Chapter 11: Technology In Science Instruction

1. 0 Chapter 11: TechnologyIn Science Instruction Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

2. 0 ISSUES AND PROBLEMS IN SCIENCE INSTRUCTION • Accountability for Standards in Science • The Narrowing Pipeline of Scientific Talent • Increasing Need for Scientific Literacy • Difficulties Teaching K-8 Science • New Emphasis on and Controversies About Scientific Inquiry Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

3. 0 Accountability for Standards in Science • The National Science Education Standards (NSES) http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/ • Released in 1995 • They define the content that all students should know and be able to do and provide guidelines for assessing student learning. • They provide guidance for science teaching strategies, professional development, and support to deliver high-quality science education. • They describe policies to bring coordination, consistency, and coherence to science education programs. Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

4. 0 The Narrowing Pipeline of Scientific Talent Enrollment Percentages For Various Majors • The declining number of students, especially women and minorities could have serious consequences for the long-term economic and national security outlook of our country. • The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that by 2012, more than 2 million additional professional technology-related jobs will be created in U.S. Percentage of Science Majors By Race Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

5. Increasing Need for Scientific Literacy • There is a need for all citizens to be scientifically literate in order to make informed decisions that affect our country’s future. Average science score of eighth grade students, by country: 2003 Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

6. Difficulties Teaching K-8 Science • Research has shown that elementary education candidates have lower math and verbal scores than other college graduates. Math Score on SAT Test Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

7. New Emphasis on and Controversies About Science Inquiry • The importance of hands on physical manipulation in science instruction has been hotly debated. • Technology can play an important role in improving classroom practice in teaching scientific inquiry. Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

8. TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION STRATEGIES FOR SCIENCE INSTRUCTION • Supporting Authentic Science Experiences • Supporting Scientific Inquiry Skills • Supporting Science Concept Learning • Accessing Science Information and Tools Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

9. Supporting Authentic Science Experiences • Authentic science occurs in the classroom when students actively participate with a hands-on approach • Also called Scientific Inquiry - The process of asking questions and then investigating possible solutions • Steps include: • Hypothesizing • Collecting necessary data • Analyzing data • Sharing results with peers • The GLOBE program is an example of authentic science that uses technology • Uses remote-sensing technology and observations to help students learn about the environment Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

10. Supporting Authentic Science Experiences (continued) • Research has shown that students had more positive attitudes toward science in classrooms when experiments were more challenging and less directed (Ornstein, 2006) • Attitude rates were especially high when students had more opportunities to formulate their own hypotheses and conclusions Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia *Images from Google Images

11. Supporting Scientific Inquiry Skills • Technology can be an effective tool in teaching the scientific inquiry process. Some ways include: • Locating information to investigate scientific issues and questions • Internet is a valuable resource for searching for answers to scientific questions • The National Science Foundation (NSF) has created digital libraries for science, which can be helpful in investigating scientific questions • Example: Digital Library for Earth Science Education (DLESE) Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

12. Supporting Scientific Inquiry Skills (continued) • Collecting data • Collecting and archiving (or storing) data both are important in scientific inquiry • Computer Based Laboratory (CBL) is one helpful tool in middle and high school classes. How it works: • Sensors collect data • Data downloaded into a computer or calculator • Data can be manipulated and stored in a spreadsheet for long-term investigations Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

13. Supporting Scientific Inquiry Skills (continued) • Visualizing data and phenomena • Computer simulations can help students see data or processes that may be hard to see directly • Students can manipulate elements to help in visualization of different types of phenomena: • Macroscopic – Large-scale processes • Example: Phases of the moon can be sped up and viewed in a fraction of its actual time • Microscopic- Small-scale processes • Example: Molecular structure or growth cycle of plants and animals • Teachers can use visualization software to supplement lecture and tutorials, and for use with demonstrations Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

