Week 1 Blog Assignment
Technology Education and Extended Learning:
Middle School Science Curriculum
Introduction
Hi, I'm Esther Andugala and I'm a novice to blogging. This is my 3rd year teaching science to middle schoolers. I taught Earth Science to eighth graders for a year. It was a huge learning experience and a roller coaster ride dealing with adolescents and instilling curiosity and wonder about the world we live in. Since then, I've been teaching science to 6th graders and it's been equally challenging and exhilarating at the same time. Teaching science has been my passion since I can remember and to instill the same has been my endeavor. I've been a student all my life and my life experiences have shaped me into the individual I am. I've enrolled in Masters in Curriculum and Instruction to learn strategies and skills in engaging my students in a meaningful manner and help enhancing and extending their learning (Kolb, 2020).
Technology Education and Middle School Science Curriculum
The International Society for Technology in Education indicator 1.3.a asks students to plan and use effective research strategies to find information and other resources for their intellectual and creative pursuits. 6th grade science standard MS-LS2-1 states that students can analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem (New Jersey Student Learning Standards, 2020, p. 35). The students created websites for their assigned endangered species and they researched data bases, e-books, and books at the school library. Indicator 1.7.c states that students should contribute constructively to project teams taking on varied roles and responsibilities to work towards a common goal. The students worked in teams and each member was responsible for one part of the website. The website had several pages and the first page was devoted to the biome in which the endangered species lived. The second was devoted to the habitat, physical features and the food chain of the endangered species. The third page was for the population and causes of endangerment and the final page was devoted for steps to be taken to prevent endangerment. They also had to cite the sources on the website in MLA format. There was also an emphasis on avoidance of plagiarism. At the end of the project, they presented their websites while their peers reviewed them giving them constructive feedback.
Technology Education and Extended Learning
Extended learning is one of the parts of Kolb's Triple E Framework. Technology education lends itself to extended learning. In the digital age, educators are looking to help students learn P21 skills which most employers are asking for (Kolb, 2020). Accessing databases, e-books etc., to research an assigned endangered species is definitely paving the way in that direction. Translating the information researched onto a website, paraphrasing the content and citing the sources in MLA format are all instances where technology is allowing students to build skills which they can use in their everyday lives (Kolb, 2020). The students could access their websites outside school to collaborate with their team members to work on it lending itself to technology creating opportunities for students to learn outside of school (Kolb, 2020).
References:
Crompton, H., & International Society for Technology in Education. (2017). ISTE standards for educators : a guide for teachers and other professionals (First edition). International Society for Technology in Education. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=2143326
Kolb, L. (2017). Learning first, technology second : the educator’s guide to designing authentic lessons (First edition). International Society for Technology in Education.
Science. (n.d.). https://www.nj.gov/education/standards/science/Index.shtml
I like that you have students doing this activity as part of a team in a structured way, where each is responsible for a part of the team website. This gives each student a meaningful task while being accountable to their peers as well. The collaborative skills they will be developing are valuable in addition to the scientific learning and technology skills. The ability to make a website is definitely a skill that students could find useful in their future lives and careers, given how web-based modern society is. The research skills they would be practicing are also very valuable. I can imagine students getting really interested in the topic of their endangered species as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, Thank you for your feedback! I appreciate it.
DeleteGreat work in having the students collaborate to complete this assignment. We do similar research in 4th grade science with an emphasis on animal adaptations and the need for those adaptations in certain environments. Your lesson gave me a great idea for this upcoming school year in incorparting technology to enhance the learning!
ReplyDeleteI taught 8th grade math for 3 years, and that was probably the hardest 3 years of my life, so I understand your pain! At least science can include some pretty interesting lessons, where math is a little more limited. I love your lesson having students create websites. One skill that it's never too early to start teaching is how to research properly, and how to use different data bases. This is something that is going to be crucial in the digital age that we live in. So this lesson definitely hits the nail on the head for this ISTE standard.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to meet you! Your journey in teaching science to middle schoolers sounds both challenging and rewarding. Your passion for instilling curiosity in your students is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteYour project on creating websites for endangered species is fantastic. It’s a great way to integrate technology and engage students in meaningful learning. The combination of research, teamwork, and creative presentation covers important skills and aligns well with ISTE standards.
Your use of Kolb's Triple E Framework to extend learning beyond the classroom is impressive. Allowing students to collaborate on their websites outside of school is a great idea.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights. Best of luck with your master’s program and your continued teaching journey!