Technologies in Science Education

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Technologies in Science Education

• Feb. 15, 2001
• Yasu Kato (yasukato_at_mail.com)

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Hands-on Experience

• Tell me, I forget.
• Show me, I remember.
• Involve me, I understand.

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Agenda

• Self introduction
• Pre-session survey
• Science Education Statistics
• Visual thinking tool
• Simulation
• Products exploration
• Wrapping up

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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

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Pre-session mini survey (3min)

• Id like to know your computer experience and
  interests in general.
• Click Workshop icon on your desktop
• Click Pre-session survey
• View results

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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)

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Percentages of science classes NEVER use computers
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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)

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Trends in Average Scale Scores for the Nation in
Science
Figure 1.1, NAEP 1999 Trends in Academic Progress
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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

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Improving Math and Science Instruction (contd)

• Goal
• Increase student performance
• Increase students who take advanced courses
• Pass advanced placement exams
• Increase teachers with math/science major

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Improving Math and Science Instruction (contd)

• How?
• Partnership with higher education
• Increase use of technology The Administration
  believes schools should use technology as a tool
  to improve academic achievement

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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.)

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Example A
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Example B
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Example C
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Example D
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How do we use Inspiration in our classrooms?
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Quick tutorial of Inspiration

• Outline View
• Diagram View
• RapidFire
• Symbols
• Links
• New Look

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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.

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Turn in your Inspiration file

• Click Workshop
• Click Submit your Inspiration file

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Debrief Inspiration

• Present each Inspiration
• Comments

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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)

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Simulation (Role)

• Visualization
• Manipulate the dangerous or expensive
• Manipulate variables
• Role playing
• Model building

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Simulation (Benefits)

• Improve a quality of analysis
• Reduce analysis time
• Results in higher comprehension
• Question what benefits for kids?

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Product introduction

• Logal SimLibrary
• STELLA
• Biology Labs

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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

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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 expandsand everything
  in between.

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STELLA

• Web site
• Demonstration
• Online evaluation

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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

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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

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Group wrap-up (10 min)

• See evaluation sheets
• Logal SimLibrary
• STELLA
• Biology Labs
• Discussion

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Other recommendation

• WISE
• Jason Project (video)
• Probeware
• http//www.pasco.com/
• PDA
• http//palmgrants.sri.com/
• California Instructional Technology Clearing
  house Directors choice

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Web links database

• Categorization
• General
• Standard
• Science
• Biology
• Chemistry

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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 technologys sake

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Evaluation (10min)

• Evaluate this workshop
• Web link database categorization

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Thank you.

• Handouts
• This workshop
• http//ldt.stanford.edu/yasukato/step-science/
• Web links (soon)
• http//ldt.stanford.edu/step/

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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

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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

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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

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Other resources

• Learning opportunities
• Workshop/Seminar
• Conference
• Professional organization
• Online course
• Improve learning environments
• Write grant proposal

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Spreadsheet

• What functions?
• Calculating
• Collecting
• Visualizing
• What potential uses for education?
• Rubric sheet

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Visual thinking tool (Products)
Products Over all Web Platform
Inspiration PC Mac 70
eMindmaps PC 30
Mindmanager PC 80
Mindmapper PC 40