– The Scientific Process Berkeley’s Understanding Science website is a great resource for learning more about the process of science. The resource goes much deeper than the standard “PHEOC” model of the scientific method by emphasizing peer review, the testing of ideas, a science flowchart, and “what is science?” checklist. http://undsci.berkeley.edu/ Understanding Science also provides [...]
Blogs provide a great way to extend the classroom beyond your 45 minute class period. They can be used in a variety of ways to spark discussion and student research. Chris Ludwig, a high school science teacher in Colorado, wrote this blog post to show how he used blogs this year to fundamentally change the [...]
The devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan is on the minds of all of us, including our students. The event and aftermath is tragic and the continuing nuclear emergency is a reminder of how fragile society can be. As educators, we can help our students make sense of these events and give them the opportunity [...]
Video analysis is a powerful tool to help physics students understand motion and other phenomena. For example, in this video by Dale Basler (physics teacher and co-host of Lab Out Loud), students can analyze the speed and position time graph of the camera in a grocery store checkout line. Grocery Store Conveyor Belt Stops from [...]
Whenever we talk about preparing kids for the future, we usually include collaboration and teamwork as a valuable skill. Our students also need to realize that science is not conducted by individuals in isolation. Successful scientists and engineers must be able to work effectively with people from different perspectives and backgrounds. In fact, this diversity [...]
“She’s afraid that if she leaves, she’ll become the life of the party.” —Groucho Marx What does this phrase mean? Is it funny? ? Don’t you have to be at the party in order to be the life of it? Why would someone be afraid to be the life of a party? Is she shy? [...]
February’s Science 2.0 column focuses on how you can transform your classroom by using video lectures. Check out these videos by two of the pioneers of this approach: More videos on flipping your classroom are available here. Additional resources.
December’s Science 2.0 includes a brief example of how Dale Basler (physics teacher and co-host of Lab Out Loud) creates his own videos for use in his physics classroom. Here are a few examples: Bobber Meets Roundabout from Dale Basler on Vimeo. Grocery Store Conveyor Belt Stops from Dale Basler on Vimeo. See more here.
From January’s Science 2.0 column: Picture This Assessment “I have often used microscopic images of everyday objects as warm-up exercises to start class, and to get kids involved in making observations and asking questions,” says John Burk, a ninth-grade physics teacher at Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. Check out this example from Burk’s class blog [...]
A blog (and column) works best when it focuses on community. We would love to hear your feedback and suggestions. Let us know if you want us to write about something specific. Also, we are always looking for cool tech projects to showcase. Let us know how you are using technology in your classroom. You [...]
