Technologies in Science Education

1. Technologies in Science Education Feb. 15, 2001 Yasu Kato (yasukato@mail.com)

2. Hands-on Experience • Tell me, I forget. • Show me, I remember. • Involve me, I understand. ED224 Winter, 2001

3. Agenda • Self introduction • Pre-session survey • Science Education Statistics • Visual thinking tool • Simulation • Products exploration • Wrapping up ED224 Winter, 2001

4. Self introduction • Yasuhisa Kato (from Japan) • Education • LDT program since June, 1999 • Master of Engineering in Applied Systems Science, 1990 • Working Experience • Developing Web-based communication support system for teachers • Japanese telephone company for 10 years • Voice control system • Web-based learning system and its courseware ED224 Winter, 2001

5. Pre-session mini survey (3min) • I’d like to know your computer experience and interests in general. • Click “Workshop” icon on your desktop • Click “Pre-session survey” • View results ED224 Winter, 2001

6. Use of Computers in classrooms (NAEP 1996) • What % of public schools have web access? • 65 % (95% in 2000) • 85% (over 1000 students), 57 % (less) • What % of science classes have computer(s)? • 38 % (48 % in CA) ED224 Winter, 2001

7. Percentages of science classes NEVER use computers ED224 Winter, 2001

8. Primary Use of Computers in 8th grade classrooms (NAEP 1996) • Simulation and modeling • 26% (32% in CA) • Data analysis and others • 20% (30% in CA) • Never • 46% (39% in CA) ED224 Winter, 2001

9. Trends in Average Scale Scores for the Nation in Science Figure 1.1, NAEP 1999 Trends in Academic Progress ED224 Winter, 2001

10. Improving Math and Science Instruction (Bush, Feb 2nd) • Issues • Low performance of US students • Many teachers teach out-of-fields • Few students take advanced courses ED224 Winter, 2001

11. Improving Math and Science Instruction (cont’d) • Goal • Increase student performance • Increase students who take advanced courses • Pass advanced placement exams • Increase teachers with math/science major ED224 Winter, 2001

12. Improving Math and Science Instruction (cont’d) • How? • Partnership with higher education • Increase use of technology: “The Administration believes schools should use technology as a tool to improve academic achievement” ED224 Winter, 2001

13. Visual thinking tool • View survey results • A powerful visual learning tool that inspires students to develop ideas and organize thinking. It is integrated diagramming and outlining views work together to help students comprehend concepts and information. (From Ad.) ED224 Winter, 2001

14. Example A ED224 Winter, 2001

15. Example B ED224 Winter, 2001

16. Example C ED224 Winter, 2001

17. Example D ED224 Winter, 2001

18. How do we use “Inspiration” in our classrooms? ED224 Winter, 2001

19. Quick tutorial of “Inspiration” • Outline View • Diagram View • RapidFire • Symbols • Links • New Look ED224 Winter, 2001

20. Hands-on individual experience of “Inspiration” (15min) • Click “Inspiration” icon on your desktop. • Write your initial question on the center item: “What can we do with “Inspiration” in our classrooms. • Continue to build your “thoughts”. • Save your “Inspiration” file on the desktop. ED224 Winter, 2001

21. Turn in your Inspiration file • Click “Workshop” • Click “Submit your Inspiration file” ED224 Winter, 2001

22. Debrief “Inspiration” • Present each “Inspiration” • Comments ED224 Winter, 2001

23. Simulation (Definition) • “The technique of imitating the behavior of some situation or system (Economic, Mechanical etc.) by means of an analogous model, situation, or apparatus, either to gain information more conveniently or to train personnel.” (The Oxford English Dictionary) ED224 Winter, 2001

24. Simulation (Role) • Visualization • Manipulate the dangerous or expensive • Manipulate variables • Role playing • Model building ED224 Winter, 2001

25. Simulation (Benefits) • Improve a quality of analysis • Reduce analysis time • Results in higher comprehension • Question: what benefits for kids? ED224 Winter, 2001

26. Product introduction • Logal SimLibrary • STELLA • Biology Labs ED224 Winter, 2001

27. Logal SimLibrary • Provides a comprehensive suite of real world interactive simulations for Middle School Science, High School Science and Middle & High School Math. • Demonstration • Online evaluation ED224 Winter, 2001

28. STELLA • Model building and simulation software from K-12 through Graduate School. Teachers and students use the software to render, then test, their mental models of everything from how a bowl of soup cools to how a galaxy expands…and everything in between. ED224 Winter, 2001

29. STELLA • Web site • Demonstration • Online evaluation ED224 Winter, 2001

30. Biology Labs • Biology Labs On-Line offers a series of interactive, inquiry-based biology simulations and exercises designed for college and AP high school biology students. • Demonstration • Online evaluation ED224 Winter, 2001

31. Round robin hands-on with pairs • 15 min each x 3 rounds • SimLibrary • Username: yasukato • Password: fumiyuki8 • Biology Labs • Username: yasukato • Password: protest • Fill in evaluation sheet at the end ED224 Winter, 2001

32. Group wrap-up (10 min) • See evaluation sheets • Logal SimLibrary • STELLA • Biology Labs • Discussion ED224 Winter, 2001

33. Other recommendation • WISE • Jason Project (video) • Probeware: • http://www.pasco.com/ • PDA • http://palmgrants.sri.com/ • California Instructional Technology Clearing house: Director’s choice ED224 Winter, 2001

34. Web links database • Categorization • General • Standard • Science • Biology • Chemistry ED224 Winter, 2001

35. From an experienced teacher • What are promising use of technologies? • Think globally and big before going into one cool application vs. another. • Categorization • Acquire information or data • Produce a new product • Present the information • Communication • Technology for technology’s sake ED224 Winter, 2001

36. Evaluation (10min) • Evaluate this workshop • Web link database categorization ED224 Winter, 2001

37. Thank you. • Handouts • This workshop • http://ldt.stanford.edu/~yasukato/step-science/ • Web links (soon) • http://ldt.stanford.edu/step/ ED224 Winter, 2001

38. If I were a physics teacher, … • Teach Robotics and Programming • LEGO Mindstorms • First Lego League (1999, 2000) • Videos (1, 2, 3) • Simulation • Experience with Mindstorms • Visual programming and design • Mechanics • Further programming skills ED224 Winter, 2001

39. WISE (Web-based Integrated Science Environment) • WISE is a simple yet powerful learning environment where students examine real-world evidence and analyze current scientific controversies. • Demonstration ED224 Winter, 2001

40. Interactive Physics • Create models by drawing onscreen with a powerful and easy-to-use graphic interface. Add objects like springs, dampers, ropes, and joints. Measure attributes of your objects like velocity, acceleration, momentum, and energy • Demonstration ED224 Winter, 2001

41. Other resources • Learning opportunities • Workshop/Seminar • Conference • Professional organization • Online course • Improve learning environments • Write grant proposal ED224 Winter, 2001

42. Spreadsheet • What functions? • Calculating • Collecting • Visualizing • What potential uses for education? • Rubric sheet ED224 Winter, 2001

43. Visual thinking tool (Products) ED224 Winter, 2001