Sess2Assign4

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to apply knowledge of the nature of science to actual science on the Internet.

Learning Objectives

Candidates will be able to:

distinguish between a valid and non-valid science websites.
understand how and why certain websites present information as such.
apply their knowledge about the nature of science to evaluating Internet resources for use in the classroom; for either the teacher or students.

Standards

This assignment will help us address the following standards:

NSTA Content Standards: Proposed for Fall 2004

Standard 1: Content

Standard 2: Nature of Science

a. Understand the historical and cultural development of science and the evolution of knowledge in their discipline.

b. Understand the philosophical tenets, assumptions, goals, and values that distinguish science from technology and from other ways of knowing the world.

c. Engage students successfully in studies of the nature of science including, when possible, the critical analysis of false or doubtful assertions made in the name of science.

NC Middle Level Science Content Standards

Standard 3: Middle level science teachers understand the nature of science and the development of scientific thought and use that knowledge in their teaching.

NCSTANDARDS FOR 9 - 12 SCIENCE TEACHERS

Standard 1: Science Teachers understand the unifying concepts of science.

Standard 2: Science Teachers understand the nature of science and the development of scientific thought.

Standard 3: Science teachers understand the historical development of scientific thought and the application of science in society.

N.C. Standard Course of Study

Nature of Science

Science as a human endeavor.
Nature of scientific knowledge.
Historical perspectives.

Science as Inquiry

Constructing hypotheses.
The ability to do scientific inquiry.
Understanding about scientific inquiry.

Middle Level Science Content Standards

Standard 3: Middle level science teachers understand the nature of science and the development of scientific thought and use that knowledge in their teaching.

NCStandards for 9-12 Science Teachers

Standard 2: Science teachers understand the natrue of science and the development of scientific thought.

ISTE

Standard 2: Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences – Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. Teachers identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability.

Assignment Directions

Because the directions are lengthy and descriptive, you may wish to print thispage to better navigate the assignment.

Website Comparison (50 pts.)

For this assignment, you will have to evaluate, compare, and contrast two opposing websites on the same science topic. For example, you will look at a government website on logging and deforestation and compare that site to a website put out by the "Friends of the Trees." After having decided upon a topic and two opposing websites generated by different viewpoints, you will have to evaluate each website on the criteria below, and then compare the websites on content accuracy, similarities and differences in content, and applicability for use in a middle or high school classroom. For each criterion, assign a value of 1-5 (1 excellent, 2 good, 3 medium, 4 poor, 5 terrible) and give a 1 sentence reason. Download the rubric Website Comparison which you will use for this assignment. You will need to mark the scale response for all 13 questions in the table and write a one sentence explanation justifying your scale for each website. In addition, prepare a two paragraph written analysis that answers the additional questions at the end fo the table. Note that this rubric also appears below.

You will later print this activity and insert the final copy in the TechnologyConnections section of your Professional Resource Notebook.

Criteria	Score
1. Is the source of the site and information valid?	1 2 3 4 5
2. Is a corresponding address (email, phone #, or mailing address) given?	1 2 3 4 5
3. When was the site last modified or updated?	1 2 3 4 5
4. Was the purpose of the site presented?	1 2 3 4 5
5. Were links relevant?	1 2 3 4 5
6. Was the information primary or secondary?	1 2 3 4 5
7. How was the information gathered?	1 2 3 4 5
8. Are opinions and comments presented as such?	1 2 3 4 5
9. Language and graphics are free from sensationalism?	1 2 3 4 5
10. Site does not seem to negatively target a particular group?	1 2 3 4 5
11. Opposing viewpoints are acknowledged?	1 2 3 4 5
12. Information is presented clearly?	1 2 3 4 5
13. Information is presented logically?	1 2 3 4 5

Once you have completed the scaling and rationale for each question in the table, you will have to write a two paragraph response to the following questions in order to compare the websites.

Criteria for contrasting and comparing the two websites above: (4 pts. each)

1. What topics and ideas are portrayed differently?
2. What topics and ideas are similarly portrayed?
3. How does the nature of science integrate with this assignment?

Criteria for report: (4 pts. each)

1. Explain how you would use these sites in your classroom within a particular curriculum.
2. Explain how these websites would help you as a science teacher.
3. Explain how your students might use the websites.

Assessment

Criteria for website evaluation:

Criteria scaling (0.5 pts.) and rationale (0.5 pts.) for all 13 questions

Contrasting and Comparing Websites: Written response to questions will be graded using the rubric below.

The paper you submit to the Digital Drop Box should be named m4s2a4101904xxxxx and include the 13 scales and rationales for each website and the written paragraph contrasting and comparing the websites.

Criteria	Excellent (4 pts.)	Satisfactory (2pts.)
Differences	Differences between websites are discussed in depth with examples.	Differences between websites are not fully explained.
Similarities	Similarities between websites are discussed in depth with examples.	Similarities between websites are not fully explained.
Nature of Science	Nature of Science attributes are related to website criteria with thorough explanations and connections.	Nature of Science attributes are discussed but not necessarily tied to website criteria.

Report Criteria

Criteria	Excellent (4pts.)	Satisfactory (2pts.)	Unsatisfactory (1pt.)
Classroom	Explains in depth how websites may be used in the classroom by suggesting multiple pedagogical ways. Provides examples of how to use websites.	Explains how websites may be used in the classroom by suggesting multiple pedagogical ways. Does not provide examples of how to use websites.	Does not explain how websites may be used in the classroom by suggesting multiple pedagogical ways. Does not provide examples of how to use websites.
Teachers	Explains how teachers could use the websites for activities, projects, and pedagogically. Mentions Nature of Science items in evaluation and use of websites.	Explains how teachers could use the websites for activities, projects, and pedagogically. Does not mention Nature of Science items in evaluation and use of websites.	Does not explain how teachers could use the websites for activities, projects, and pedagogically. Does not mention Nature of Science items in evaluation and use of websites.
Students	Explains how the websites might be appropriate for certain courses and age groups of students. Mentions alternative uses and expands on ideas.	Explains how the websites might be appropriate for certain courses and age groups of students. Does not mention alternative uses and expands on ideas.	Explains a little how the websites might be appropriate for certain courses and age groups of students. Does not mention alternative uses and expands on ideas.

To Continue . . .

Click on the "Ok" button to return to the Session 2 section. Click on the next folder in this session, Session 2 Assignment 5 to continue.