Comments for Teaching Science 2.0 http://www.teachingscience20.com Teaching Tips (and Ramblings) Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:25:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on The importance of STEM education. by Brunsell http://www.teachingscience20.com/2009/09/the-importance-of-stem-education/#comment-3496 Brunsell Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:48:43 +0000 http://www.ericbrunsell.com/?p=87#comment-3496 Marta, Many districts are using the model developed by Project Lead the Way (http://www.pltw.org/) to provide engineering experiences for students. Just like any other subjects, the "level" can be modified to provide age appropriate instruction. The "Engineering is Elementary" program is a fantastic example of that! Marta,
Many districts are using the model developed by Project Lead the Way (http://www.pltw.org/) to provide engineering experiences for students. Just like any other subjects, the “level” can be modified to provide age appropriate instruction. The “Engineering is Elementary” program is a fantastic example of that!

]]> Comment on The importance of STEM education. by Marta http://www.teachingscience20.com/2009/09/the-importance-of-stem-education/#comment-3489 Marta Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:22:05 +0000 http://www.ericbrunsell.com/?p=87#comment-3489 Thanks for the links Eric. I had never thought of Engineering as a high school subject because it always seemed too "advanced". But you definitely have a point and I have recently heard of a few schools offering it as a senior elective. I will post the links up on my Science Teacher's Hub wiki under the Science Specialist subjects. Thanks for the links Eric. I had never thought of Engineering as a high school subject because it always seemed too “advanced”. But you definitely have a point and I have recently heard of a few schools offering it as a senior elective. I will post the links up on my Science Teacher’s Hub wiki under the Science Specialist subjects.

]]> Comment on Web Highlights 09/01/2009 by Marta http://www.teachingscience20.com/2009/08/web-highlights-09012009/#comment-3414 Marta Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:35:06 +0000 http://www.ericbrunsell.com/2009/08/web-highlights-09012009/#comment-3414 A perfect example of how insane this country is. So much for the land of the free. My favorite quote in the article: “I don’t think evolution should be associated with our school.” Does that mean nobody in that school is getting a flu vaccine? A perfect example of how insane this country is. So much for the land of the free. My favorite quote in the article: “I don’t think evolution should be associated with our school.” Does that mean nobody in that school is getting a flu vaccine?

]]> Comment on Science Inquiry: Evidence, Explanations, and Cane Toads by Brunsell http://www.teachingscience20.com/2009/09/science-inquiry-evidence-explanations-and-cane-toads/#comment-3413 Brunsell Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:48:03 +0000 http://www.ericbrunsell.com/?p=83#comment-3413 Scaffolding: If your students struggle identifying data, it may be helpful to have them go through the text and underline specific observations and facts that they read. If students are unable to come up with an explanation, provide them with one and then ask them to identify all of the evidence that supports the explanation. If your students do not have a lot of experience creating evidence-based explanations, you may want to do this in small groups and help guide the discussion by using questions (ie: Why would wiggling their middle toe attract young toads?) Here is the explanation / conclusion that the professor stated: “The toe waving seems to be beautifully designed to arouse the feeding responses of a small cane toad. They presumably think it looks like a small insect.” Hungry young toads approach the wiggling toe, thinking that it is food. When they get close enough, the adult eats them. Scaffolding:

If your students struggle identifying data, it may be helpful to have them go through the text and underline specific observations and facts that they read.

If students are unable to come up with an explanation, provide them with one and then ask them to identify all of the evidence that supports the explanation. If your students do not have a lot of experience creating evidence-based explanations, you may want to do this in small groups and help guide the discussion by using questions (ie: Why would wiggling their middle toe attract young toads?)

Here is the explanation / conclusion that the professor stated:

“The toe waving seems to be beautifully designed to arouse the feeding responses of a small cane toad. They presumably think it looks like a small insect.”

Hungry young toads approach the wiggling toe, thinking that it is food. When they get close enough, the adult eats them.

