Diana

Journal 5
Agency and Gambare are two words that may be new to you this summer. What do you think they have to do with teaching science? What other words or phrases would you add that sums up your experience in this class? Agency and Gambare both have to do with never giving up and sharing what you learn. Science has a lot to do with experimenting, sharing, testing things multiple times until you come up with the right answer. Inquiry, sustainability, differentiation, and hands-on activities sums up my experience in this class.

If you answered the question above, you are being reflective. How can reflection help you be a better (science) teacher? Reflection can help you be a better science teacher because not only do teachers need to be reflective about what works for students and what doesn't, how a certain lesson went and what you as a teacher should change in your class but it is also important to teach students how to be reflective about a experiment or something else in a science class. Teaching students to be reflective is higher-order thinking and will help them throughout their whole educational experience.

What have you noticed about the classroom where we meet each week? What aspects do you like and what would you change, add, or remove if it was your classroom? I really enjoy the classroom we meet in, it's bright and colorful but also very organized at the same time. I like how all the materials are on one wall, their are tables in the back to do group work and experiments, the tables are facing each other so you can see everyone at all times, their is a door to go outside to do activities and their is a lot of technology. I wouldn't change the room, I think it's a great learning atmosphere.

Journal 4
How does promoting logical and critical thinking fit into a science curriculum? Does this save time or waste time? Promoting logical and critical thinking is extremely important to science curriculum. Asking questions like you ask us in class instead of giving us the answers, helps us learn to think for ourselves and to be more resourceful. I wish that more of my teachers had taught me how to use different resources instead of just looking it up in the textbook or telling us the answer. Promoting logical and critical thinking is important in each unit, to dig deeper into the material. This doesn't necessarily save time but it is definitely not a waste of time. Asking questions and promoting thinking is necessary in order to learn and is promoting more independent students.

Is a textbook needed all the time? When is it needed and when is it not needed? No, a textbook is not needed all the time. In fact, in science it is not needed as much as other subjects would. When doing an experiment, you might be using a workbook or activity book but not a textbook. Using a textbook in science is useful when memorizing information or studying for a test but hands on activities always helped to understand better and when doing science it is better to be out of your seats, experimenting for yourselves.

What would be the most interesting science topic to share with another subject? How would your students prove mastery? I think science and math would be the most appropriate subjects to pair together because they connect in some ways already. Students could prove mastery by tests, experiments, interviews, discussions, group quizzes, etc.

Start a list of community science resources (institutions or agencies/ people, materials, or websites) that could be used to support the unit you are planning. Science Center The Zoo Astrologists Space and Star websites

Journal 3:

What is Differentiated Instruction and what can it do for students and teachers? Differentiated instruction is to provide students with different avenues to acquiring content; to processing, constructing, or making sense of ideas. It can give students the method they need to learn the material and give teachers a way to be fair and teach students the way that is best for each individual student. Shouldn’t all students have the same opportunity? Is it fair for some students to do less and others do more? All students should have the same opportunity but each student is different. It is fair for some students to do more and less because all students learn at a different pace and have different needs. What is the difference: ‘What gets rewarded gets done’ vs. ‘What is rewarding gets done.’ Which is more true for you? The difference between the two to me is that what gets rewarded gets done means that if it is not rewarded, the student is not going to to get it done because the only reason they are doing it is for the reward. What is rewarding gets done makes more sense to me because as a teacher you should pick and choose what is important to reward and what is not. The closer to intrinsic reward that you can get to with your students is the best in my opinion.

Journal 2: Did technology help you understand buoyancy? If it is still unclear, how could you find out now that we are not in class? I liked how we experimented first and then used buoyancy for the finishing touch. I learn best when I am working hands on. Buoyancy might work better for other learners that like to see clear examples in the form of a computer walking them through the steps. If it was still unclear to me I could look on the internet, in books, or experiment with objects myself.

How could you do this without technology? You could do this without technology by using books or experimenting in your home or other related places.

How can technology leverage learning? Technology can leverage learning by not only using power points to teach lessons but also having students research and explore to answer their own questions. Technology can also be great when you are trying to demonstrate or show the whole class something. Technology is important to incorporate into classes because it plays such a big role in society today.

What exactly is technology? What is available? Do I need the Internet? Technology is the usage and knowledge of tools, techniques, or is a system of a method of organization. Computers, cell phones, smart boards, are usually available in a classroom. The internet is a useful research tool to have in the classroom for teachers and students. The internet is also the main way that teachers, parents, etc communicate.

Do I need a bunch of computers? The more computers the better but even if you only have a handful of computers in a classroom, it can be a reward to use the computers.

What role does technology play in schools? Is it used too much, too little? I think technology tools for constructing artifacts and electronic information and communication resources support the development for higher-order thinking skills. Too much can be distracting but I think technology is a great tool for learning in the classroom. I think in some classrooms it might be used too much and therefore you don't have as much hands on activities but for the most part I think it is used too little. Technology is a great tool to use in the classroom.  Is it the teacher’s responsibility to teach the tech or expect a certain level of expertise on the part of students, or should tech be avoided? I think the teacher should give an overview of how to use the material. I think it is the teacher's responsibility to help students to learn as much as they can but to also expect they have done something outside of the classroom.

 How does technology fit into pedagogy and curriculum? Technology should work together with the teacher to help teach the information. It should not be a distraction but it should compliment or add to what the teacher is doing.

Journal 1: What was the best thing you took away tonight? Tonight, I took away how to think about science as a teacher and what is important to incorporate into today's science class.

This is how I would expand this idea… I would expand this idea by saying that although it is important to teach students all different types of science, it is more important to teach students about interesting things that are going on today in the science world such as technology.... And the skills to do them:)

What is Inquiry Learning and is it a valid way to teach? Inquiry learning is a philosophical, curricular, and pedagogical approaches to teaching. It's core requirements are that learning should be based around student's questions. I think it is a valid way to teach because the questions that student's have are usually what they are confused about, curious about, and want to discuss. Therefore by listening to students questions, you are able to understand where they are in a certain subject. Although, I think that you should help them figure out how to answer their own question rather then tell them the answer. Astute answer. There are some that question Inquiry as an approach, but your phrasing here could change their minds.

What is ‘Gambare’ and does it have a place in science education? After reading a few articles, I found that Gambare is related to motivation and encouragement that the Japanese have strived to have. I think it does have a place in science education but I also think that Americans have gotten lazier and lazier as the years have gone on and I am impressed of the Japanese work ethic. (some Americans or perhaps the American Education system)