Teaching with Laptops
Teacher Preparation and Development












Eight Preparation and Development Activities will enhance your pre-service teacher preparation program or in-service teacher professional development program. Below are some suggested uses for the activities and the exemplary lessons to help get you started.

Download Preparation and Development Activities: activity.pdf

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Options for Pre-service Teachers/Educators

  1. Incorporate a review of specific lessons into an independent module of a science methodology course. Select lessons by grade level or topic. Enhance the lessons with an analysis of pedagogy, additional explanations, and local examples. Encourage pre-service teachers to demonstrate competence in operating and/or teaching with specific kinds of technology.
    2.
  2. Select from the eight Preparation and Development Activities and integrate the activities into an existing methods course and course assignments.
    3.
  3. Assign individual Preparation and Development Activities to small groups to present to the entire methods class.
    4.

Options for In-service Teacher Professional Development

  1. Conduct an intensive one-day mini-course with an emphasis on selected activities.
  2. Conduct a two-day mini-course with an emphasis on selected activities. The two day course allows additional time for reviewing exemplary lessons, considering a broader range of topics, and discussing local priorities.
    3.
  3. Use the CD-ROM and the set of eight Preparation and Development Activities for self-paced instruction and an opportunity to reflect on your own teaching practices, on your own, or with colleagues.
    4.

Download:
One Day Mini-course: 1day.pdf  ||  Two Day Mini-course: 2day.pdf

The exemplary lessons provide opportunities to consider different methodologies for instruction. Nearly all lessons take place in investigative environments and involve team/group work. The table below lists some of the other methodologies of the exemplary lessons.

Methodologies for Instruction
Level key

Lesson

Featured Methodologies

../lessons/elementary Level Seaside Science

Field-based, multiple sites for authentic investigations

../lessons/elementary Level The Big Hand Challenge

Innovative use of computer and spreadsheet; Pictorial comparisons; Group mobility around school facility

../lessons/elementary Level Math Hunt

Group mobility around school facility

Elementary Level Habitat Dynamics

Long-term monitoring in outdoor classroom on school site

../lessons/elementary Level Formula for Fitness

Use of personal data to construct understandings related to physical fitness

../lessons/middle Level Tree I.D.

Electronic key; Use of park/nature area

../lessons/middle Level Worm Weather Predicted

Mobility within classroom and field location; Rubric for assessment

../lessons/middle Level

At Issue: Light Pollution

Local context (urban lighting); Community involvement

Middle Level Solar Race Cars

Student-built apparatus; Sidewalk location; Dependent on sunny day; Multiple data collection times

../lessons/middle Level Exploring the Beach

Field-based, multiple sites for authentic investigations

../lessons/high School Level Controlling Robots

Innovative use of computer; Student-built apparatus and robotic-controls; Innovative use of computer and spreadsheet; Group mobility around school facility; Multiple challenge levels

../lessons/high School Level Community Cartography

GPS technology; Preparatory training to use technology; Authentic roles for students; Use of multiple technologies in field and in classroom; Community involvement; Use of park/nature area; Rubric for assessment

../lessons/high School Level Aquatic Field Data

Preparatory training to use technology; Multifaceted field data collected and analyzed; Use of park/nature area; Interaction between field and class teams via email, Web page, videoconferencing

../lessons/high School Level Mapping by Satellite

GPS technology; Visualization through 2-D and 3-D mapping

../lessons/high School Level Amusement Park Physics

Innovative use of computer; Preparatory training to use technology; CBL data collection and immediate analysis

../lessons/informal Level For the Birds

Hypothesis-driven investigations at an outdoor classroom

../lessons/informal Level Ant Farm

Field trip for collecting; Use of park/nature area;

../lessons/informal Level Watershed Biology

Preparatory training to use technology; Immediate data analysis at field site using probeware and output; Multiple field-site visits for long-term monitoring; Use of park/nature area; Local context; Community involvement

Informal Level Meteor Monitor

Student-built apparatus; Long-term monitoring and data collection; Use of rural location

../lessons/informal Level Testing the Waters

CBL data collection and immediate analysis; Multiple field-site visits for long-term monitoring; Use of park/nature area; Rubric for assessment; Local context; Community involvement

Level key

<< Exemplary Lessons

 
October 1, 1999   NSTA Home    Laptop Learning Challenge Home    Contact Us