550 Week 1

Sorry for the delay, I misled some of the first lecture due to fatigue and pain related to my recent ankle surgery, so I was not aware we were continuing with these as well as last weeks reflections that we posted on the e-school network.
As I am getting ready to rock another blog this week I will defer to my thoughts of last week for this week.

I teach online and it surprised me that some in video felt they had a better connection with students teaching in the online environment than in a face to face environment. One high level leader involved with VHS felt that students should only take online courses as part time.

I feel that the biggest area in which online learning meets my students needs are in the flexibility it offers for my students to spend more or little time in different areas. They have access to many different references for receiving the information. Access to teachers time more is also more flexible and therefore more accessible.

My main concerns working in this environment are guaranteeing the authenticity of my students work. Secondly the trend if for the number of students I teach to increase. I have a difficult time creating a community of learners working with over 300 students online and it seems it will only become more of a problem in the
future.

Some thoughts online practice activities and simulations.

• I feel that the combination of Interactive multimedia applications and formative assessments are very powerful learning tools.
• Reference or reading material for the topic should be easily accessed.
• Different levels of exploration, supportive material and formative assesment make a module that much more useful.


Some good science sites you may wish to check out.

http://education-portal.com/articles/10_Universities_Offering_Free_Science_Courses_Online.html

http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/science_nation/index.jsp
This is a good resource for current science news, especially in video format.

University Colorado simulations science
http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/index.php?cat=Featured_Sims

Comparing the size of biological components
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/
very cool interactive lesson on size of bacteria, virus etc.

1. click on link

2. mover slider on bottom of slide for viewing.

Photosynthesis
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.stru.photosynth/

Evolution

http://www.nationalacademies.org/evolution/
http://www.nsta.org/publications/evolution.aspx
http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/evol/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/index.html

Blood typing Game
http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/landsteiner/index.html

Hope these are helpful