Course Information
Course Title: Integrating Technology into Science
Course Number: 915
Student Profile Prerequisites:
This profile is designed for the minimum expectations for technology skills and technology compatibility. Students that cannot meet the minimum profile may experience difficulties with certain concepts and skills in the course content. Please contact the course moderator if you are concerned about your qualifications in any of the items below.
Technology Experience:
- Ability to browse the Internet
- Basic word processing skills (copy/paste, formatting text)
- Ability to use email including opening and sending attachments
- See hardware and software requirements below
Duration: Twelve weeks (ten weeks for course, two additional weeks to complete coursework if needed)
Course Description
In this course you will see how to embed technology into your science class without the need to add any curriculum to your already full plate. You will use the Internet to “mine” for resources that are in use by educators around the nation. Sometimes that silver bullet project is right there for the using, and many teachers are willing to share their successes and failures to see you and your students succeed.
This course will give you a foundation to change the way your students learn and the way you teach. When you have completed the course, you will have some tested resources to use with your own students and you will see that when integrated properly, students will learn more when you use technology on a daily basis in your teaching.
This course is designed to help science teachers explore current research and technology integration ideas and then build a standards-based project that incorporates project-based learning concepts. The project will be developed in a WebQuest or Research Investigation format using a process that involves crafting a challenge or problem, developing guiding questions, sorting and analyzing information, and forming a final product or presentation that solves a real-world problem.Course Goals
Course participants will explore and reflect upon current research in the areas of technology and technology integration with science, revisit standards for teaching science, and design lessons integrating technology for skill instruction and developing higher order thinking.
- Explore best-practice research and instruction through assigned readings and viewing exemplary science lessons and projects.
- Develop a vision of what your technology integrated science classroom looks like.
- Build technology integration strategies for science.
- Create projects and lessons that can be directly utilized in the classroom.
- Provide opportunities for collaboration with peers (moderated course only).
Course Organization
The course is designed for 10 weeks of interactive coursework followed by an additional two weeks to complete your final project. You will need to spend about 90 minutes each week reading and exploring information and completing your Course Worksheet. This worksheet is designed to be the primary documentation for assignments and will be emailed to the moderator at the end of each section. If you are taking the cohort moderated version of the course, you also will be expected to participate in the discussion board.
The course is divided into seven sections that are clearly marked in the tabs at the top of each page. Each course section contains several subsections that will help guide your exploration and learning. As a starting point, you will want to click on the links in the left margin for more specific details on the course syllabus and course moderator. The Resources page will provide you with important links to course materials, resources, and worksheets.
After looking over the information and requirements, you should proceed to the green Introductions tab (above) and begin the first section of the course. Should you need help along the way, please contact your course moderator for assistance.Materials
Materials for this course are entirely web-based and there is no required textbook. In lieu of textbooks, participants are given trial memberships in a number of partner sites that have valuable materials, resources, and tools that will enhance the course. Click on the partner name in the left nav bar to gain access to their site. You will learn about each of these partners in the Introductions section. Upon completion of the course you may choose to continue your memberships with the individual partners.
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