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Digital Citizenship

claguna — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:57:11 +0000

Today we had a discussion in class about digital citizenship. We will be using wikis in the classroom and I want the students to be sure that they understand their responsibilities as members of a global community. We are trying to make a positive contribution and so need to be aware of issues of respect, responsibility and safety that come with uploading material on the internet. These students really impressed me with their discussion. They have already begun making a positive difference by creating a daily podcast to help the absent students, creating podcasts that teach the concepts we are learning, and adding their ideas and the things they learn on their wiki pages.

We will try to be aware of our “digital footprints” as we work this year and we will try to blaze a path as leaders who set the rules rather than followers who simply adhere to the rules laid down in the past. I’m excited about the creative energy that my students are bringing to our science class this year!

Measuring Matters

claguna — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:49:33 +0000

This week we are working on learning metric measurement. Why does it matter how we measure? Well, it wasn’t until someone began making very precise measurements that scientists learned about the conservation of mass in a chemical reaction. Antoine Lavoisier was able to measure the oxygen gas produced in Joseph Priestly’s famous experiment and revealed an important secret of chemistry – matter isn’t created or destroyed in a chemical reaction…it simply changes from one form into another. You may be surprised to find out that when we make precise measurements as part of our observations some very interesting questions can arise! One lab group saw today that 50 mL of one liquid added to 50 mL of another liquid resulted in a total volume of only 98 mL. If you have an inference about these observations you can share it by commenting on our blog!

A Team Effort

claguna — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:06:53 +0000

The lab this week was a real team effort. Period 1 class introduced us to the “crime”, period 2 began making observations, and period 3 recorded a heating curve of the “mystery drink” that sent poor Cody (only acting) to the hospital! Today, period 1 identified the poison as Isopropyl Alcohol, period 2 used fractional distillation to isolate the compound, and period 4 put the rest of the pieces together by testing the density and flammability of the liquid. Everyone collaborated on the movie that documents our project. We had the help of directors, script writers, narrators, artists, technicians, computer helpers, and even the music specialist! Watch the movie here!

What science did we put to use for this project? Let’s hear what you learned…

Podcasts

claguna — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:29:55 +0000

A student is making a podcast while her group performs a lab experiment.

Our podcasts are up an running! Here are some things I have learned. Windows media files need to be converted before they can be uploaded to the server but there are free online tools to solve that problem. Movies have to be small in order to upload them – which is good in a way since long movies can get boring.

I’m so proud of all the students who created movies, uploaded pictures, and made Power Point presentations for their online science fair projects! One student even made a Voice Thread! Cool! Look for these projects to be featured on our wiki in the near future! In the mean time, enjoy some of our podcasts from this year and last. http://podcast.qcsd.org/users/mrslaguna/

Independent, Self-Directed, Wow.

claguna — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:13:19 +0000

Are you an independent, self-directed learner? That is one of the goals for my students this year. And I was so impressed last week to see that many of the students in my science and math classes are stepping up to this challenge.

Here is one example that was really amazing. During my prep period I was working on getting the students grades on my computer when Greg came into the classroom. He wanted to collect some more data for his last experiment so that he could revise his lab report (completely optional by the way.) I said, “sure!” and Greg got to work. I didn’t really talk to him again until he left.

In that time he started the Data Studio software, assembled and connected a pressure sensor to the computer, conducted an experiment, organized the results in a data table, reformatted the graph for printing, and made a color printout of the volume and pressure graph…without any help. Wow. My students rock!

Sometimes we are told what to do and how to do it so often that we forget to take the initiative and take charge of our own learning. I think learning is really only fun when it is self-directed. What do you think? Can you share an example of a time when you learned something on your own? Was that a good experience? Or do you prefer being guided by a teacher when you learn something new?

Misconceptions – Missed Concepts!

claguna — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:45:47 +0000

So many people have misconceptions when it comes to science! In our class this week we explored a question that most people would think was common sense. What happens to the temperature if you fan a thermometer. Armed with our trusty lab notebooks and the scientific method we explored the question. I think most students thought, “What’s the point? Of course the temperature will drop!” But that was not the case. The temperature stayed the same throughout the experiment no matter how hard we fanned the temperature sensors!

The first step is recognizing the misconception but the harder part is changing our minds to see the correct concept. We need “fixedconceptions!” Why do you think fans cool us down if the fan isn’t altering the air temperature? Hint – read about evaporation and see if that helps! Let us know what you think the answer is. We will conduct another lab experiment using water, isoproynol, and ethanol to wet the temperature sensor before we begin fanning.

Paying Attention

claguna — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:34:41 +0000

I read a lecture today that had these words at the end.

“Attention IS our scarcest and most valuable resource. What we do with our attention defines us.”

The speaker said that our attention is valuable. Every day we make decisions about who and what we will spend our attention on. But are we paying attention to the important things like connecting with people, improving our world, and enriching our lives? Paying attention is a choice we make, a gift we give, a way of life.

As a teacher, I really appreciate the students who choose to give their attention to their educations and I try to make the things we do in class worthy of their attention. Like group 5 in period 1 Science today. Their full attention was on their lab experiment and as a result they came up with very creative ideas. It made me realize how much more we get out of an experience when we focus our attention on what we are doing.

Do you agree with the statement that what we do with our attention defines us, or makes us who we are?

What’s On The Test?

claguna — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:31:50 +0000

What things should be on the test? I just watched a funny video that made fun of all the testing we do in schools. Why do we have to take tests anyway? I guess that schools test because students need to be held accountable for their learning. Here’s how I really know if students are learning, but it’s not on the test!

When kids are really learning they are talking about the subject they are studying. They are asking really interesting questions that I don’t know the answers to but I can’t wait to research! Students who are learning are thinking of ways to use the information they collect in class and are creating interesting projects. They are finding ways to apply their new understanding to their own lives and making connections to their interests outside of school. Students who are really learning aren’t bored, they’re curious and creative! But that’s not on the test. And it’s not always happening in class either.

How do we encourage real learning in our classrooms? I don’t know the whole answer but I can’t wait to research the subject! I have to be accountable for my learning along with the rest of the class! Are we all doing what it takes to be really learning? Maybe we need to improve the test!