Lifelong Kindergarten - Keeping Imagination & Creativity in the Learning Process
Mitchel Resnick, MIT Media Lab
Notes from ISTE10
Primary URL:
http://llk.media.mit.edu
Handouts / Papers:
Available at http://web.media.mit.edu/~mres/papers/Learning-Leading-final.pdf
Available at http://web.media.mit.edu/~mres/papers/CC2007-handout.pdf
We need to extend this kindergarten approach to learning even in later, more advanced education.
We may need different tools than crayons and blocks to keep it going. Technology can help keep this cycle going so we don't think the only choice we have is to try to just dump data into the students' brains.
Are we asking our students to consume or create?
For Example, Scratch
Imagine -- Get an idea, like from the Warrior Cat novels
Create -- allows students to create their own story or interactive activity or game instead of a computer game that creates the story and actions for them.
Play -- try to build different action combos
Share -- post on the Scratch website and comment/interact with other users
Reflect -- saw others' ideas and comments and edit/add to the project
We want students to begin thinking, "How does that work?"
Scratch helps them think more in programming language, variables
Now can even create their own scratch controllers for activities they create
ScratchEd - ideas for using scratch in education
Scratch Day - people from all over the world hold workshops and create projects with scratch
Scratch @ MIT Conference - August 11-14, 2010 http://scratch.mit.edu/conference
Coming next year... Scratch 2.0 -- will enable students to create projects more collaboratively online
http://scratch.mit.edu
http://scratched.media.mit.edu
http://scratch.mit.edu/conference
Scratch is not the most important part -- it's just the tool. The important part is re-thinking learning and how we can use technology to remember this "Kindergarten" style of learning.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Engagement: What is it? Where can I get some?
ISTE 2010
Bernie Dodge, PhD
San Diego State University
http://webquest.org/workshops/engagement7/
As I have reflected on the school year I have thought about what successes I have had and what goals need to be set for next year. In particular, I have thought about the professional development training and classes I have taught. I think it is easy, particularly when teaching with technology tools, to assume learners will be engaged just because technology is involved. I think it is also easy to assume that teachers will be engaged in professional development training if they have chosen to attend. These are assumptions I cannot afford to make if I want to be an effective teacher. What do I need to do to keep learners engaged in the lessons I am teaching?
Last summer at the ISTE conference in Denver, I attended a session on the very topic of student engagement. In his presentation, Bernie Dodge said, "Engagement is critical. It is a valve that controls how much information gets into the minds of our learners."
So, if engagement is critical, I need to understand more about it. First, what is engagement? Engagement is...
Fun--
Often teachers use technology to help lessons be more fun (engaging). In my case, all of my lesson utilize technology. It is important to remember, however, that using technology does not automatically make a lesson engaging. New tools are like visiting a new country -- it's very exciting to take that new trip -- but you've got to remember where you're from. In other words, good, engaging teaching is not about what you can buy from the vendors, it's about remembering what we already know about good teaching. It's not about the technology, it's how you use it.
Engaged learning has to be centered in collaboration and is a combination of constructivist principles and problem-based learning. Engagement is really all about interactions -- not about the tools, but about the interactions between students, people, materials, etc. It's about the topic you're trying to teach and using as much of the brain as possible.
For example, many novice teachers often come in thinking they need to lecture. Some may even create elaborate PowerPoint presentations to go along with their lectures, thinking that adding that technology component will make their lesson engaging. Perhaps their lecture is a little more engaging than it would have been without the PowerPoint, but a presentation alone does not get students interacting. On the other hand, a WebQuest that contains the same information as the lecture mentioned, but causes the students to work, explore, discuss, and answer questions would be very engaging.
Esquire magazine attempted this type of engagement in their Augmented Reality Issue with Robert Downey, Jr. This issue took the magazine to a new level. It allowed readers to interact with the magazine like never before. If Esquire magazine understands that they need to engage their readers in the learning experience, we should too!
Technology tools can be used to enhance learning by increasing engagement if they are used effectively. Consider the same tool being used in different ways:
Scenario 1: Teacher demonstration = low interaction/low engagement
--Scenario 2: Students explore, but the teacher hasn't really asked them to do anything with it
----Scenario 3: Students are asked questions to find answers to
------Scenario 4: The teacher gives a task that requires students to interact with tools and classmates to accomplish
360 Site Ideas:
Take the plot of a novel -- how would it change if it took place in Yemen instead?
