STEM Implementation

I have not taken any steps to implement any of the high quality instruction we have learned about in our courses at my new campus.  Unfortunately this has been a very difficult professional year and I have not been as involved either at my campus or district.  This does not mean that I do not intend to become involved in the future, it is just that I am transitioning into a new campus and a new grade level.  My focus, as it has been chosen for me, is reading.  I have made my administrator aware of my education and my experience in science, however, I am better suited for reading implementation at the moment.  Hopefully as time passes by, I will be better able to also  contribute my science experience with my colleagues either at my campus or through the science department at the district level.

Globalization On A Level Field

According to Thomas Friedman’s “The World is Flat” speech at the MIT open courseware keynote address, the world has shifted from one that is controlled and dominated by corporations, to the individual (Friedman, 2008).  In his speech he delineates the progression of global economics and interconnectedness to the present.  We are not flat because now every individual, anywhere in the world has the power to create and share their product, idea, or service, without the intermediary corporation.  This has leveled the field at a global scale and simultaneously at an individual scale as well. 

What does this say to me as a teacher?

It tells me that I have my work cut out for me! Friedman’s speech, as it progressed, created a huge sense of panic.  We are not preparing students for the world that we have grown up in.  We are preparing students for a future world we have yet to even imagine! That is a very daunting task.  Our school systems are not prepared with the technology or the teacher knowledge to prepare our children for this next level of globalization.  The thought of what our work is to prepare these children for their future is terrifying.

However, as I calmed down, and ate my weight in chocolate, I realized that I cannot predict what the future will bring.  Then again, neither did Steve Jobs’, Bill Gates’, or Mark Zuckerberg’s teachers.  The thing that separates these three individuals from the rest of the world is that they were innovative thinkers.  As teachers that’s where the success of whether or not our children are prepared for this broad future, lies.  We have to create a group of individuals that are independent, higher order, thinkers.  We have to set the foundations for technology, for math, for science, along with the ability to think outside the box.  This will ensure that our students are successful in the future where the playing field is level.

Reference:

Friedman, T. (2008). MIT Milestone Celebration/Keynote Address.  Retrieved January 7, 2011 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcE2ufqtzyk

Earth Science Model

For my model I used paper cutouts of the Earth, Sun, and Moon, and my students created the orbit of the Moon around the Earth, and the Earth around the Moon.  We decided to go outside to do our model.  It was a disaster.  I have learned that I need to give instructions before we go outside (I have a new appreciation for our PE coaches.  Just a small one.).  I also learned that I need to take my students out into the playground when there are the least distractions from other students.  Lunch time is not a good time to go outside.  On the other hand, once I managed to get the students to focus on me and my instructions the model was successful.  It took a few tries and some good coordination, but the students were able to create their model of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.  (My apologies for my lack of photos, but too many of my students have parents that have denied photos for safety reasons.)

Texas Wildfires/ Building More Compassionate Students

Building more compassionate students is not too hard for elementary school teachers.  Students at this age have a very strong sense of right and wrong.  If you have any doubts about this just have someone wrongfully accuse another person in your classroom, and mayhem will ensue.  Therefore teaching students to be more compassionate and be willing to help others is not that hard.  I have found that if you inform the students of the suffering of others, they will jump on board to help.  Texas is experiencing a natural disaster that has left many homeless.  It all began with severe droughts in East Texas.  Now East Texas, unlike West Texas is fairly green, so droughts will dry up a lot of brush and grass.  This creates an opportunity for wildfires to take form.  This is exactly what happened. Unfortunately many have lost their homes because of the wildfires.  I have made of compilation of websites that will help educate students on what is happening in the Texas wildfires right now. I have also found a website that teaches about drought.  Once we have gone over the information, then we can create activities to help the Red Cross help the victims of the Texas wildfires.

Drought Information For Kids Website


Article on Texas Wildfires

Video CBS News: “No Containment of Texas Wildfire”

Map of Texas Wildfires

Ask A Scientist Answered!

I take back what I said in my previous post. Ask a scientist answered my questions! So with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside I gladly post their answer to my question.

Ana, thank you for submitting the following question to the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Ask a Scientist website:


How does the cell membrane differentiate between possible harmful agents to other agents that are allowed to pass the cell wall? Could this information be used to end viral infections in the future?