]]> Comment on Dewey: My Pedagogic Creed by Elizabeth Aikens http://www.teachingscience20.com/2009/06/dewey-my-pedagogic-creed/#comment-2315 Elizabeth Aikens Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:07:19 +0000 http://www.ericbrunsell.com/?p=68#comment-2315 I agree - I haven't looked at my beliefs in such detail. Gives me reason to take another look at what I believe. Definetly a work in progress. I agree - I haven’t looked at my beliefs in such detail. Gives me reason to take another look at what I believe. Definetly a work in progress.

]]> Comment on Dewey: My Pedagogic Creed by mtoran http://www.teachingscience20.com/2009/06/dewey-my-pedagogic-creed/#comment-1949 mtoran Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:57:18 +0000 http://www.ericbrunsell.com/?p=68#comment-1949 Man, he really put some though into it (except maybe the last sentence...) Man, he really put some though into it (except maybe the last sentence…)

]]> Comment on Class Blogs by Sean Nash http://www.teachingscience20.com/2009/04/class-blogs/#comment-869 Sean Nash Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:09:01 +0000 http://www.ericbrunsell.com/?p=58#comment-869 I love it. I hope you don't mind if I add one (ok- two). Stacy Baker's class blog was the 2008 Edublogs Award Winner for "Best Class Blog." => http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/ Another that is less a "blog" than a classroom learning network for a our Dual-Credit Biology class: http://mwsu-bio101.ning.com Nice list. Thanks for putting this up... Sean I love it. I hope you don’t mind if I add one (ok- two).

Stacy Baker’s class blog was the 2008 Edublogs Award Winner for “Best Class Blog.” => http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/

Another that is less a “blog” than a classroom learning network for a our Dual-Credit Biology class: http://mwsu-bio101.ning.com

Nice list. Thanks for putting this up…

Sean

]]> Comment on Climate change deniers and strawman arguments by Sean Nash http://www.teachingscience20.com/2009/04/climate-change-deniers-and-strawman-arguments/#comment-868 Sean Nash Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:02:04 +0000 http://www.ericbrunsell.com/?p=61#comment-868 Elizabeth Helfant was right (as she usually is) this is a solid blog to follow. ;) Consider yourself "followed." BTW- have you seen "The Synapse?" http://thesynapse.ning.com I look forward to learning good things from you... Sean Elizabeth Helfant was right (as she usually is) this is a solid blog to follow.
;)

Consider yourself “followed.”

BTW- have you seen “The Synapse?”
http://thesynapse.ning.com

I look forward to learning good things from you…

Sean

]]> Comment on Class Blogs by Sue Waters http://www.teachingscience20.com/2009/04/class-blogs/#comment-862 Sue Waters Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:40:14 +0000 http://www.ericbrunsell.com/?p=58#comment-862 Thanks Eric for sharing the list of class blogs with your readers. This list is regularly updated as people share their links plus I also let people know what cool stuff I see while updating the list. Thanks Eric for sharing the list of class blogs with your readers.

This list is regularly updated as people share their links plus I also let people know what cool stuff I see while updating the list.

]]> Comment on The future called…I told them you were busy. by Chris Campbell http://www.teachingscience20.com/2009/03/the-future-calledi-told-them-you-were-busy/#comment-850 Chris Campbell Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:38:17 +0000 http://www.ericbrunsell.com/?p=50#comment-850 I just read John Gatto's book, "Weapon's of Mass Instruction." I sense a common theme even if the delivery is a tad different. I am not yet a full-fledged teacher and already I see I will need a fair bit of courage and shrewdness in my new chosen career to be a positive agent of change and survive the dichotomy I am observing. I just read John Gatto’s book, “Weapon’s of Mass Instruction.” I sense a common theme even if the delivery is a tad different.

I am not yet a full-fledged teacher and already I see I will need a fair bit of courage and shrewdness in my new chosen career to be a positive agent of change and survive the dichotomy I am observing.

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