Geometry
Architecture
What sites would you want to visit?
Where would you take a photo of your city so people would see the important sites?
Compare/contrast cities
Give a tour of the city, for example as a country report
Tell the story of the people in the picture
How can we measure engagement in our own teaching?
Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10. Observe what the teacher is doing, then what the students are doing. Indicate the kind of thinking required for what they are doing (Bloom's Taxonomy).
Thinking about interactions can help us plan our lessons -- Is there time for student-teacher interaction? Time for student-student interactions? Self reflection?
How can we improve? Ask a friend to watch you teach and watch the interactions.
How do we judge the quality of the interactions the students are having? That is the key. Bloom's taxonomy and the nature of the tasks they are doing the interacting for can help us judge that, but that's what we need to work on.
Bernie Dodge, PhD
San Diego State University
http://webquest.org/workshops/engagement7/
As I have reflected on the school year I have thought about what successes I have had and what goals need to be set for next year. In particular, I have thought about the professional development training and classes I have taught. I think it is easy, particularly when teaching with technology tools, to assume learners will be engaged just because technology is involved. I think it is also easy to assume that teachers will be engaged in professional development training if they have chosen to attend. These are assumptions I cannot afford to make if I want to be an effective teacher. What do I need to do to keep learners engaged in the lessons I am teaching?
Last summer at the ISTE conference in Denver, I attended a session on the very topic of student engagement. In his presentation, Bernie Dodge said, "Engagement is critical. It is a valve that controls how much information gets into the minds of our learners."
So, if engagement is critical, I need to understand more about it. First, what is engagement? Engagement is...
- commitment
- being involved because you want to not because you have to
- true interest
- being utterly tuned in, focused
- asking questions
- interactions
- time flies
- not disrupting
- sitting quietly
- smiling and nodding
Fun--
- thinking critically
- thinking creatively
- remembering
- performing
- presenting
- moving around
- highly challenging tasks
- teacher enthusiasm
- interacting with artifacts, the instructor, or other learners
- sensory rich experiences
- physical activity
- human interest
- lectures are rarely mentioned as "fun"
Often teachers use technology to help lessons be more fun (engaging). In my case, all of my lesson utilize technology. It is important to remember, however, that using technology does not automatically make a lesson engaging. New tools are like visiting a new country -- it's very exciting to take that new trip -- but you've got to remember where you're from. In other words, good, engaging teaching is not about what you can buy from the vendors, it's about remembering what we already know about good teaching. It's not about the technology, it's how you use it.
Engaged learning has to be centered in collaboration and is a combination of constructivist principles and problem-based learning. Engagement is really all about interactions -- not about the tools, but about the interactions between students, people, materials, etc. It's about the topic you're trying to teach and using as much of the brain as possible.
For example, many novice teachers often come in thinking they need to lecture. Some may even create elaborate PowerPoint presentations to go along with their lectures, thinking that adding that technology component will make their lesson engaging. Perhaps their lecture is a little more engaging than it would have been without the PowerPoint, but a presentation alone does not get students interacting. On the other hand, a WebQuest that contains the same information as the lecture mentioned, but causes the students to work, explore, discuss, and answer questions would be very engaging.
Esquire magazine attempted this type of engagement in their Augmented Reality Issue with Robert Downey, Jr. This issue took the magazine to a new level. It allowed readers to interact with the magazine like never before. If Esquire magazine understands that they need to engage their readers in the learning experience, we should too!
Technology tools can be used to enhance learning by increasing engagement if they are used effectively. Consider the same tool being used in different ways:
Scenario 1: Teacher demonstration = low interaction/low engagement
--Scenario 2: Students explore, but the teacher hasn't really asked them to do anything with it
----Scenario 3: Students are asked questions to find answers to
------Scenario 4: The teacher gives a task that requires students to interact with tools and classmates to accomplish
360 Site Ideas:
Take the plot of a novel -- how would it change if it took place in Yemen instead?
Geometry
Architecture
What sites would you want to visit?
Where would you take a photo of your city so people would see the important sites?
Compare/contrast cities
Give a tour of the city, for example as a country report
Tell the story of the people in the picture
How can we measure engagement in our own teaching?
Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10. Observe what the teacher is doing, then what the students are doing. Indicate the kind of thinking required for what they are doing (Bloom's Taxonomy).
