Merry Christmas!

Here is Science Virtual Christmas Tree so  Merry Christmas!

Using multimedia to engage students in interactive learning

Many web learning resources are now created such that information is presented online in websites and enhanced with multimedia features and interactivity. In my blog I have posted lots of examples of online resources that could be used to support and improve learning.

YouTube videos –expert performance allowing students to observe the task before it is attempted and to access the modelling of processes. Cleapss video on microbiology.
We could record our own video and post it on YouTube so students use it as revision on preparation to class. My YouTube video

Links to existing forums, blogs and online communities to allow students to have a place to discuss and learn the topics taught in the module. Forums and blogs allow students to voice their opinions in discussion, further allowing students to make use of the knowledge they have gained for example: PINTEREST,box.com

Activities and quizzes in the module encourage students to reflect on what they have learnt e.g. Google form, Quizlet, Webquest.  They have clear and concise explanations to help guide students through the module. The teacher merely observes the student and provides support and feedback when necessary.

Multimedia applications engage students and provide valuable learning opportunities. I have just given few examples of how traditional educational content can now be transformed into interactive multimedia content.

Although some of my students don’t have access to internet and computers at home they could easily use IT facilities provided by either the college learning centre, local library or during the class where we supply the IT equipment e.g. laptops, cameras etc. On the other hand that is the only time they could access our online resources. That is why we have to take into account that all lessons content and activities are easily accessible via simple devices such as smartphones or notepads.

Cleapss videos on microbiology

Cleapss videos on microbiology it is an example of my playlist on YouTube. This one is about microbiology techniques. I have created it for BTEC students as they start microbiology experiments this year. These videos enable students to prepare to the practical experiments and also they can refer to them at any time.

I have chosen Cleapss videos because it is an advisory service that gives the desired support in science and technology for different regional bodies and learning institutions. 

What is push technology? - audioboo

Using push technology in education

As a teacher I can ask my students to sign in to a  "feed reader", which can be web-based, desktop-based, or mobile-device-based, present RSS feed data. Users subscribe to feeds either by entering a feed's URI into the reader or by clicking on the browser's feed icon.

By doing so it removes the need for students to manually check eg. my blogs, audioboo or youtube. Instead, their browser constantly monitors these sites and informs them of any updates I have made. The browser can also be commanded to automatically download the new data.

THE ‘ONE MINUTE PAPER’ gnowledge.com

My Gnowledge Test

Google form

Useful tool to create quick starting or closing test. I can set students a time limit and add progress bar at the bottom so they can see how much they have left plus I can press no more accepting responses on the page and stop students from answering.  

sodium hydroxide + aluminium foil reaction

I have used my smartphone to record the video of sodium hydroxide and aluminium foil reaction. I have Magisto app that provides a free automatic video editing service for amateurs. It allows me to add frame, animation, title, music as a background and its take minutes to crate video.  

The only down site is the fact that you cannot save it onto your gallery without paying for this but you can share this straight form your mobile on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook etc.

Laboratory Safety Rules ToonDoo

Toondoo it is a great tool I could use to create for example laboratory safety rules as it allows me to add picture and the text which makes it more interested for student. With Toondoo I can make boring stuff engaging. 

By magdapolec | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon

Science Resources on PINTEREST

Clink on the image to go to my Pinterest board

image:www.science.edu.sg

Pinterest  Pinterest it is a great on-line tool which allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections.

As teachers we can use Pinterest in education to suggest to students reading materials, encourage participation, display students work e.g. in science posters or videos, find creative on-line field trips ideas, pump up science lessons with amazing experiments.

By using pinboards we can encourage students to explore around a topic, rather than be presented with a single definition.

Student can also create their own pinboards with given topic and create discussion and brainstorming ideas. We can encourage them to create pinboard with revision materials.

We can also share photos of science fair projects with a description of the project so parents can see what was on display and be involved. 

 Pinterest boards can be a great way to collaborate with other teachers from all over the world.  We could share ideas and resources.

On the other hand as teachers we have to check the content of the page linked to our images making sure that it is suitable for our students.  

Periodic Table of the Elements - QUIZLET

Greenhouse gases

mixing chemicals

ANIMOTO.COM bit off topic here but at the end of the day cooking is about mixing chemicals, so here is a video of my end products ;)

Mobile Phones in the Classroom

box.com

By using box.com I am able to share all types of documents without sending large emails. What’s more I can invite teachers and students to collaborate and work with files that are uploaded to Box without having too many copies of the same document.

Here is screen shot of my box.com

I use box.com in my science department as well. I put pictures of equipment I have made e.g.  Insects pooter, potato clock or micropipette holder but also I uploaded some pictures which I use as a reference for setting up equipment. Grate thing about box.com is that I have a box app on my mobile phone which allows me to upload these pictures straight from my mobile onto box.com and I can access it anywhere and anytime. The other advantage of box.com  is that when I have to set up equipment I can just go to my box app on my mobile phone and open relevant picture it save me a lot of time and hassle.

I can also give access to teachers or students and they can use these pictures as a reference. 

chemistry jokes ;-)

Funny video

Diluting Concentrated Hydrochloric Acids to 1 molar (1M) solutions

what do you think about my blog?

My Blog

common acids and hazard using Classtools.net

Click here for larger version

here I am :0)

Iron Sulphur Reaction