I am glad to see that our book for the course sees technology as a means to good instruction. I believe that technology must provide tools that facilitate and enhance instruction. Technology can be used to collect and analyze data, enhance scientific understandings through imagery and visualization, and to extend inquiry through communication and collaboration.
"The bottom line is that it's not about the technology but how teachers use the technology. The teacher is (and always will be) the most important part of the equation. " (p.94 Technology in the Secondary Science Classroom).
About Me
- Wally
- I teach physics, electronics, and investigative techniques at Port Allegany High School.
Wally,
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right ... no amount of technology can improve learning if poor teaching is going on.
I liked that quote too. By the way, where is Port Allegany?
ReplyDeleteWally,
ReplyDeleteI am curious as to what your investigative techniques course entails. It has a most intriguing title?
Hi again! Port Allegany is about 30 miles south of Bradford, home of the zippo lighter and case knives.
ReplyDeleteInvestigative Techniques is a 1/2 credit course usually taken by seniors needing credit to graduate. It is mostly project oriented. Topics covered depend alot on the specific teachers specialties and include: Optics (pinhole cameras), rockets, pulsing steam boats, candle making, solar ovens, principles of flight, etc. I was going to use it as a way to apply things from this class.
Your post is spot-on. Although we will spend a lot of time with "tools" in this course, the really important piece is appropriate pedagogy.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am a growing advocate for project-based learning. Web technology really does provide unique opportunities for students to communicate what they have learned during a project.
Eric,
ReplyDeleteI do quite a bit of PBL, and am curious as what the advantages of communicating about students' work with web technology would/could be?
Let me explain my confusion a little. My classes are small, my school is small....unless studnets are communicating to the world --we all know what everyone is up to.
Susan