Thinking about interactions can help us plan our lessons -- Is there time for student-teacher interaction? Time for student-student interactions? Self reflection?
How can we improve? Ask a friend to watch you teach and watch the interactions.
How do we judge the quality of the interactions the students are having? That is the key. Bloom's taxonomy and the nature of the tasks they are doing the interacting for can help us judge that, but that's what we need to work on.
Links Mentioned During the Session
- Time Lapse of a baby playing. Pure engagement!
- Learning, Motivation & Fun. Videos of 160 stories about engaged learning.
- O’Malley, K. et al, (2003). Validation of an observational instrument for Measuring student engagement in health professions settings. Evaluation & the health professions, 2003, 26; 86.
- Esquire's Augmented Reality Issue. Was on the newstands in December, 2009 and will be in your textbooks soon. Be afraid.
- WebQuest.org - Designed from the start for engagement
- Slate Magazine's News Dots
- 360 Cities: View from a rooftop in Sana'a
- Smithsonian National Postal Museum
- Primary Access - Make stories based on historical images
- Twine - A tool for creating interactive stories
Getting the Most from Your iPhone: Apps, Tips, and Tricks
Notes from a presentation by David Pownell, Washburn University at ISTE10
http://you-learning.org/
http://you-learning.org/iste2010b103.html
You can click and hold down on the 123 button and slide to numbers instead of switching to number mode.
To help your iPhone show up better under the docucam, adjust the screen lightness/darkness on the phone itself.
Collaborating and Communicating
Email
• Doodle Buddy -draw and email (free with ads)
• Dragon Dictation -speech to text (free)
Texting
• TextFree (free with ads and limited number)
• WhatsApp Messenger
Share iPhone to iPhone
• Bump -share contact and photos (free)
Shared web resources
• DropBox -share documents (free)
Social Networking
• Facebook (free)
Manipulating Information
Search
• Google Voice Web Search (free)
Gather
• Evernote -notes everywhere (free and paid versions)
Measure, Calculate, Convert
• MultiConvert -converts anything (free)
Create and edit documents
• QuickOffice Mobile -edit create Office docs ($$)
• Documents to Go ($$)
Location Based
• Yelp -find businesses and reviews (free)
Add web content
• WordPress -add to Wordpress blog (free)
• Facebook (free)
Organizing and Planning
Notes and To Do
• To Do (free)
• Omnifocus -advanced to do ($$$)
Planning
• iMindMap (free)
Specialized
• Shopper -shopping lists (free and $)
Teaching and Learning
Reference Information
• Wordweb (free, audio version $)
Learning
• QuickGraph (free)
• Formulas ($)
• Pop Math Lite (free)
• Matches (free)
Flashcard apps
• iFlashcards Free (free with ads)
Reading
• Kindle for iPhone (free)
• GoodReader (free and $)
Read News
• NYTimes (free)
Explore your current location
• Google Earth (free)
Language
• 24/7 Spanish (free)
Living, Lifestyle, and Self-Improvement
Interact with businesses
• Bank of America (free)
Information & reviews of businesses
• Yelp (free)
Check the weather
• Weather Bug (free)
Wellness
• iTreadmill ($)
Shop
• RedLaser ($)
• SnapTell (free)
• Shop Nearby (free)
Entertain/Edutain
• Chess Free (free)
• Soduku Challenge! ($)
Children's games and activities
• Preschool Adventure ($)
• Grover's Number Special ($)
Gender specific
• iPregnancy ($)
Travel and Location Aware
Navigate
• Denver Rail (free)
Find POIs and Businesses
• Siri (free)
• Around Me (free)
Specialized
• Geocaching ($$)
Multimedia, Audio, and Video
Take and share pictures
• Snapture ($)
Edit Pictures
• Photoshop Mobile
• ColorSplash
Camera Utilities
• Camera Zoom ($)
• Fototimer ($)
Panoramas
• AutoStitch ($)
• Video Panorama ($)
Take, edit, and share videos
• QikVideo (free)
Listen to audio
• Pandora (free)
• Public Radio (free)
Create and explore audio
• Shazam (free and $)
• Looptastic (free, $, and $$)
• Ocarina ($)
Watch Video
• TV.com (free)
• TED (free)
Interact with Digital and Physical Worlds
Exchange files with computer
• Air Sharing ($ and $$)
• Fliq (free, needs desktop app $$)
• Files Lite (free)
Control other devices
• Air Mouse (free and $)
Stream Video (need separate devices)
• EyeTV ($)
• Dish Remote Access (free)
• Sling Player Mobile ($$$)
Stream Audio
• AirPhones (free and $)
Use Devices Effectively
Text to Speech
• NeoKate (free)
• NeoPaul (free)
Speech to Text
• Dragon Dictation (free)
iear.org -- list of i education apps
autoverbal -- will speak what you type -- talking soundboard pro
http://you-learning.org/
http://you-learning.org/iste2010b103.html
You can click and hold down on the 123 button and slide to numbers instead of switching to number mode.
