| Technology and computers are used continuously in the science methods course. Preservice teachers are given laptop computers at the start of the 1-year program and are exepcted to learn how to use, integrate, and teach with them.
Dr. Veal uses technology in his instruction and requires his students to use, implement, and integrate technology in their teaching and learning. Technology is not limited to just computers; it can refer to using multimedia tools, designing hands-on experiences with science manipulatives, integrating the Internet for understanding the Nature of Science, and learning software that increases conceptual unerstanding of scientific processes. Read the information on the right to see an example of how modeling software is used in a science methods course. Dr. Veal's instructional philosophy focuses on the integration of content and pedagogy (i.e., pedagogical content knowledge). Technology is used to enhance these experiences. For example, presentation of content and pedagogical situations are aided by the use of DVDs, the Internet, and PowerPoint presentations. Click on the following slideshow to see some instructional uses of technology in the science methods course. Technology instruction also encompasses the use of science manipulatives. Click on the following slide show to view how different types of manipulatives are used to learn how to teach. These slides present activities that use CBLs, microchemsitry apparati, microscopes, and other science supplies. Presevice teachers experience the learning aspect of certain activities and then discuss the pedagogy behind such an approach. These prsevice tachers are constantly re-learning their content and how they learned and then applying this knoweldge to a plethora of instructional strategies based upon teaching and learning research. | | | Preservice teachers learn computational modeling using Berkeley Madonna software.
Preservice secondary science teachers learn how to use computational modeling software to recreate the SARS epidemic. These teachers must develop a lesson plan around a computational model as part of their unit plan. Many of the teachers actually imiplement this lesson plan when they teach the uint. Click on the following link to view a slideshow of the teachers learning to use Berkeley Madonna software in the science methods class.
Madonna The power of the Internet for science content is explored in this online assignment.
One aspect of the nature of science is to determine the validity of science content. The Internet is full of content that present apparently valid arguments for opposing sides of an issue. This assignment uses online content to help presevice teachers understand how to use the Internet for content presentation..
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