Measures of Dispersion and Variability: Range, QD, AD and SD
Web 2.0 Tools for Science
1. Web 2.0 in the Classroom:
Collaborative Learning Tools for Science
NSTA 2009 Annual Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana
Stephen Best
University of Michigan School of Education
3. Objectives
• Review the common practices of science and
see possible online collaborative tools to
support these practices
4. Objectives
• Review the common practices of science and
see possible online collaborative tools to
support these practices
• Discuss the considerations of using Web 2.0
tools to support science learning and
instruction
5. Objectives
• Review the common practices of science and
see possible online collaborative tools to
support these practices
• Discuss the considerations of using Web 2.0
tools to support science learning and
instruction
• Review examples of applications of commonly
used Web 2.0 tools for science instruction
and learning
7. What do we ask kids to do to
learn science?
take notes ■ have a discussion ■ do an experiment ■
read a map ■ make a graph ■ draw a picture ■ make
a concept map ■ write an essay ■ make a table ■
view a demonstration ■ look up a definition ■ watch a
video ■ solve a math problem ■ explain a concept ■
compare and contrast information ■ search for
reference information ■ write a story ■ make a list ■
answer a question ■ look at pictures ■ read a book ■
create a web page ■ share information ■ take a
picture ■ talk with a teacher ■ ask an expert ■ make
a presentation ■ post a link ■ make a diagram ■ etc.
8. The Practices of Learning Science
• Document creation / note-taking
• Brainstorming / concept mapping
• Drawing and diagramming
• Data collection and analysis
• Researching and reading text and
information
• Viewing images or video
• Presentations and sharing information
9. Collaboration
• For years, rarely a focus for instruction!
(we often try to prevent collaboration)
• A key component of the social
constructivist approach to learning
• Allows for higher level thinking and
analysis on a level that previous
activities did not
• A critical skill for learners and scientists
in the 21st century
10. Where to start?
• Before you try finding tools, decide
what the purpose of the use of these
tools is going to be!
• http://www.go2web20.net/
• Choose the tools that are likely to stick
around for a while (i.e. they are backed
by actual $)
• Limit the number of tools you intend to
use
11. Document Creation/Notes
• Lots of possible tools that allow
collaboration
• Google Docs or other web-based “office”
tools
• Note taking applications that allow for easy
searching and navigation (Evernote, Zoho,
or similar)
• Wikis can also be used for a large set of
information and tracking of collaborative
efforts
12. Brainstorming/
Concept Mapping
• Depends on the goal and functionality
of the tools
• Generally better left to other means,
but there are tools that allow for this
• Webspiration, Spinscape,
MindManager, and other tools for the
web (similar to Inspiration)
13. Drawing & Diagramming
Option 2:
•Option 1:
•Capture of your paper/ •Creation of online
drawings, diagrams, and
writing efforts or...
designs
•Note-taking or
•Bamboo space and other
document collection
drawing and diagramming
sites like Evernote
sites
•Picture capture sites
•Allow multiple media and
like Flickr
multiple “artists”
14. Data Collection / Analysis
• It all depends on the types of data...
• Numerical data: online spreadsheets (Google
Docs)
• Instrument specific data: content site tools
(i.e. Weather Underground)
• Observation data: Text can use wikis and
online documents (i.e. Google or Zoho Docs)
• Image/Video data: Flickr and other image
sites
15. Research and Reading
Text
• Google search (custom search engine
tools)
• iPaper or other document reading sites
• Delicious, Digg, and other content review
sites
• More basic text tools (blogs, wikis, etc.)
• Note taking tools that allow for web
clipping
16. Viewing Images and Video
• Common image and video viewing
sites
(Flickr, Photobucket, YouTube, Vimeo)
• Content specific images and video
(NASA, U.S. Geological Survey, etc.)
• Participant submitted video
(TestToob, TeacherTube, etc.)
17. Presentations and
Sharing Information
• Slide creation and presentation sites
(280 slides, Google Presenter, etc.)
• Slide sharing sites (Slideshare, etc.)
• Video sites (slides exported as video-
podcasts, downloadable/streaming
video, etc.)
• Online document sharing (Scribd
iPaper or others)
18. Assessment
• Does not depend on the tool
• Use the collaboration features of any
of the tools, and establish useful
rubrics for collaborative assessment
• More important to develop the
guidelines and procedures for using
any of the previously mentioned sites
19. For More Information
• Handouts and slides available at:
http://mmstlc.net
• Slide shows, commentary, podcast,
and other resources at:
http://catalyst.mmstlc.net
• Contact information at the MMSTLC
Site listed above