To help your iPhone show up better under the docucam, adjust the screen lightness/darkness on the phone itself.
Collaborating and Communicating
• Doodle Buddy -draw and email (free with ads)
• Dragon Dictation -speech to text (free)
Texting
• TextFree (free with ads and limited number)
• WhatsApp Messenger
Share iPhone to iPhone
• Bump -share contact and photos (free)
Shared web resources
• DropBox -share documents (free)
Social Networking
• Facebook (free)
Manipulating Information
Search
• Google Voice Web Search (free)
Gather
• Evernote -notes everywhere (free and paid versions)
Measure, Calculate, Convert
• MultiConvert -converts anything (free)
Create and edit documents
• QuickOffice Mobile -edit create Office docs ($$)
• Documents to Go ($$)
Location Based
• Yelp -find businesses and reviews (free)
Add web content
• WordPress -add to Wordpress blog (free)
• Facebook (free)
Organizing and Planning
Notes and To Do
• To Do (free)
• Omnifocus -advanced to do ($$$)
Planning
• iMindMap (free)
Specialized
• Shopper -shopping lists (free and $)
Teaching and Learning
Reference Information
• Wordweb (free, audio version $)
Learning
• QuickGraph (free)
• Formulas ($)
• Pop Math Lite (free)
• Matches (free)
Flashcard apps
• iFlashcards Free (free with ads)
Reading
• Kindle for iPhone (free)
• GoodReader (free and $)
Read News
• NYTimes (free)
Explore your current location
• Google Earth (free)
Language
• 24/7 Spanish (free)
Living, Lifestyle, and Self-Improvement
Interact with businesses
• Bank of America (free)
Information & reviews of businesses
• Yelp (free)
Check the weather
• Weather Bug (free)
Wellness
• iTreadmill ($)
Shop
• RedLaser ($)
• SnapTell (free)
• Shop Nearby (free)
Entertain/Edutain
• Chess Free (free)
• Soduku Challenge! ($)
Children's games and activities
• Preschool Adventure ($)
• Grover's Number Special ($)
Gender specific
• iPregnancy ($)
Travel and Location Aware
Navigate
• Denver Rail (free)
Find POIs and Businesses
• Siri (free)
• Around Me (free)
Specialized
• Geocaching ($$)
Multimedia, Audio, and Video
Take and share pictures
• Snapture ($)
Edit Pictures
• Photoshop Mobile
• ColorSplash
Camera Utilities
• Camera Zoom ($)
• Fototimer ($)
Panoramas
• AutoStitch ($)
• Video Panorama ($)
Take, edit, and share videos
• QikVideo (free)
Listen to audio
• Pandora (free)
• Public Radio (free)
Create and explore audio
• Shazam (free and $)
• Looptastic (free, $, and $$)
• Ocarina ($)
Watch Video
• TV.com (free)
• TED (free)
Interact with Digital and Physical Worlds
Exchange files with computer
• Air Sharing ($ and $$)
• Fliq (free, needs desktop app $$)
• Files Lite (free)
Control other devices
• Air Mouse (free and $)
Stream Video (need separate devices)
• EyeTV ($)
• Dish Remote Access (free)
• Sling Player Mobile ($$$)
Stream Audio
• AirPhones (free and $)
Use Devices Effectively
Text to Speech
• NeoKate (free)
• NeoPaul (free)
Speech to Text
• Dragon Dictation (free)
iear.org -- list of i education apps
autoverbal -- will speak what you type -- talking soundboard pro
Saturday, June 26, 2010
EduBloggerCon - Speed Demos
EduBloggerCon Wiki
Speed Demos:
Here is a list of handy websites and tools that may help you use technology in your classroom.
Speed Demos:
Here is a list of handy websites and tools that may help you use technology in your classroom.
