Technology Assignment Explained

As part of the core curriculum for secondary science classes, students muss learn classifications of structures. One focus will be the stars and planets. In order for our students to learn about these structures we have come up with a technology project these students can do on their own. We decided to have the students learn to use an online resource called "Stellarium". We created an assignment that helps them to familiarize themselves with the program and to explore a bit to help them understand more about these celestial structures. We took some screen videos showing how to do some of the steps for the assignment as a resource for the students. We posted these onto our course website so the students could access them and provided a link to a google document so that the students could have a template for their assignment. The students will answer the questions in the document by using "Stellarium" and take some screen shots. They will be required to post all answers and screen shots on their blog.

Stellarium Assignment

http://docs.google.com/View?id=d9xv3c4_44dvns6cc3

4. October 9, 2009 at 15:27:36
5. Moon will get to +26 degrees Lat tomorrow
7. I chose to watch the script about the lunar eclipse. It was so cool to see how it really works! Especially with the time sped up. I chose to watch this script because it has always fascinated me that the moon can turn red and I've wondered how it really happens. While I was watching the script I was wondering why you could see all the lines go across the moon before it was completely covered up by the earth. I think it has to do with the atmosphere of the earth and how the light interacts with our atmosphere. I'm excited to learn more about it.

screen shots:

PLE week 5

The TPCAK framework includes 3 different types of knowledge: Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge. Technological knowledge is that knowledge that allows you to understand and use different types of technological tools. Pedagogical knowledge is the knowledge associated with teaching in general. Content knowledge is the knowledge of the facts and processes found in a particular field of knowledge.
Let's look at the differences between TPACK and TPK. TPK is an integration of TK and PK. It is having the knowledge and understanding of different technological tools as well as knowing how to best use these tools in order to help the students learn. TPACK is an integration of all 3 knowledge types. It is an understanding of technological tools used for content-specific material that will best be used to help the students learn the material.





I enjoyed using skype much more than using the facebook video message tool. There are many different reasons. For one, Synchronous communication is so much better than Asynchronous communication. Also, skype was much easier to use and it allowed you to work on other things at the same time. Both are incredible technologies though and could really help in the classroom. It would be a great tool for students to use if they have questions. Sometimes it is much easier to explain your questions in person...maybe with a diagram or some visual instead of having to type everything. Students would be able to submit video questions to the teachers. Could be great!

Web Tools

I have never had a good grasp on how to use all of the neat tools available on the web. This week we worked on making ourselves familiar with all of these tools. We learned how to create a web page, how to use the internet to edit a photo, and how to use video communication on the web. One of the most difficult was the photo editing task. There are just so many different possibilities there that it is hard to familiarize yourself with it all. I don't know if i will be using the photo editor very much because i am fairly familiar with photoshop and iphoto. I am very glad that I learned how to create a web page. I think i will be using that skill a lot in my future, both in my teaching endeavors and my personal life as well. Good skills to have!

Storyboard

Here are our plans for the video.

Newton is Amazing!

Probably one of the funniest portrayals of Newton's Law you will ever see!
Fun, and informative.

Video in the works

Carla and I will be making a fabulous film demonstrating Newton's first law. Carla had this great idea as she was watching While You Were Sleeping and saw a poor little newspaper boy totally biff it on his bike because of the ice on the road. We discussed the phenomenon and decided it would be a great way to demonstrate the idea of "an object in motion stays in motion". We are going to expand upon this idea by using other similar clips that portray the principles in Newton's first law. We're hoping to put it all to a beautiful song from the nutcracker. We think it will be great.