Application 2- Effective Use of 21st Century Learning Tools

I chatted with people who shared ideas, expressions and experiences with me. I was also able to use the abundant resources available to me at my school and resoruces from the Professional Learning Center.
I have been able to save time by guiding students’ searches by providing boundaries and specific websites and internet sites that will aid them in their search for designated information. We have drawn up and discussed guidelines for usages, particularly for chatting with peers. Although the Internet is a great resource, time has to be spent reflecting, evaluating and selecting the best internet sources for students.
Time is spent collaborating in the Science class on projects and the 21st Century learning tools will be used. It is expected that these tools will make Science Education curriculum more relevant, expand coverage of the whole area of the Science Curriculum, improve Reading, Writing and Communication skills, free the teacher to have more time to teach skills and monitor progress.
The ideas that I have for implementing 21st Century learning tools are; including time in my plan to discuss, teach and, use the Learning Tools, scheduling practice time, analyzing and evaluating progress, re teaching, consulting with the Curriculum Coaches and calling in the In – School Technologist who is an expert.
Internet sites used were www.studyisland.com, www.kidzone.com, and www.middleschoolscience.com. These sites were easy accessible and kid friendly. The sites also provide real world insight to science.

The Heat is On

The information provided through the Learning Resources was very helpful in planning, organizing and deciding the methodology for the experiment. This experiment was designed to discover how heat is transferred through the varied material that can act as good heat insulators I discovered that insulators doesn’t transfer heat easily, they are considered best poor conductors: during experimentation process I selected aluminum foil, foam, cotton, bubble wrap and newspaper. In conclusion, out of the materials, aluminum foil is the insulator. I expected the newspaper to be the best insulator. The results of my experiment revealed that many household items can be used for insulators. I also discovered that the effectiveness of each of the wintered above listed items could depend on the degree of the heat transfer and conduction and convection. Reflecting on this experiment, I realized that insulated materials heat can be transferred in on{or in combination) of three ways conduction convection and radiation and good heat insulators are substances that are poor conductors of heat., but safety is a factor in conducting an experiment on heat transfer. Safety must be integral part of the plan when the decision is made to use different materials. Students have discovered how heat in transferred using different material that they had discovered in their everyday life. One example was the material in their coats and boats that they wore during the winter months. I also discussed observing adults when handling hot items in the kitchen. The challenges were basically, the selection of the material to be tested and proper use of safety procedures. Discovering in heat transfer by conduction, molecules exchange kinetic energy through the random collision with one another. It can happen in a solid, liquid or gas.