- mashpedia.com - a multimedia encyclopedia - Find videos, images, Wikipedia articles, Twitter posts, new articles, blog posts, websites, books, etc. on topics you search.
- paper.li - Create a newspaper from a hashtag. - "paper.li organizes links shared on Twitter into an easy to read newspaper-style format. Newspapers can be created for any Twitter user, list or #tag. A great way to stay on top of all that is shared by the people you follow - even if you are not connected 24/7!"
- glogster - "Simply put, Glog is a kind of poster - fully designed by yourself! Glog is a fancy creation from text, images, music and video." - Here is an example of Glogster used by the Springfield library: springfieldlibrary.wikispaces.com
- Sharaholic.com - Add a button for your browser to send links to any service. You can turn services on and off as desired. - "1-click posting to 100+ services from any webpage You'll have all your favorite social networking, bookmarking, blogging, and e-mail services at your fingertips. With Shareaholic you'll be able to share any page, anytime, with services you already love like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Mail, WordPress, and lots more!"
- exchange.smarttech.com - ideas for teachers using SMART boards/SMART software - "Find lesson plans for your SMART board and connect with teachers."
- express.smarttech.com - SMART Notebook Express - "View, save, and interact with SMART Notebook files online at no charge."
- Yolinkeducation.com - free downloadable plugin - "yolink finds and organizes your search results for you, then takes them directly to Google Docs or your favorite social networking site so you can create."
- SweetSearch.com - a Search Engine for Students that searches only 35,000 curated sites - Yolink is integrated into SweetSearch.
- SweetSearch4Me.com - the new K-8 version of SweetSearch
- letmegooglethatforyou.com
- tinyurl.com - Shorten long URLs to make them easier to share.
- longurl.org - Find out what a shortened URL points to.
- hugeURL.com - when you need a really long URL
- readitlaterlist.com - collects web pages, blogs, etc. in a list for you to read later
- jumpcut - "Jumpcut is an application that provides 'clipboard buffering' — that is, access to text that you've cut or copied, even if you've subsequently cut or copied something else. The goal of Jumpcut's interface is to provide quick, natural, intuitive access to your clipboard's history."
- textexpander - "TextExpander saves you countless keystrokes with customized abbreviations for your frequently-used text strings and images."
- edmodo.com - Create a private social network - a place to post things for your class, a place to discuss topics, etc. - Edmodo looks like Facebook, but it is specifically designed for your classroom.
- http://sverigesradio.se/p1/SRc/sing/ - "Let them sing it for you." - When you type in any text, this program takes excerpts from popular songs creating a collage of artists singing what you typed.
- techhead.org - Find the lowest prices on Microsoft and Adobe products for k12/higher ed.
- google.com/squared - Get the results of your Google search in a table format.
- When using wordle, put a ~ between each word instead of a space and it will keep your words in the order in which you type them.
- http://bingle.nu - Search Bing and Google at the same time and compare the results.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
CRT Review!
Have you been wondering how to review with your students for the CRTs in a fun way? Here are the suggestions the Ed Tech and Media Tech teams came up with. Comment and let us know your fun ideas!
Need help trying out these ideas? Contact your school's Ed Tech!
- UTIPS - Create tests on UTIPS for your class to take online. If you need help accessing your account, contact your school's Ed Tech. Click here for a pdf of basic UTIPS instructions.
- Clickers - Create tests with your SMART clicker software and have your class use the student response system to answer the questions with instant results. Visit the Canyons EMT site for tests that have already been created.
- Crossword Puzzles - Review vocabulary by having students complete a crossword puzzle containing key content words and definitions. Create your own crosswords and other puzzles, or have your students create their own, at Puzzlemaker.com.
- Podcast - Have the students create podcasts explaining a math formula or demonstrating a grammar concept. Have them perform and record a skit detailing a science concept. Be sure to set a time to allow the class to watch the podcasts. And be sure to share what you have created with your Ed Tech so we can share your podcasts on iTunesU.
- PowerPoint Games - Create PowerPoint games like Jeopardy, Who's Smarter Than a 5th Grader, and Hollywood Squares. Find templates for these games at PowerPoint Games.
- ComicLife - Have your students create a comic strip in ComicLife explaining a difficult curriculum concept.
- Science Around the World - Prepare science questions for your class and have two students at a time race each other to answer the questions. The student that answers correctly first stays to challenge the next student and earns a "gold coin" for their win. (Other variations: Spelling Baseball, Multiplication Football, etc.)
