Sunday, January 25, 2009
Reflection 2
The resources that I'm reflecting on are the two website articles that I read dealing with constructivism and the five E's. The articles talked about teaching science from a constructivism approach and utilizing the five E's to engage your students in the lesson. I've been teaching science for 5+ years and obviously I know a little about what to do, but these articles really opened my eyes on what I'm doing compared to what COULD be done. I do some things in my classroom now, but I have far to go. Since it is only the first week of research I haven't done anything in my classroom yet, but I plan on implementing some of my new found research into my classroom next week. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
Resource Log 5
McGraw-Hill Glencoe Webquest Science. Retrieved Jauary 25, 2009 from http://www.glencoe.com/sec/science/webquest/index.html
This is a continuation of my previous blog on webquests. This is a great tool for anyone seeking a variety of science webquests. Topics from recycling plastics to alternative fuels to roller coaster physics are all incorporated in this site. Each webquest has a variety of links to connect students and help them explore great educational websites and then to transfer that information to solve some questions at the end of the quest.
This is a continuation of my previous blog on webquests. This is a great tool for anyone seeking a variety of science webquests. Topics from recycling plastics to alternative fuels to roller coaster physics are all incorporated in this site. Each webquest has a variety of links to connect students and help them explore great educational websites and then to transfer that information to solve some questions at the end of the quest.
Resource Log 4
Dodge, B. (2007). Webquest.org. Retrieved January 25, 2009, from http://webquest.org/index.php
This is a very interesting site created by a professor at San Diego State University. What was interesting about this site is that not only can you look up webquests from the SDSU website, but you can also look them up on Google. The most important thing related to constructivism is the fact that you can create your own webquests on this site. They discuss what a webquest is and give you a variety of templates to base your webquest off of. There is even a resource link connecting you to concepts and definitions, with a section on constructivism.
This is a very interesting site created by a professor at San Diego State University. What was interesting about this site is that not only can you look up webquests from the SDSU website, but you can also look them up on Google. The most important thing related to constructivism is the fact that you can create your own webquests on this site. They discuss what a webquest is and give you a variety of templates to base your webquest off of. There is even a resource link connecting you to concepts and definitions, with a section on constructivism.
Resource Log 3
Hoover, W. (1996). The Practice Implications of Constructivism. Retrieved January 25, 2009, from SEDLetter Volume IX Number 3 August 1996. http://www.sedl.org/pubs/sedletter/v09n03/practice.html
This was a site that I found through the previous log. This was a relatively short article, but what I liked aobut it was that it was based on how students learn, especially through constructivism. The teacher's main role in contructivism based education is not to teach the unenlightend student, but to assume that all students are enlightened and to encourage and engage them into learning. I found this article to be a good, brief overview of constructivism and how to use it in the classroom. I found the article to be well written and very informative.
This was a site that I found through the previous log. This was a relatively short article, but what I liked aobut it was that it was based on how students learn, especially through constructivism. The teacher's main role in contructivism based education is not to teach the unenlightend student, but to assume that all students are enlightened and to encourage and engage them into learning. I found this article to be a good, brief overview of constructivism and how to use it in the classroom. I found the article to be well written and very informative.
Resource Log 2
Ullrich, K. (2003). Constructivism and the 5 E Model Science Lesson. Retrieved January 25, 2009, from http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/fellows/Ullrich/webquest/mkuindex.html
I chose this site as my second resource since I found it right after my first and it dealt with the same ideas, but in a higher level fashion. This site discusses the five E's as discussed before, but has a rubric set up on how to implement them into the science lesson. Like most rubrics it ranges from beginning to accomplished and discusses the use of the 5 E's at each level. Not only does this site help the science teacher in creating Constructivism based lessons, it can be used to help any teacher create Constructivsm based lessons.
I chose this site as my second resource since I found it right after my first and it dealt with the same ideas, but in a higher level fashion. This site discusses the five E's as discussed before, but has a rubric set up on how to implement them into the science lesson. Like most rubrics it ranges from beginning to accomplished and discusses the use of the 5 E's at each level. Not only does this site help the science teacher in creating Constructivism based lessons, it can be used to help any teacher create Constructivsm based lessons.