Here is a response provided by one of our volunteer scientists:


The cell cannot detect noxious substances that readily cross the cell membrane, that is why ethanol is a good antibacterial agent. Evolution has been at play for many millennium and cells are able to block chemicals that may be toxic and that are frequently found in the environment are the rule. The evidence suggests that viruses have been in existence for as long as cells have so they have co-evolved. The successful viruses are ones that can reproduce and spread without killing the host cell. The common cold is a great example. The newer viruses can be high risk to the host - like SARS, Ebola, and new influenza strains. Historically, Ebola may kill more than 90% of people it infects, wiping out whole villages. The virus too is wiped out since there are no more hosts left to infect.

It is unlikely we can manipulate the complicated cell membrane to act as an anti-viral. But we can do other things to protect ourselves, like using good hand washing technique before we eat or prepare food, and after using the bathroom or handling animals.


We welcome feedback from you about this answer to your question and
appreciate your interest in Ask a Scientist.


Ask a Scientist Coordinator



Disclaimer:

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Ask a Scientist website provides a forum for teachers, students, and others to discuss biomedical topics with scientists. Participating scientists answer questions to the best of their knowledge. The information they provide is intended for educational purposes only. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute assumes no responsibility for the scientific accuracy of Ask a Scientist responses or for the content of references and Web links that may be provided in responses. Views expressed in Ask a Scientist responses are not necessarily those of HHMI.

Ask A Scientist

Last week we were assigned the task of going to the ask a scientist website and we were to post a question. Well, I dutifully asked, and I did not get an answer. Which is fine, because, as Dr. Lyman, our instructor had warned, we might not get a response from said scientist. Unfortunately for me, I still had to find the answer to my question.

I mean not to speak badly of ask a scientist. Maybe the scientist was busy last week. I was not the only one posting questions. There are many people in the class, and I am assuming that I am not the only one who was assigned this assignment. If I am, I will be very upset. Or maybe the scientist is off on vacation. After all, it is summer, and unlike yours truly who is tirelessly working on course work, the scientist is done with hers (I know, "or his", I have to support the girls in male dominated fields, you know!).

As I stated before, I was on my own to answer my question. Unfortunately, I had forgotten my question. Gasp! I know, but hey, it's summer and I live in the desert. It's hot over here. My brain cells are burning up, faster than you can say "ask a scientist".

Luckily I found my question. Thank goodness for saving my work on my flash drive! How do cells differentiate between what can pass through the cell wall and what stays out? How is this helping with treatment of diseases? So I proceeded to ask Google. Good old Google has never disappointed. Google would answer my question!

Google had no idea.

I did not find the answer to my questions. I did, however, find some really nice websites on cell walls. I have attached the links for your perusal.

New World Encyclopedia
Cell Wall

Biology 4 Kids
Cell Wall

Presentation Tools

I looked through various sites that helped with presentations. These are the three that I though would most work for our presentation later in the course.

PreZentit works very similarly to PowerPoint. It isn’t as fancy as PowePoint. For example I could not add sounds to the slides. The transitions were cute. One thing I do love about PreZentit that I can add my own background image from my photo library. Overall I think PreZentit is great for those who are a little scared of too many bells and whistles in their presentations.

http://prezentit.com/

Animoto is the coolest thing ever! It enables you to upload music onto your presentation. It also enables you to upload photos and videos. The backgrounds work similarly to what you see in professional videos and commercials. If you have ever created a podcast using a Mac, then this is very similar, except maybe a little bit easier to use. It guides you through it. Animoto is not free, unfortunately. It costs five dollars per month. However, if you are really into the whole fancy presentation thing that will truly capture your students’ attention, this one is it. I am considering using this one for my presentation. I love it!

http://animoto.com/

Another site that I really liked, especially because it is interactive, was VoiceThread. This presentation allows others to comment through audio or text. It becomes extremely interactive. It is not the most user friendly presentation site, however, it is very interactive. Others can even doodle on the actual presentation. This is a great tool for those of us who have websites for our classrooms and would like to extend the learning home. Although I am wondering how good this will be for the project in our class, I am thinking of using it in my own classroom.

http://voicethread.com/