Need help trying out these ideas? Contact your school's Ed Tech!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
South America Research Resources
Following are some links about South America to assist 3rd grade teachers and students. Please comment if you know of other helpful links.
South America
CultureGrams via Pioneer Library
UEN - 3rd Grade Examine the Inca of South America
CyberSleuthKids - South America
Lizardpoint - Test your geography knowledge South America
National Geographic - guide to South America
Totally 3rd Grade
Aztecs, Mayas, & Incas: Study of Indigenous People (webquest)
South American Countries (webquest)
ProTeacher South America lesson plans and activities
WorldAtlas.com - maps of South America
PlayKidsGames - South America Country Find
Kidipede - Early South America
Kidipede - South America after 1500 AD
Peru
CultureGrams via Pioneer Library
National Geographic Kids - Peru
Kids Around the World - Peru
KidsKonnect - Peru
National Geographic - Peru
CIA World Factbook - Peru
CIA World Factbook Kids' Page - Peru
Come to Peru
Amazon Rainforest
Teachers' Domain: Amazon Rainforest (video)
Jungle Photos
Mongabay: Tropical Rainforest
Rainforests - curriculum research links
Amazon Rainforest Endangered Animals Game
KidsKonnect: Rainforest - link list
South American Food
FoodsofSouthAmerica.com
iTV Kids South American Food Recipes
Food of the Inca
The Incas
UEN - 3rd Grade Examine the Inca of South America
Aztecs, Mayas, & Incas: Study of Indigenous People (webquest)
The Incredible Incas for Kids
National Geographic Kids Brainteaser Incas Quiz
KidsKonnect: Ancient Inca
The Incas at ppst.com - free PowerPoint presentations
South America
CultureGrams via Pioneer Library
UEN - 3rd Grade Examine the Inca of South America
CyberSleuthKids - South America
Lizardpoint - Test your geography knowledge South America
National Geographic - guide to South America
Totally 3rd Grade
Aztecs, Mayas, & Incas: Study of Indigenous People (webquest)
South American Countries (webquest)
ProTeacher South America lesson plans and activities
WorldAtlas.com - maps of South America
PlayKidsGames - South America Country Find
Kidipede - Early South America
Kidipede - South America after 1500 AD
Peru
CultureGrams via Pioneer Library
National Geographic Kids - Peru
Kids Around the World - Peru
KidsKonnect - Peru
National Geographic - Peru
CIA World Factbook - Peru
CIA World Factbook Kids' Page - Peru
Come to Peru
Amazon Rainforest
Teachers' Domain: Amazon Rainforest (video)
Jungle Photos
Mongabay: Tropical Rainforest
Rainforests - curriculum research links
Amazon Rainforest Endangered Animals Game
KidsKonnect: Rainforest - link list
South American Food
FoodsofSouthAmerica.com
iTV Kids South American Food Recipes
Food of the Inca
The Incas
UEN - 3rd Grade Examine the Inca of South America
Aztecs, Mayas, & Incas: Study of Indigenous People (webquest)
The Incredible Incas for Kids
National Geographic Kids Brainteaser Incas Quiz
KidsKonnect: Ancient Inca
The Incas at ppst.com - free PowerPoint presentations
Thursday, March 18, 2010
ESL Websites & Software
I asked my teammates if they knew of any websites or software that help ESL students as they learn to read and write. We came up with the following:
- RIF Reading Planet - Reading Is Fundamental - reading activities for kids
- Kidspiration - software that can help build vocabulary with picture support
- MES English - "free printables for teachers"
- Boardmaker - software - "symbol-based printed activities for students with special needs"
- Starfall - "where students have fun learning to read"
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Science and Social Studies Educational Websites
Science
Social Studies
- BBC's Science Clips
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Toon University
- BBC's Bitesize Science
- Simple Machines
- Weather Maker
- The Water Cycle
- Wolfram Demonstrations Project
- Black Holes
- Electromagnetic Waves
- The Electromagnetic Spectrum
- NASA Science for Kids
- Science NetLinks
- Science Online
- Harcourt School Science
- Science With Tom
- Medical Mysteries
Social Studies
- Utah History Encyclopedia
- Utah.com
- County, State, & Country Reports
- The History Channel
- If You Were President
- Gilbert Stuart Making Faces
- The Underground Railroad
- Lizardpoint Geography
- Ancient Rome
- Pearson Social Studies Library
- Smithsonian's History Explorer
- National Geographic's Xpeditions
- EconEdLink
- EDSITEment
- The Kennedy Center's ARTSEDGE
Integrating Technology into the Curriculum
Online K-12 teacher resources:
**See also my "Reading and Math Educational Websites" post for a lesson plan outline.
- Canyons EMT
- UEN Core Curriculum
- UEN Student Center
- Thinkfinity
- Literacy Network
- Elementary Technology Lessons
- Miss Blunt's Engaged Classroom Blog - I frequently post ideas and links on my blog, so click on "Follow" at the bottom of the sidebar or get the RSS feed to receive notices about new posts. Also on my blog: use tags to make your search for specific topics easier, follow me on Twitter, and link to other Ed Tech and teacher blogs
**See also my "Reading and Math Educational Websites" post for a lesson plan outline.
County, State, & Country Reports
Several teachers have asked me to suggest online resources to help their students research for county, state, and country reports. Following are some sites I found. Please comment and share your favorite county, state, and country information resources.
Counties of Utah:
The United States:
Countries of the World:
Counties of Utah:
- UEN's Counties of Utah
- Pioneer Library - Pioneer has a list of Utah resources. On the Pioneer site, click on "K-12 Schools", then check out the "Utah Collection" column.
- UEN's Core Curriculum Links - UEN provides a list of helpful links for every Core standard and objective. Go to the UEN Core Curriculum page, and select the subject area you want help with. For example: Geography of Utah (SS Standard 1), Utah History (SS Standard 2), Government of Utah (SS Standard 3)
- Utah - Life Elevated (utah.travel)
- Utah.com
- Try searching the name of your county in Google. Most counties have a homepage with cultural, historical, and current information about their county.
The United States:
- CultureGrams - States Edition - My favorite! You can access this site through Pioneer Library. It does require a license to access. When you go to the site while on the canyonair network, you will automatically be logged in. If you need the login name and password to login at home, they are listed on the Pioneer homepage.
- Pioneer Library - Pioneer has a list of research resources -- everything from encyclopedias, to search engines, to image collections, to sound clips. On the Pioneer site, click on "K-12 Schools", then check out the "General Reference Collection" and the "Additional Library Resources".
- UEN's Core Curriculum Links - UEN provides a list of helpful links for every Core standard and objective. Go to the UEN Core Curriculum page, and select the subject area you want help with. For example: North American Colonies (SS Standard 1), American Independence (SS Standard 2), US Constitution & Bill of Rights (SS Standard 3),US Expansion (SS Standard 4), US as a World Power (SS Standard 5)
- FactFinder Kids' Corner - Fun State Facts! - from the US Census Bureau
- netstate.com
- 5th Grade State Report Websites - a list of helpful websites
- States Timed Test
- Sheppard Software Us Geography - states & capitals tests as well as state information
- Encyclopedia.com
- US States and Regions at ppst.com
- Infoplease Origin of State Names
- Regions of the United States
- Try searching the name of your state in Google. Most states have a homepage with cultural, historical, and current information about their state.
Countries of the World:
- CultureGrams - World Edition - My favorite! You can access this site through Pioneer Library. It does require a license to access. When you go to the site while on the canyonair network, you will automatically be logged in. If you need the login name and password to login at home, they are listed on the Pioneer homepage.
- Pioneer Library - Pioneer has a list of research resources -- everything from encyclopedias, to search engines, to image collections, to sound clips. On the Pioneer site, click on "K-12 Schools", then check out the "General Reference Collection" and the "Additional Library Resources".
- UEN's Core Curriculum Links - UEN provides a list of helpful links for every Core standard and objective. Go to the UEN Core Curriculum page, and select the subject area you want help with. For example: Ancient Civilizations (SS Standard 1), Middle Ages/Renaissance (SS Standard 2), Revolutions (SS Standard 3), Current Global Issues (SS Standard 4)
- Embassy.org - Click on the "Embassies" link at the top to get addresses to send letters to embassies of countries around the world. Many embassies will send information, recipes, and even music, books, or posters.
- Lizardpoint Geography - geography tests for various countries and continents
- CIA World Factbook
- Lonely Planet
- countryreports.org
- infoplease Countries of the World
- Encyclopedia.com
- Scholastic's Global Trek
- Try searching the name of your country in Google. Most countries have a homepage with cultural, historical, and current information about their country.
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