iPod Touch
As a mobile learning device, the iPod Touch encourages learning anytime, anywhere! These mobile devices do not tie students to their desks or the classroom; they bring the world into the classroom through the lens of personalized learning.
The value of an iPod Touch as a mobile learning device is its ability to transform student learning behavior. According to research by K-Nect Project (2009), students using this digital device achieved higher test scores. This was attributed to more interactivity between students, teachers, and content.
Digital Science Applications
The follow are 12 free digital applications for teaching and learning science, which will engage students and improve their understanding of science content. All are available through iTunes.
Distant Suns (Lite) – astronomy using database of thousands of stars, nebula and galaxies, Distant Suns has earned the reputation of both having one of the most realistic displays of the night sky.
Particle Zoo - get to know the particles which make up our universe.
Science House – science experiments using 2 to 3 minute videos to demonstrate the steps of simple science experiments. The experiments are designed to engage students at all grade levels, with very little set-up time and using only low cost materials.
BrainPop – students learn something different each day with this App. After watching a daily animated movie, students can test their new knowledge with an interactive quiz (includes subjects other than science).
Mitosis – this app guides students through the process of cell division and explains everything as it happens. Students can guide cells through the mitosis process with their fingers, learning what happens in each phase of the process. Students can also look at images of actual cells dividing under a microscope and see the actual structures you’ve studied.
Google Earth – students fly to far corners of the planet with just the swipe of a finger. They can explore the same global satellite and aerial imagery available in the desktop version of Google Earth, including high-resolution imagery for over half of the world’s population and a third of the world’s land mass.
Molecules – students can use this application to view three-dimensional renderings of molecules and manipulating them using your fingers. They can rotate the molecules by moving your finger across the display, zoom in or out by using two-finger pinch gestures, or pan the molecule by moving two fingers across the screen at once.
Weather Bug –provides students access to the largest network of professional weather stations in the US and thousands of locations around the world.
The Chemical Touch (Lite) – consists of a simplified version of the periodic table display. It puts the masses, densities, melting & boiling points, radii, and electronegativities of the elements right at your fingertips.
StoryKit – offers students the ability to use digital storytelling to explain concepts, investigations, and research.Flickr – students can search for images on Flickr related to projects and investigations. Clouds 365 – students can view use this application to view patterns and beauty of the clouds that envelop us every single day.
iPod Touch
The iPod Touch brings a new dimension to teaching and learning in the science or math classroom – Mobile Learning! No longer are students required to only learn within the confines of their classroom when using this digital tool.
One advantage of these digital devices is portability. This advantage supports the basic tenant of mobile learning. Students explore, investigate, problem solve, and complete assignments from anywhere within or outside the classroom.
A second advantage for using an iPod Touch in science or math classrooms is the motivation students experience when using these devices to learn. This is primarily due to the personalized nature of the device through independent learning, self-expression, and creativity.
Teaching Strategies: How to take Advantage of this Digital Tool
These four teaching strategies take advantage of the power of an iPod Touch to address multiple learning styles in science and math.
- Engage students in active authentic, real-world tasks about content issues which are of interest to them (i.e., project based learning, problem solving, or inquiry based learning).
- Link the processes of student creative media work and critical analysis (i.e., Digital Storytelling, Screencasting, Podcasts, etc.).
- Teach students abstract concepts through the regular connection of observation, experience, and discussion (VoiceThread, Skype, Glogster, SlideShare, iPod Apps, etc.).
- Routinely use of visual, print, and aural for learning and expression (i.e., Vimeo, Animoto, SlideShare, Flash Cards, Teacher Tube, iMovie, Flickr, etc.)
Learning Strategies: Using Web 2.0 Tools with the iPod Touch
Learning strategies which use web 2.0 tools support the basic tenant of mobile learning with an iPod Touch. Students can use this digital device to create, view, or investigate concepts using the following strategies.
- Digital Storytelling – linking project based learning, problem solving, and inquiry based learning with digital storytelling is natural. The integration of digital storytelling technology motivates students, allows them to easily share their work, and encourages collaborative learning. Students can create digital stories with their iPod Touch to explain their problem solving procedures, investigative findings, answers, and conclusions.
- Online Learning – the iPod Touch comes with Safari internet browser for searching for science and math online learning resources. Students can access search engines for finding images, Google, and simulations for learning concepts. One neat tool helps adapt websites to the iPod – Skeezer.com.
- Podcasting – is as an alternative to digital media such as videos, voice, or images. Podcasts created by students provide a digital medium for student expression of concepts, projects, and related themes. Students can use their iPod Touch to record the audio portion of a podcast and then link their audio with videos and images.
- Multisensory Learning – integrating videos, podcasts, and pictures in lessons help students through the use of multisensory learning. These tools allow the use or online resources which are not typically available in any classroom. Students can use their iPod Touch to access these online resources in wireless classrooms, in their home, or anywhere else they have wireless access to the web.
Why use the iPod Touch in science and math is evidenced by its connectedness with teaching and learning. This is confirmation is based on the idea of Bloom’s Taxonomy for the digital age, which focuses primarily on the use of digital tools (such as the iPod Touch) to support higher order thinking skills.
Wolfram
What is Wolfram Alpha? It is a supercomputing brain. It provides calculates and provides comprehensive answers to most any science or math question. Unlike other search sources, you and your students can ask questions in plain language or various forms of abbreviated notation.
Contrary to popular belief, Wolfram Alpha is not a search engine. Unlike popular search engines, which simply retrieve documents based on keyword searches, Wolfram computes answers based on known models of human knowledge. It provides answers which are complete with data and algorithms, representing real-world knowledge.
Teaching Strategies: Researching Facts and Information
Science and math teaching strategies with Wolfram begin with allowing students to search for information about specific facts and information. The following examples provide support for stimulating critical thinking using a digital lens.
Science
One example – physical property:
Another example – comparing a Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, and Polar Bear:
Math
One example – cylinder:
Another example – Quadratic Equation:
Interactive Activities: K-12 Science and Math Resources
The Wolfram Demonstrations Project (Education Portal) is a resource of thousands of ready-to-use models for your classroom. These demonstrations use dynamic computation to bring to life concepts in mathematics and science. They are designed to let your students visualize concepts. These models can be projected and run using a screen or interactive whiteboard. For students to interact with the models, the free Mathematica Player program needs to be downloaded on the computer they are using.
The following images provide a view of science and math resources by grade level.
Using Widgets: Mini-Apps for Specific Queries
One useful feature of Wolfram Alpha is their widgets. These widgets can be added to your teaching blog, class wiki, or interactive lesson when using an interactive white board. You can build your own or use pre-made widgets for both science and math. The following is an example widget – Earthquakes Today (GMT) which shows the location of all earth quakes during the last 24 hours based on a selectable magnitude range.
There is great potential for Wolfram Alpha in science and math classes. This online technological tool adds a new dimension to researching for information and not just finding information on the web. This search tool is that it is also available for the iPod Touch through iTunes.
