Venturing into Blended Learning

1. Venturing into Blended Learning BritainyDearman

2. Digital Content: PhET Simulations • High quality simulations • Wide variety of science and math topics • Varying levels of depth • High-quality “teaching ideas” (prepared labs/questions) • Measurements and graphs Benefits: • Increased student engagement • Visualizes relationships between variables • Active learning by every student • Critical thinking and concept development

3. http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/new

4. Introduction to Energy Forms and Conservation Lesson Station Rotation • Group A: PhET Energy Skate Park simulation with questions • Group B: Collaborative concept mapping from reading http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/energy-skate-park

5. http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/energy-skate-park

6. Sample questions from J. Cibulka (above) • What determines the Gravitational Potential energy pie section? What rule(s) does it seem to follow? Draw two pie charts to explain. • What determines the Kinetic energy pie section? What rules does it seem to follow? Draw two pie charts to explain. • What does the size of the pie represent? How many ways can you find to make the pie bigger or smaller? What rules does it seem to follow?

7. Group B: Collaborative Concept Mapping • Assign a manageable section from the textbook • Let students take turns reading aloud or read individually • Each student writes in a different color for accountability Requirements: • Main topic goes in the middle • Use structure to break the main topic down into subtopics, then further break subtopics down or describe them • Every line MUST have a word/phrase that shows the connection • Use words or short phrases (Nouns in bubbles, verbs on lines) • Practice good group member skills!