The Tech Savvy Teacher

Our project is designed for third grade students, and addresses the Utah State Core Curricular Standard 5 Objective 3, which states “demonstrate that heat may be produced when objects are rubbed against one another.” For our scientific experience, we will be using a temperature probe, lotion, carpet, cloth, and our hands to show how heat is produced when objects are rubbed against one another. In a third grade classroom, you could introduce this lesson activity by having students visualize sliding down a slide with water and without water, and what they think the difference would be.
For each of the items, we took the initial temperature of the objects, and then produced friction for thirty seconds and took the final temperature of the objects. We started off with rubbing our hands together to produce friction, and then produced friction with rubbing our lotioned hands together. Next, we rubbed two pieces of cloth together to produce heat, and then put water on the cloth and rubbed it together. We thoroughly tested the Utah State Objective because we tested the differences in heat between rubbing un-lubricated and lubricated objects together.
The technology of using the temperature probe helps kids in many different ways. It helps teach kids to compare things and events with the visual reading of the temperature with non-lubricated objects and lubricated objects, as well learning how to read initial and final temperatures in appropriate units. They use their observation to conduct reasonable explanations for what has occurred with the temperature. The temperature probe is an easy way for kids to get an accurate reading, and the Logger Pro application helps students to graph the temperature changes as well. This method of technology is very useful in a science classroom, and fun for kids to use too!

Results of Probe Experiment
Hands (non-lubricated): (initial temperature) 82 degrees Fahrenheit (final temperature) 91.8 degrees Fahrenheit
Hands (lubricated): (initial temperature) 82 degrees Fahrenheit (final temperature) 86 degrees Fahrenheit
Cloth (non-lubricated): (initial temperature) 84 degrees Fahrenheit (final temperature) 92 degrees Fahrenheit
Cloth (lubricated): (final temperature) 75.8 degrees Fahrenheit (final temperature)78.8 degrees Fahrenheit

we love working with the probe!

Pictures (from top to bottom): lubricating the cloth, unlubricated cloth rubbing, lubricating the hands, and unlubricated hand rubbing.

*graph at top of page is the curve that unlubricated cloth rubbing made*

TPACK and science

This week in class we learned about TPACK, which is term referring to combining technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge. TPACK is so important for us as teachers to understand because without knowing about these three aspects, our teaching would be missing something. Technology is increasing and vital for us to incorporate into our teaching; understanding the content we are teaching is important so that we can teach it effectively; and having strong pedagogical knowledge will help us to teach effectively. Through having TPACK, we will be able to be effective, well-rounded teachers.
We also learned about different technological tools to be used in teaching science. I thought that using a computer microscope was really cool, because instead of squinting one eye to try to see the enlarged object, you can just look at the computer screen and focus it. Taking a picture of the object while it is enlarged is also useful; I remember having to draw pictures of what we saw, and this is a much more accurate and memorable tool for kids! I think having a computer microscope in the classroom is so useful and the kids would have so much fun with it.

RSS and Web 2.0

This week in class we learned about RSS feeds, and how to put them on our blog. I thought this part of the lesson was particularly interesting because I had never realized how prevalent these feeds were until we actually began looking for them. Since we learned about them in class, I have been seeing them everywhere! I learned that most informational websites have an RSS feed that you can subscribe to and place on a blog or home page. This updates you on current things that are happening with that website, such as current articles, events, etc. In our society where time is short and life is busy, this technological convenience is perfect! In my future classroom, I could use RSS feeds to quickly access the daily weather to share with my class, or to access current events having to do with our school's website or a unit we were studying. For example, if we were doing a current events unit in social studies, I could have an appropriate news website RSS feed on my home page and save time and energy by quickly accessing articles for my class. There are tons of ways I could use RSS feeds in my future classroom, and I'm sure I will think of tons more with time!
We also learned in class this week about the Web 2.0 tools of delicious and GoodReads. Delicious involves sharing links and bookmarking websites so that they can be quickly accessed and shared with others of my choosing. GoodReads involves sharing good books that I have enjoyed reading or plan to enjoy reading with friends, and reviewing them so that my friends can enjoy the good ones as well. I had actually heard of GoodReads before this semester from one of my best friends who was begging me to join it because we love reading and sharing the books we read with one another, but I didn't take the time to set up an account prior to this class. Now that I have experienced it, I think it is a great technological tool! GoodReads can be useful in my future classroom for my students to share books they have read with one another, and to write reviews online so that I can read them and grade them on these reviews easily, and their classmates can know whether a book is good or not. I think it is a great classroom tool! Delicious would be good for my students to research information and share where they found that information with me, the teacher. They could share where they got information for a certain project so that other students who are struggling could get some help.

My Technology Experience

I have some technology experience, but not too much. My father works with computers, so we always had a computer, as well as the latest new technology. I remember that he would always show me how to do things and I became a quick learner of technology. I also have used computers throughout my schooling, and own my own laptop computer now. Most technology I can pick up fairly quickly, but some I have a little bit harder time with.