Example of Voicethread

Below is the voicethread I used as an activity and assessment tool with my high school astronomy class.

Using Videos in the Classroom

Having read a chapter in, "Technology in the Secondary Science Classroom," I was inspired on how I might use videos and images from the web in my science classroom. The following lists how I could use images and videos to develop conceptual understanding or science thinking skills with my students:

1. Using videos to develop science thinking skills (as well as higher order thinking skills). Using movie clips that demonstrate motion, videos of demonstrations or experiments or using your own videos, have students make predictions on the possible outcomes. Then, show the results with the video and have students give explanations. Using videos this way could also serve as a great way to initiate student led inquiry.
2. Assessment Strategies using videos. Following a study of some scientific concept, show a movie clip, video clip or your own video to the students to analyze. For example, following a study on plate tectonics and volcanic development, a teacher could show a variety of volcano images and have students argue which volcanoes could have been formed from subducting sea floors.
3. Collecting Data and Observations. Encourage students to download their own images or videos as a means to have data to later analyze. For example, have students take pictures every day of a single plant growing and then have them create a movie with the images for analysis.

Capitalizing on the visual resources on the web can only enhance the higher order thinking and conceptual understanding development in the 21st century science classroom!

Guiding Principles with Technology

Using technology in the classroom is vital to prepare students to be successful in the 21st century. The following are some guidelines I am currently following and hoping to refine before the school year:

1. Will this use of technology promote original thinking or production?
2. Will this use of technology help develop higher order thinking skills?
3. Will this use of technology promote online collaboration between groups?
4. Will this use of technology promote the use of inquiry skills?
5. Will this use of technology help develop confidence in trying new means of technology on the web?

I have found a lot of success using voicethread with my students and I became very excited about using glogster. However, when we kept having software issues (glogs not saving, losing usernames, losing images, not saving, etc), the students became quickly disgruntled in using glogs. This was discouraging because students really liked the idea when it worked! I took mental log...students want user-friendly technology!

Using Real Time Data in the Science Classroom

The image above is what you will see when you visit "Science in your Backyard" hosted by USGS website. Click on your state and a variety of real time data for earth sciences will be available. Below I will outline a couple of ideas on how you might use this website in your classroom:

1. Using Current Events - I clicked on "IA" and found an article about the effects of a warmer, drier climate developing in Iowa and the effects this will have on Iowa waterfowl. The article highlighted research that indicates a greater sensitivity to a drying climate than previously thought. Updated, local and RELEVANT data and research like this could "spice up" a unit like global warming. Current events are also great formative assessment tools.

2. Real Time Water Data - Having access to real time water data could be a valuable resource for inquiry in the classroom. For example, we have received a lot of rain this year in Iowa (El Nino last year? This year?) and you can see in real time the effects this rain has had on local rivers. Students could make predictions on which rivers will reach floodstage and why and then access this website daily to collect data. Once data is collected, organized analyzed, a student could argue conclusions about watersheds and flooding in Iowa.

3. Resources Links - On this same page, I was able to access a link that gives updated reports on Iowa's mineral production each year. Those of you looking to "spice up" your mineral unit and make it more inquiry based could use this link to do a variety of things with minerals:

a. Research which states provide types of minerals and investigate trends

b. Research any yearly trends within your own state with mining and production of minerals

c. Research what types of minerals your state contains and then research which states are more probable to develop alternative energy resources

Developing science thinking skills as well as higher order thinking skills are more important than content retention. Using real time data in an inquiry based earth science classroom can provide your students with the opportunities they need to develop the necessary skills to becoming scientifically literate in the 21st century.

Go to the website and see how you might use this great resource in your classroom:

http://www.usgs.gov/state/

Updated Oil Emissions in the Gulf

Anyone paying attention to the last two months of attempts at stopping the oil leak will know the attempts have been less than fruitful. This recent disaster is certainly posing a long term threat to the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico. Two recent updates reveal this is more than a "leaky" problem.

New estimates reveal that the current amount of oil leaking in the Gulf is much more than what was previously estimated. Before this week, the current efforts at stopping the gushing oil was hoped to only allow 20,000 to 40,000 barrels of oil per day. However, this week Government Officials now say approximately 35,000 to 60,000 barrels of oil are leaking into the Gulf waters.

These new estimates were reached from several research teams using high-resolution videos, acoustic technologies, and measurements of oil and pressure amounts, according to CNN.

Furthermore, Government Officials have also discovered that many other oil companies operating here in the U.S. have similar response methods as did BP. Companies such as Exxon, Conoco, Sinclair, as well as others, have similar emergency response procedures with BP. New efforts are at work to improve emergency response procedures as well as maintenance procedures to avoid future disasters as we have witnessed these last two months.

Purpose of the Real Earth News Blog

This blog has been created first to fulfill a graduate class requirement towards a Masters Degree from Montana State University. Secondly, this blog will serve as a media outlet for my students to easily know the current events occurring in our world. Furthermore, this blog will allow students to interact with each other concerning current environmental and earth science news.

My goal is first to have something to hold me accountable to stay current on what is occurring in our world and to formulate a particular stance on the issues. Secondly, I hope that students will develop and awareness of environmental issues and furthermore, develop some "green" values to help be stewards of our precious resources. Hopefully, as students interact through this blog, students can learn from each others' input and therefore, personally synthesize some beliefs that will aid future decision making for our world.

Feel free to comment and give additional input to media outlets that give updates on what is happening in our world!

Afghanistan Mineral Wealth

A recent report posted on CNN revealed that U.S. military and geologists estimate the mineral weath in Afghanistan could be as high as $1 trillion. Specifically, the mineral deposits include gold, copper and iron. These are three widely used minerals in various technological applications. Certainly, these deposits could be a tremendous asset to the reconstruction and stabilization of a war-torn country.

However, I would like to warn Americans that historically, we do not have a good track record in "helping" countries with mineral wealth. Take a look at Congo, Africa. Congo is home to an abundance of an ore called, Coltan, short for columbite-tantalite. Coltan, when refined, is a very heat-resistant, corrosive-resistant, and highly conductive mineral used in all of today's technology including cell phones, laptops, games, hand held devices, etc. Historically, though, rather than this tremendous billion dollar business aid this war-torn country modernize, this wealth has fallen into the hands of corrupt governments of neighboring countries, including its own. Western countries, including those owned by previous American presidents, have aided the illegal trading of these valuable minerals. As a result, more people of Africa have died than in the Holocaust (some estimate as high as 7 million Africans). Over one million people still roam without food, shelter or occupation. And, a disheartening large number of children resort working in the mines or joing rebel militaries as a result of the war over the minerals.


Be discerning as the U.S. Government tries to "help" Afghanistan in developing its economic structure with this newly discovered wealth! I would hope the U.S. Government would learn from this tragedy in Congo before opening up this new mineral market to the Western World.