Online Learning: Web-Based Science and Math Centers

Web-Based Learnng Centers

For a web-based learning to be truly effective it must be interactive. This means that it is not just a reformatted canned science lesson or math worksheets placed on the web.

The web-based activity is inquiry-based and incorporates the full features available on the web – interactivity between computer and student.

The learning activity must engage student critical thinking skills by using the inquiry process.

Scientific Inquiry: Web-Based Learning Centers

Web-based science and math learning centers are ideal for group inquiry-based activities using interactive online resources and in class supporting materials in designated stations.

These stations are designed to support as many learning styles as possible within the context of the learning center.

Web-based learning centers work with one or multiple computers; of course more computers are better.

Creating a web-based learning center stations for students requires the following setup:

• one or more computers
• hands-on/minds-on science investigations
• print resources

The best designed web-based learning centers in science and math focus on one specific scientific concept at a time, such as:

• five senses
• animal cells
• anatomy
• cloud types
• energy
• geometric shapes
• symmetry
• graphing
• equations

Sample web-based learning center using the Water Cycle include:

• One station containing books on the water cycle
• One or more computer station(s) with two or three predetermined interactive websites for students’ to research water cycle.
• One minds-on investigation station that allow students to visualize the water cycle in action and help answer questions they developed (developed prior to and during investigation)
• One hands-on/minds-on station that allow students to design a simple experiment to complete additional research
• One or more stations for analyzing findings
• One or more stations for preparation of presentation of findings using education technology tools

Before students begin the learning center, students determine questions they want answered regarding the water cycle.

Online Learning: Technology Based Resources

Select a concept and then find two or three web-based resources to support student interactivity with the concept.

There are many options to find resources and directories that support this effort, examples are:

Problem Based Learning in Science

Problem Based Learning in Math