Mackenzie's ETEC Blog

This week I playtested technologies specifically designed to support learning Middle School science content. In doing so, I identified the following and discuss the affordances and drawbacks I see in each one: Gizmos from Explore Learning offers hundreds of interactive labs, simulations, design challenges and more for math and science topics from elementary through high school. One of my favorite virtual labs to do with my students is the Digestive System Gizmo . As the students explore each organ in the digestive tract, they can adjust variables to try to get stool with the right consistency. (Complete with sound effects when the consistency is off!!) While I applaud Ms. Frizzle's "Get messy!" pedagogy, I believe this lab works much better as a virtual simulation than an in-person investigation.  Example 1: (Redefinition Level) Students use the Digestive System Gizmos simulation to conduct a virtual lab activity. Students are given a chance to explore and experiment b...

This blog is difficult to write because I could (do and will) spend hours playtesting new creativity tools for teaching. Forcing myself to stop exploring long enough to write and reflect is the real challenge. So, while my journey will certainly continue, here is my current reflection: Microsoft Whiteboard is an open whitespace app where students can create their own groups (inviting each other) or you can assign specific students to a whiteboard. I like that students can simultaneously, from different screens, draw, type, insert images, use post-it notes, highlight, etc. to create their own brainstorming space for new projects or ideas! I dislike revision control or exportability. It seems like it would be easy for students to write over or erase each others contributions so that not all voices would be equally heard. I think some of this could be mitigated by closely monitoring the space, since both the teacher and students have access.  However, beyond the brainstorming stage it...