others.

11. Survey Results

12. Technology in the Science/Mathematics Classroom • Keeping Pace or Setting the Pace? Rebekah K. Nix, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer, Teacher Development Center The University of Texas at Dallas Research Fellow, Science/Mathematics Education Centre Curtin University of Technology

13. Community Juggling

14. Technologies EducatorsShould Watch in 2010 • Jing screen capture • BT-1 Bluetooth Web Cam • Photo Booth editing • Poll Everywhere • Prezi presentation tool • Etherpad collaboration • Orbicule Undercover • TripItintinerary tool • Evernote syncing • Twitter Widgets • Netbooks • Flip Cameras • Zamzar file converter • SlideRocket presenter • BrightLink interactive projector

15. Community Juggling

16. www.utd.edu/~rnix

17. Repositories

18. Innovations inOnline K-12 Teaching and Learning • Social software • blogs, wikis, social networking sites, conferencing tools, and social bookmarking site • Games and simulations • can positively motivate students to learn and can encourage and support both teaching and learning • Interactive learning environments • personal learning environments and virtual worlds like Second Life or Activeworlds EDU • Delivery mechanisms • MP3 players, cellphones, web-based mobile devices like iPhones and Blackberries, iTouches, and other personal electronic devices Online Laboratory Science: An Update on Policy, Research, and Practice

19. Keeping Pacewith K-12 Online Learning • District-level courses and programs are an emerging area of online education activity as districts work with, and respond to, state virtual schools and other statewide online programs.

20. States with a state virtual school or online initiative, full-time online schools, or both.

21. HippoCampus

22. Learning and Technology A Never-Ending Adoption Curve March 2009. Where eLearning is Coming From. Ellen Wagner and Beth Davis. Sage Road Solutions, LLC

23. Lessons eLearned Dr. Ellen Wagner • None of us can DO learning to another human being - even though we talk about it all of the time! It is a deeply personal act facilitated when experiences are relevant, authentic, and engaging. • Different kinds of learning demand appropriate strategies, tools and resources. There is not such thing as a 'one size fits all' technology solution for learning. • Technology doesn't necessarily guarantee better learning... BUT, it can focus attention, give people a chance to participate, and to develop a personal relationship with information that maybe we never realized before. • The better the experience, the greater the likelihood that learning will occur. Leveraging the technologies that we have available to us, that you use every day, can have a direct positive effect on learning.

24. Gowin’sVee Heuristic

25. Support • Campus IT person • Educational and Technology Grants • Vetted Websites • Scholarly Research • Professional Development and peer networking • Your passion!

26. Setting the Pace!

27. www.utd.edu/~rnix • rnix@utd.edu • Rebekah K. Nix, Ph.D.