Web 2.0 in the Classroom:Collaborative Learning Tools for Science

NSTA 2009 Annual ConferenceNew Orleans, Louisiana

Stephen BestUniversity of Michigan School of Education

Objectives

Objectives

• Review the common practices of science and see possible online collaborative tools to support these practices

Objectives

• Review the common practices of science and see possible online collaborative tools to support these practices

• Discuss the considerations of using Web 2.0 tools to support science learning and instruction

Objectives

• Review the common practices of science and see possible online collaborative tools to support these practices

• Discuss the considerations of using Web 2.0 tools to support science learning and instruction

• Review examples of applications of commonly used Web 2.0 tools for science instruction and learning

What do we ask kids to do to learn science?

What do we ask kids to do to learn science?

take notes ■ have a discussion ■ do an experiment ■ read a map ■ make a graph ■ draw a picture ■ make a concept map ■ write an essay ■ make a table ■ view a demonstration ■ look up a definition ■ watch a video ■ solve a math problem ■ explain a concept ■ compare and contrast information ■ search for reference information ■ write a story ■ make a list ■ answer a question ■ look at pictures ■ read a book ■ create a web page ■ share information ■ take a picture ■ talk with a teacher ■ ask an expert ■ make a presentation ■ post a link ■ make a diagram ■ etc.

The Practices of Learning Science

• Document creation / note-taking• Brainstorming / concept mapping• Drawing and diagramming• Data collection and analysis• Researching and reading text and

information• Viewing images or video• Presentations and sharing information

Collaboration

• For years, rarely a focus for instruction!(we often try to prevent collaboration)

• A key component of the social constructivist approach to learning

• Allows for higher level thinking and analysis on a level that previous activities did not

• A critical skill for learners and scientists in the 21st century

Where to start?

• Before you try finding tools, decide what the purpose of the use of these tools is going to be!

• http://www.go2web20.net/• Choose the tools that are likely to stick

around for a while (i.e. they are backed by actual $)

• Limit the number of tools you intend to use

Document Creation/Notes

• Lots of possible tools that allow collaboration

• Google Docs or other web-based “office” tools

• Note taking applications that allow for easy searching and navigation (Evernote, Zoho, or similar)

• Wikis can also be used for a large set of information and tracking of collaborative efforts

Brainstorming/Concept Mapping

• Depends on the goal and functionality of the tools

• Generally better left to other means, but there are tools that allow for this

• Webspiration, Spinscape, MindManager, and other tools for the web (similar to Inspiration)

Drawing & Diagramming

•Option 1:•Capture of your paper/writing efforts or...•Note-taking or document collection sites like Evernote•Picture capture sites like Flickr

Option 2:

•Creation of online drawings, diagrams, and designs

•Bamboo space and other drawing and diagramming sites

•Allow multiple media and multiple “artists”

Data Collection / Analysis

• It all depends on the types of data...• Numerical data: online spreadsheets (Google

Docs)• Instrument specific data: content site tools

(i.e. Weather Underground)• Observation data: Text can use wikis and

online documents (i.e. Google or Zoho Docs)• Image/Video data: Flickr and other image

sites

Research and Reading Text• Google search (custom search engine

tools) • iPaper or other document reading sites• Delicious, Digg, and other content review

sites• More basic text tools (blogs, wikis, etc.)• Note taking tools that allow for web

clipping

Viewing Images and Video

• Common image and video viewing sites (Flickr, Photobucket, YouTube, Vimeo)

• Content specific images and video(NASA, U.S. Geological Survey, etc.)

• Participant submitted video(TestToob, TeacherTube, etc.)

Presentations and Sharing Information

• Slide creation and presentation sites(280 slides, Google Presenter, etc.)

• Slide sharing sites (Slideshare, etc.)• Video sites (slides exported as video-

podcasts, downloadable/streaming video, etc.)

• Online document sharing (Scribd iPaper or others)

Assessment

• Does not depend on the tool• Use the collaboration features of any

of the tools, and establish useful rubrics for collaborative assessment

• More important to develop the guidelines and procedures for using any of the previously mentioned sites

For More Information

• Handouts and slides available at:http://mmstlc.net

• Slide shows, commentary, podcast, and other resources at:http://catalyst.mmstlc.net

• Contact information at the MMSTLC Site listed above