Incorporating science resources in daily lessons
As a teacher in this day and age, you can engage students with multimedia resources like never before. Students’ learning styles and needs can be met using interactive online games, video clips, podcasts and data sets.
The advantages of multimedia resources include:
- Portability- this means learning can happen anytime, anywhere. Students who want to listen or view a podcast can do so at home, while commuting or on a field trip. Have them go to the rooftop and stare at the night sky, while listening to an astronomy podcast.
- Flexibility- with the multimedia resources available today, textbooks and lectures are no longer enough to demonstrate concepts and lessons. If you want to discuss DNA, for example, students can research about it online, and you can have world-renowned experts lecture to the class. You can even show a 3D model of a DNA strand, and give students a chance to design their own strand for a little interactivity.
- Individualized learning- different learners can have their learning needs fulfilled with online museums and other multimedia resources. Visual learners can benefit from online videos, while auditory learners can listen to streaming audio. Meanwhile, those who learn most from hands-on experience can play interactive games. The best part is, they can use these tools repeatedly.
- Collaboration and community building- social networking sites, wikis and blogs facilitate students’ interaction with each other.
- Broad view of the world- the global community is at the hands of the class. Experiencing new cultures and countries, and interacting with people from different countries can prepare them in meeting future contacts in the global scale.
Important reminders when using multimedia resources:
- Before class - make sure the multimedia resources to be used are appropriate for the lesson.
- Preview the resources to make sure they are working properly.
- Select and show only relevant video segments.
- Prepare equipment ahead of time.
- Choose websites that are easy to navigate around.
Before using online resources, tell students your the expectations from them at the end of the online lesson.
These online resources include The Museum’s Center for Interactive Learning, which was recently awarded two federal grants for focusing on digital technology and exploring the use of online virtual world simulations to communicate science concepts.
Another example is the Miami Science Museum, as it introduces new and emerging digital technologies into informal science learning. It has long been a recipient of previous grants from the National Science Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Florida Department of Education and other supporters.
The University of Miami’s Rosentstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and Miami Dade College are also recipients of grants from the National Science Foundation for a collaborative project entitled “Digital WAVE: Warming Winds and Water.”
Participants can learn from 3D graphic design and computer animation skills, and work with digital experts to create virtual world simulations on the impacts of climate change on South Florida.
On the other hand, “MIND” showcases more than 40 new exhibits about thinking and feeling, backed up by over four years of research in what creates provocative and compelling experiences.
Other online resources include the international museum webzine (Global Museum), a directory of online museums (ICOM Virtual Library Museums Pages), links to museum websites and virtual exhibits (MuseumStuff).
This way, your students can be the first to discuss X-ray being voted the most important modern discovery, or how, At 40, Exploratorium still leads in hands-on science.
Recent issues such as health care can be incorporated into Surgery Museum That Makes You Grateful for Any Modern Healthcare Whatsoever.
Whatever the case, incorporating science into lessons using online or multimedia resources will surely increase the motivation of your students to learn.
Sources:
“About.” Retrieved November 5, 2009 from
http://www.exploratorium.edu/mind/about/more_about.html
“Miami Science Museum Receives Prestigious Digital Technology Grants.” Retrieved November 5, 2009 from
http://www.miasci.org/blog/miami-science-museum-receives-prestigious-digital-technology-grants
“Tips for Effectively Using Multimedia Resources in the Classroom.” http://www.globalmuseum.org/
(Published 23 November 2009, Smart Communications Inc.)