14. The Key to Freshwater Algae:A Helpful Tool • Interactive web-based tool that uses a multimedia approach to increasing student learning of microscopic organisms • Incorporates high-quality images of 75 genera of algae, diagrams, and informational pages of terms and structures • Students narrow down a list of organisms based on provided characteristics • Available at http://silicasecchidisk.conncoll.edu Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

15. Supporting Scientific Inquiry Skills (continued) • Analyzing data • Computers are very helpful in allowing students to easily analyze data using spreadsheets • Statistics or algorithms can be applied to data to help students find relationships and correlation between data • GIS software lets students analyze components of an image by looking for connections between attributes *Image from Google Images Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

16. GIS, or the Geographic Information System, is a technology tool for teaching geography and map skills Allows students to interact with maps to learn their functions and see how they work According to Eui-kyung (2006), research has shown improvement in student learning of geographic content and map skills with use of GIS GIS is increasingly in demand in business and industry, and also government GIS software will be increasingly important in the global economy Movement to increase student exposure and knowledge of this software GIS Software: What is it? Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

17. Supporting Scientific Inquiry Skills (continued) • Communicating results • Once data is collected and analyzed, results are written up and submitted for publication • Graphs, visualizations, pictures, and digital images can be used to record and easily share data • The Internet provides a means for communication and sharing of results Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

18. Supporting Science Concept Learning • Technologies that simulate and provide models of scientific processes can help students learn basic scientific skills • Complex scientific concepts can be made easier to understand by showing students how these processes work, rather than a static picture on a page • Students can learn about complex anatomy through virtual dissections • A program that simulates color mixing allows students to visualize mixing colored light • Skills can later be built upon and applied to scientific inquiry Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

19. Accessing Science Information and Tools • Internet is a wealth of information and data that students can use in scientific investigations • Students can participate in learning activities and experiments such as controlling a space rover or telescope • The web is a valuable resource for the most current science information • Books can easily become obsolete after printing, as knowledge about science is constantly being changed and modified • Internet can also be a valuable resource for teachers • Teachers can find resources to aid in their content knowledge and professional development • The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse, or ENC, offers resources for teachers, as well as training opportunities Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

20. References • Eui-kyung, S. (2006). Using geographic information system (GIS) to improve fourth graders’ geographic content knowledge and map skills. Journal of Geography, 105, 109-120. Retrieved November 3, 2006, from Education Research Complete database. • Freshwater Ecology Laboratory. (n.d.). SilicaSecchiDisk. Retrieved November 11, 2006. http://silicasecchidisk.conncoll.edu • Goyette, K., & Mullen, A. Who studies the arts and sciences? Social background and the choice and consequences of undergraduate field of study. Journal of Higher Education, 77, 497-538. Retrieved November 8, 2006, from Education Research Complete database. • Gitomer, D. H., Latham, A., & Ziomek, R. (1999). The academic quality of prospective teachers: The impact of admissions and licensure testing. Princeton, NJ: Teaching and Learning Division, Educational Testing Service. • National Academy of Sciences. (1995). National science education standards. Retrieved November 9, 2006. http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/ Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia

21. References (continued) • National Science Foundation. (2006, February). Science and engineering indicators 2006. Retrieved November 5, 2006. http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind06/pdf_v2.htm • Ornstein, A. (2006). The frequency of hands-on experimentation and student attitudes toward science: A statistically significant relation. Journal of Science Education & Technology, 15, 285-297. Retrieved November 3, 2006, from Education Research Complete database. • Roblyer, M.D. (2006). Technology in mathematics and science instruction. In M.D. Roblyer (Ed.), Integrating educational technology into teaching (pp. 336-343). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. • Shayler, H. & Siver, P. (2006). Key to Freshwater Algae: A web-based tool to enhance understanding of microscopic biodiversity. Journal of Science Education & Technology, 15, 298-303. Retrieved November 3, 2006, from Education Research Complete database. Chris Sharron and Tony Garcia