Resource Log 1/Reflection 1
Miami Museum of Science. (2001). Constructivism and the Five E's. Retrieved January 25, 2009, from http://www.miamisci.org/ph/lpintro5e.html#5es
This website is a little older and might tailor more to the grade school or middle school teacher, but I think that any teacher can find it useful for their classroom. It discusses constructivism and then lists the five E's (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate) and how the student and teacher can use them in the classroom. The site is interactive with the most beneficial information linked to the five E's. These links discuss what a student does that is consistent with Constructivism and what a teacher does that is consitent with Constructivism.
Overall I found this resource to be beneficial in the way that it did give me some ideas on what I am doing and if it was to be considered "constructive" in the classroom and what I can do to become more of a constructive classroom. I think that the site is much more suited for grade school or middle school teachers, but I did learn a little bit from it that I can incorporate into my classroom. Not a site that I would highly recommend to HS teachers, but if you give it a quick glance you might pick up a point or two.
This website is a little older and might tailor more to the grade school or middle school teacher, but I think that any teacher can find it useful for their classroom. It discusses constructivism and then lists the five E's (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate) and how the student and teacher can use them in the classroom. The site is interactive with the most beneficial information linked to the five E's. These links discuss what a student does that is consistent with Constructivism and what a teacher does that is consitent with Constructivism.
Overall I found this resource to be beneficial in the way that it did give me some ideas on what I am doing and if it was to be considered "constructive" in the classroom and what I can do to become more of a constructive classroom. I think that the site is much more suited for grade school or middle school teachers, but I did learn a little bit from it that I can incorporate into my classroom. Not a site that I would highly recommend to HS teachers, but if you give it a quick glance you might pick up a point or two.
Initial Discussion Questions
What is my reaction to the course overview?
My reaction to this course overview is a little mixed. I am very nervous about engaging in such a course in that I have never done any blogging or used the tools that we will be using in this course and I have never taken an online course which adds to my apprehension. On the other hand I am very excited about the potential that this course provides. I've been teaching for 5+ years and I'm always looking to improve on what I do in the classroom. I feel that this course will offer some valuable information to use in my classroom and I am very excited to learn some new programs and ideas.
How do I feel about a 100% constructivist and collaborative course like this?
Again, I have mixed feelings. It seems very overwhelming to be creating our own textbook, especially with such on open ended source of materials, but it is also exciting to be able to accomplish such a task. I like the fact that we are doing what we are learning, I think that it will help us to learn the material more that if we just learned about it. It will be new and hopefully exciting.
How do I feel about publishing my learning on wiki's and blogs?
Don't really know aobut this one. I think by blogging on certain ideas and reading other student's blogs I will open my mind a little more, but I'm always nervous about putting my ideas out there for others to see. Hopefully it will help me to expand on my ideas and learn a few things that I can utilize in my classroom.
My reaction to this course overview is a little mixed. I am very nervous about engaging in such a course in that I have never done any blogging or used the tools that we will be using in this course and I have never taken an online course which adds to my apprehension. On the other hand I am very excited about the potential that this course provides. I've been teaching for 5+ years and I'm always looking to improve on what I do in the classroom. I feel that this course will offer some valuable information to use in my classroom and I am very excited to learn some new programs and ideas.
How do I feel about a 100% constructivist and collaborative course like this?
Again, I have mixed feelings. It seems very overwhelming to be creating our own textbook, especially with such on open ended source of materials, but it is also exciting to be able to accomplish such a task. I like the fact that we are doing what we are learning, I think that it will help us to learn the material more that if we just learned about it. It will be new and hopefully exciting.
How do I feel about publishing my learning on wiki's and blogs?
Don't really know aobut this one. I think by blogging on certain ideas and reading other student's blogs I will open my mind a little more, but I'm always nervous about putting my ideas out there for others to see. Hopefully it will help me to expand on my ideas and learn a few things that I can utilize in my classroom.
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