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| Software
for skills practice |
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Bogan
High School purchased two software programs, Algebra
Assistant and Calculus Assistant (both by MathXpert),
for the new math lab. Described as "intelligent educational
software," these programs offer a practice environment
for |
| solving algebra and
calculus problems with options for hints, assistance,
or step-by-step solutions. Technology coordinator Owen
McAleenan hopes to add Geometer's SketchPad as
well. |
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| Technology-based inquiry
with sensor equipment |
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Von Steuben Center's
physics teachers Mary Jo Arnashus and Nancy Schlack use
technology such as Science Workshop, Interactive Physics,
and the PASCO sensor equipment.
Physics labs involve 8-10 activity stations where students
explore phenomena and answer questions concerning their
observations and the variables underlying the observed
phenomena. In the Acceleration and Gravity unit, for example,
one of the activity stations employs a sensor connected
to a computer so that the data are graphed immediately.
Interactive Physics http://www.lightlink.com/sergey/java/
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Data analysis
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Von Steuben Center biology teacher
Linda Patton started using technology while earning
her education degree at Northwestern University, where
one of her professors was Brian Reiser, a researcher
in learning technology. Patton made her freshman biology
classroom available to Reiser as a research site for
prototyping a software program on evolution called BGuILE.
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BGuILE presents students with data
and has them generate hypotheses and gather evidence
concerning evolutionary patterns. It includes many opportunities
for students to analyze data.
BGuILE Web site: http://www.letus.org/bguile/
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Participate in authentic research
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Art Griffin’s physics class
at Best Practice High School participates in the Hands-On
Universe Project. This project gives students the opportunity
to use image processing software to explore and investigate
images from a network of automated telescopes.
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Hands-On Universe enlists students
to review images from space to acquire concepts and
skills of research astronomy and help search for supernovas
and asteroids. Hands-On Universe enables students to
use the same kinds of software tools that scientists
use (albeit with more user-friendly interfaces) to examine
and classify downloaded images. TERC, a science education
curriculum developer, has created instructional materials
to accompany the Hands-On Universe software and images.
Hands On Universe Web site: http://hou.lbl.gov/
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Collaborate on environmental projects
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Each
year, Renaissance High School science teachers, under
the leadership of department head Miriam Turner, participate
in the EPA-funded and Wayne County-managed Rouge River
Project. The project involves high school students from
across the Detroit Metro area in tracking the water quality
of the Rouge River, a tributary that feeds into the Detroit
River. |
| Some
40 schools participate in the project, taking measurements
of nine dimensions of water quality, including water temperature,
pH, alkalinity, nitrates, and dissolved oxygen.
Students submit their data over the
Internet to a database shared by all the participating
schools.
Rouge River Project Web site: http://www.wcdoe.org/rougeriver/
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