The Use of Technology in Science Curriculum

The Use of Technology in Science Curriculum

By Kimberly Delos Reyes ED 480 Educational Technology

Using Technology in the Classroom

Technology can be used in many ways as an integral part of the curriculum to meet the needs of diverse learners. For example, it can introduce into the classroom exciting curricula based on real-world problems; provide scaffolds and tools to enhance learning; give students and teachers more opportunities for feedback, reflection, and revision; and build local and global communities where people gather and share information.

Technology can help students recognize, organize, and represent knowledge.

Technology tools are defined as materials, media, and devices that can potentially increase, ma intain, or improve students’ functional capabilities, access to instructional activities, meaning-making, and motivation. Technology tools fall within a continuum of low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech tools.

Benefits of Using TechnologyLink: http://issues.tigweb.org/edtech?gclid=CP7xoMrhxJkCFR0SagodYV2eug

1. Technology has helped to expand the scope and depth of education across borders.

2. Educational technology has enabled students to access more information and connect with people that ever before.

Cont’…3. Learning can be individualized and students

can assess resources that will enable them to drive their own learning.

4. Technology can accommodate a student with severe physical disabilities in public school.

5. Technology is the ultimate value of the latest information communication inside the classroom and has been in its capacity to make available information in the hands of both students and educators.

Technology Curriculum Integration Ideas…

Link: http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/bcisd/classres/intideas.htm

• Word Processing Software• Have students create an ocean vocabulary word

scramble and then have them exchange with a classmate and practice vocabulary.

• Have students create a daily log of experiments collections.

• Spreadsheet and Database Software• Create a line graph of the ocean floor depths or

other scientific data and then import the graph into a word processing to write report about the data.

• Use spreadsheet or database to solve problems, collect and examine data, and report findings.

• Have students time their heart rates and plot them on a graph in the spreadsheet program.

• Desktop Publishing and Graphic/Paint/Draw Software

• Use desktop publishing or word processing to write an essay, story, or newspaper report about the topic students are studying.

• Students use paint, draw, or graphics program to draw and label germs, parts of animals, plants, or other scientific objects.

• Multimedia Software such as PowerPoint, Hyperstudio, or Web pages

• Students use a multimedia player to report on an animal and play a frame animation of the animal and its environment.

• Divide class into teams to research specific topics and present to class using powerpoints.

• Have students create a multimedia portfolio of their research, including video clips of the experiement, photographs of insect collection, inventions, or other science projects.

ThinkQuest.orgLink: http://www.thinkquest.com

• A learning platform where teachers and students create learning projects, participate in a website competition, and browse a library of student projects.

• Projects come to life when students create pages with text, pictures, multimedia, votes, brainstorms, debates, and messages.

• Participants develop 21st century skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, communications, creativity, technology, self direction, and cross cultural understanding.

BloggerLink: http://www.blogger.com

• Your blog. Share your thoughts, photos, and more with your friends and the world.

• Easy to use. It’s easy to post text, photos, and videos from the web or your mobile phone.

• Flexible. Unlimited flexibility to personalize your blog with themes, gadgets, and more.

Technology Integration: Ideas that Work!!

Link: http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech176.shtml

The Education World Tech Team offers lessons and activities to help educators make better use of technology tools for instruction, and to help students improve their technology skills within the context of the regular curriculum. Included: Integration activities that utilize the Web, PowerPoint, Excel, digital photography, SMART Boards, and more.

Other technologies used in Science

Resources• Benefits of Using Technology

Link: http://issues.tigweb.org/edtech?gclid=CP7xoMrhxJkCFR0SagodYV2eug

• BloggerLink: http://www.blogger.com

• Technology Curriculum Integration Ideas…Link: http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/bcisd/classres/intideas.htm

• Technology Integration: Ideas that Work!!Link: http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech176.shtml

• ThinkQuest.orgLink: http://www.thinkquest.com