Critical Thinking, Problem Solving & Decision Making in the Science Classroom Ben Smith and Jared Mader Red Lion Area School District Friday, October 31, 2008

About Us Ben Smith: Physics Teacher K-12 Science Coordinator Technology Resource Teacher Keystone Technology Integrator Doctoral Student in Instructional Technology STAR Discovery Educator ISTE Consultant BlendedSchools Consultant Jared Mader: Director of Technology Former Chemistry Teacher Technology Staff Development Trainer Keystone Technology Integrator Masters Student in Instructional Technology STAR Discovery Educator BlendedSchools Consultant

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) The trusted source for professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy, and leadership for innovation.

Nonprofit international membership association. Focuses on improving teaching and student learning using technology as a tool. Connects educators to learn from each other. Promotes best practices from the field. International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

Presents: The National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) Washington DC International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) EdTechInnovators named Best of the Best at NECC 08

NSTA Charlotte Presentations Digitizing the Science Classroom - Prepare Students for the Global Society Thursday, October 30, 8:00-9:00 AM, Westin Charlotte, Grand Ballroom C Communication and Collaboration in Science Friday, October 31, 12:30 - 1:30 PM Westin Charlotte, Grand Ballroom A Problem Solving and Decision Making in Science Friday, October 31, 2:00-3:00 PM Westin Charlotte, Grand Ballroom A

2009 NSTA Presentations New Orleans, Convention Center, Room 242 Integrating Technology into the Classroom Thursday, March 19, 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Room 242 Digitizing the Science Classroom - Prepare Students for the Global Society Thursday, March 19, 9: :30 AM, Room 242 Wikis for Students and Teachers in Science Thursday, March 19, 12:30 - 1:30 PM, Room 242 Podcasting for Students and Teachers in Science Thursday, March 19, 3:30 - 4:30 PM, Room 242 Student Voices on Technology in Science Thursday, March 19, 2:00 - 3:00 PM, Room 242 Emerging Technologies in the Science Classroom Friday, March 20, 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Room 242 Using Technology to Break the Traditional Mold of a Lab Report Friday, March 20, 9: :30 AM, Room 242

"Knowing content" is not sufficient in itself -- rather, students must apply knowledge to: construct new understandings, solve problems make decisions develop products and communicate Technology can facilitate this type of learning

Teacher directed, memory- focused instruction Student-centered, performance- focused learning Isolated work on invented exercises Collaborative work on authentic, real-work projects Factual, literal thinking for competence Creative thinking for innovation and original solutions Transforming Learning Environments Traditional EnvironmentsEmerging Learning Landscape

Our Reality Labs within our rooms students per computer CFF Cohort 2 School - 1 to 1 in my classroom Students arrive with intuitiveness, but not the specific skills to use the technology - We need to teach the skills first or in conjunction with the curriculum Students may or may not have access to the internet and other software at home

Pedagogical Foundations Curriculum must drive the need for technology integration Technology is simply the tool used to facilitate student-centered learning Technology makes it easier to accomplish Taxonomy of Technology Use 1 Experiencing Informing Reinforcing Integrating Utilizing 1 Thomas and Boysen, Iowa State University, 1984

Ben and Jared Taxonomy Observing Students are passive observers of technology Interacting Students are engaged with the technology Producing Students create product with a single technology Developing Students begin to combine and integrate technologies Applying Students are making sound choices about appropriate technology to use

National Educational Technology Standards for Students 1.Creativity and Innovation 2.Communication & Collaboration 3.Research & Information Fluency 4.Critical Thinking, Problem- Solving, & Decision-Making 5.Digital Citizenship 6.Technology Operations and Concepts

Problem Solving & Decision Making “What students should know and be able to do to learn effectively and live productively in an increasingly digital world...” ISTE: NETS-S: Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students: identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation. plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project. collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions. use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.

Technology Tools to Enhance Labs Lab Tools What you need Websites to provide labs PowerPoint Inspiration Logger Pro / DataStudio iMovie / MovieMaker Word Excel Internet Access - Web 2.0 End Lab Projects What our students do Choosing the Tools Collecting the Data Recording the Data Digital Notebooks Reporting with PowerPoint Reporting Non-traditionally Post-lab Activities Portfolios

Lab Activities and Tools Screen Capture Cameras Camcorders Scanners Digital Slate Microphone - Podcasting Virtual Labs - Confirming Work and Extending Probes Vernier - Logger Pro Pasco - DataStudio

Science Probes Vernier and Pasco probeware used to collect and plot data What to do after the data is collected?

Lab Reporting Software to Use - Students Make Choices Word Excel / Graphical Analysis / Zoho / Google Docs PowerPoint Templates Inspiration iMovie Collaboration Discussions Web 2.0 Tools

Digital Notebooks Examine software from Interactive Whiteboards including mimio and Smart Word Template Look online - Circus Ponies Hardware component: Wacom pads

PowerPoint - Results Lab Reports Students create a page for every required laboratory section Template can be provided Students Integrate digital media into lab report Poster Session Template

Non Traditional Lab Reports Poster Sessions - PowerPoint PowerPoint Inspiration iMovie - Digital Storytelling iWeb

Digital Lab Reports iMovie / MovieMaker Slideshows / JumpCut

Post Lab Activities Portfolios and Showing Off Blogging - Telling everyone about it Student to Student Communication Critique each other

PowerPoint - Portfolios Students reflect upon their work What is appropriate to include? What is their best work? What demonstrates they understand the course material? Students create digital media Portfolios allow students to reflect upon their work and demonstrate exemplary projects Student Example

Portfolio - iWeb / Wikis Students create websites using easy web authoring software Websites demonstrate exemplary work and post to district website

Questions Website: