Of Interest to Educators
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Updated 4-21-12
luann@chemistar.com

It's all about the learning, the personalized learning.

Positive impact on student learning results when these 6 elements are in place:
1. Student learning is structured for understanding.
2. Student learning experiences are designed to engage and support all students in learning.
3. Student assessment is used to direct learning.
4. Students participate in maintaining effective environments for learning.
5. Students prepare to live and work in a multicultural society.
6. Teachers develop the art and science of a professional educator and are active in the profession to positively impact student learning.

Learning Targets: What we want students to know and be able to do.
Student knows the learning targets and why they are meaningful to him/her.
Student knows the progression of learning and the available learning strategies to choose from.
Student describes what he did well, what he needs to work on, and what he will do next.
Student knows how to access additional resources and support (and does so.)

Source: Marilyn Simpson

The digest version: Learning Targets (pdf)

General Classroom Stuff
Open Source Textbooks and other useful resources
  • CK12 Flexbooks - for math and sciences. Editable - can add links, videos, images, your own content; printable, can be delivered to students in many formats; some include student workbooks. Learning to edit is easy
  • Catalyst Learning Curricula - check out the demo lesson plans for experimental biology.
  • Kimball's Biology Text - one of the first online texts I found, many years ago.
  • Open Textbooks, from the Community College Consortium.
  • Chemwiki - from UC Davis. Awesome. Background and information is here.
  • Wikibooks - yes, anyone can edit them. Teach critical reading/thinking skills and get over it.
  • Digital Playbook - mostly for administrators. A must-read, actually. A "guide to help K-12 educators and administrators begin building rich digital learning experiences for students in districts across the country."
Tools
Writing, including lab reports
Science Lessons

WSTA Presentation Material and Resources

Technology Tools for students and teachers

  • Tips on Google apps - from Google Teacher Academy
  • Wordle - for making word clouds
  • Glogster - for creating online posters. The education version is suggested. 100 free accounts available until Nov. 15, 2010.
  • Wikispaces - you can get a free educational account. In settings, click the link to have the ads turned off.
  • Edublogs - houses an AP Bio/Marine Bio class blog
  • Popplet - graphic organizer for storing and sharing ideas
  • Sixty - I'm not really sure what this is yet, or why I want to use it.
  • Nota - a whiteboard for casual collaboration
  • Chart Tool - import data from many sources
  • LucidChart - mindmapping and information organizing, online
  • Flavors - here is mine.
  • WikiCommons Wildlife images - public domain creative commons licensed courtesy of Ken Thomas
  • Wikimedia Commons - wonderful creative commons licensed images. WONDERFUL.
 
Student Work
Other Science Educators and their Stuff
Assessment
 
  • Problem-based learning - create checklists in English and Spanish; writing, science, presentations, multimedia, all grade levels.

Chemistry Stuff

Genetics Resources