Blogs

This year was the first year of the Computer Science Summer Institute. It lasted one week with tens presentations in five days. For the first attempt at this Summer Institute it went fairly well, but there are several areas that could have been improved.

I will begin with the Program Outline . It states:

The Institute will consist of lectures and demonstrations, including hands-on computer laboratories, together with discussion periods aimed at exploring computing technology and its impact on education, both inside and outside the classroom.

Monday June 25, 2007

Morning: Paul Grobstein- Between Reality and the Virtual: Education in the 21st Century

I can’t say that I have had the most wonderful experiences with science and math education. Some how my interests prevailed over experience and here I am; working in both Physics and Mathematics. This is not the case for many other people. Some claim they’ve been turned off to it because of a teacher or something very similar. Or perhaps a bad (or even scarring) experience that left them kissing these areas good bye. I take comments like this very seriously because I want to be the one who teachers these subjects in the future. In so doing, I realize the power I may have over a student that could help push them away from science and math forever; or at least have them decide that they would not want to continue education in these areas.

I went fishing west of Pottstown in Oley, Pa at a beautiful place near a stream, farmhouses, and small mountains- It was breathakingly beautiful. I caught a giant sunfish, and my friend caught four small trout. We threw all five fish back. I also caught several moths and one caterpillar to feed to my gecko. Although this place is 48 miles from my neighborhood, I still feel like it's part of the place where I live. After all, I wouldn't drive out of my comfort zone to go fishing for a few hours.. 

Thoughts about "placing" science 7/22/07

 

Liz McCormick did a wonderful lesson on microwaves. I have  cut and pasted her lesson so that I will have it for class. This is a great lesson to teach the concept of how microwaves work. I especially like the idea of having the children do a concept map at the conclusion of this activity.

Evolution can be a touchy topic but I think Wil gave us some great web sites to check out. This one called  Squirrel/Sugar Glider has much more to it then Wil showed us. Go to the bottom of the page and you will can take an interesting side trip and  you can explore homologous structures in more detail. In college the phase" ontology recapitulates phylogeny" fascinated me. I always explain it in as development mirrors evolution. I never have been able to find good pictures. Click the below and wikppedia will get you to some great pictures.

Another important concept in seventh grade science is classification. I loved the way Wil started his lesson with the classification puzzle. Here is his web site http://www.brynmawr.edu/biology/franklin/LPN/animalpuzzle.html. Just click and copy and run off enough copies for each lab group. A perfect way to allow students the chance to classify by their own criteria.