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TITLE
iStage
LEARNING OBJECT
From the range of topics we chose Science and sports as a representative from the resource for development in to a learning object. This teaching unit goes well with information and communications technology (ICT) and classical mechanics.
Almost everythi
Almost everythi
WEBSITE OF THE PRODUCT
NAME OF AUTHOR(S)
Science on Stage Europe
NAME OF PRODUCER
Various
DATE OF PRODUCTION
2011- 13
TYPE OF PRODUCT
Web Site/Portal
SUBJECT TAUGHT
Biology
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE
Medium
TARGET GROUP AGE
14 – 16 years old
TUTORIAL SUPPORT
Yes
DESCRIPTION
Simulations for environmental technologies, bioinformatics or mechanics: The teaching material ‘iStage - ICT in science teaching’ shows how to connect information and communication technologies (ICT) with science education. It includes information about the use of SCRATCH, Java and other programming techniques.
About 20 teachers from 15 different countries worked together over one year to develop teaching materials for information and communication technologies (ICT) to be used in physics, biology and chemistry classes. The results have been published in print and online in German, English, French, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian and Slovenian as well as in an iBook. The project has been proudly supported by SAP.
Teachers can download English, French and German publications as PDF or order them (English only as PDF available) with an email to info@science-on-stage.de.
There is additional material for the iStage 1 teaching units available.
List of teaching units:
• Brer Rabbit, Rare Rabbit
• Plant Growth – The Life of Bernd the Bean
• Don’t Worry, Be Healthy – Life Management
• Electromagnetic Fields of Low Frequency and Human Environment
• Monster Rain
• Length of Day
• Sun Exposition & Home Price
• Science in Sports
• Swinging Bodies
• Phase of the Moon
• Space Travel
Each unit contains background information and teaching and project ideas.
About 20 teachers from 15 different countries worked together over one year to develop teaching materials for information and communication technologies (ICT) to be used in physics, biology and chemistry classes. The results have been published in print and online in German, English, French, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian and Slovenian as well as in an iBook. The project has been proudly supported by SAP.
Teachers can download English, French and German publications as PDF or order them (English only as PDF available) with an email to info@science-on-stage.de.
There is additional material for the iStage 1 teaching units available.
List of teaching units:
• Brer Rabbit, Rare Rabbit
• Plant Growth – The Life of Bernd the Bean
• Don’t Worry, Be Healthy – Life Management
• Electromagnetic Fields of Low Frequency and Human Environment
• Monster Rain
• Length of Day
• Sun Exposition & Home Price
• Science in Sports
• Swinging Bodies
• Phase of the Moon
• Space Travel
Each unit contains background information and teaching and project ideas.
COMMENTS
The Science on Stage website has a vast wealth of materials. This section also provides links to other similar materials:
Spot the Physics: Analysing movements, acceleration and free fall by video (iStage 2)
Smart Astronomers: Using smartphones for parallax measurements in the universe (iStage 2)
Space Travel: Newton, Kepler, circular motion, gravitation, potential and kinetic energy (iStage 1)
Drink and Think – Components of Energy Drinks and the Chemistry behind them (iStage 3)
Discover natural scientific phenomena in the Kitchen (Lilu’s House)
Spot the Physics: Analysing movements, acceleration and free fall by video (iStage 2)
Smart Astronomers: Using smartphones for parallax measurements in the universe (iStage 2)
Space Travel: Newton, Kepler, circular motion, gravitation, potential and kinetic energy (iStage 1)
Drink and Think – Components of Energy Drinks and the Chemistry behind them (iStage 3)
Discover natural scientific phenomena in the Kitchen (Lilu’s House)
INNOVATIVE WAY OF USING THE DIGITAL TOOL
The program “Tracker” is a key software of iStage which involves video analysis and encourages the use of mobile phones and ipads in the classroom setting.
For instance in a Physics lesson when studying a topic like Hooke’s Law students can video a number of participants running over a 10 metre distance.
Students may then import these videos to the “Tracker” software and can analyse velocity, acceleration and distance.
Clear graphs can be constructed to display the relationships between these concepts.
Video analysis encourages reflective practice which is an integral part of the learning process.
Presentations to the classroom can be made individually or in groups.
For instance in a Physics lesson when studying a topic like Hooke’s Law students can video a number of participants running over a 10 metre distance.
Students may then import these videos to the “Tracker” software and can analyse velocity, acceleration and distance.
Clear graphs can be constructed to display the relationships between these concepts.
Video analysis encourages reflective practice which is an integral part of the learning process.
Presentations to the classroom can be made individually or in groups.
TEACHERS’ COMMENT
The purpose of iStage is to encourage the use of programming or coding a program in the teaching of Science subjects. As a Science and PE teacher I feel that it provides students with a deeper appreciation of learning material and encourages students to apply this material to their everyday lives. Ideally a unit of teaching should consist of some part of students coding a program.
Students here are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning in an ICT rich environment where hypotheses and conclusions are tested and proven as per the Scientific Method.
Tracker promotes the students to perform cross-curricular links with subjects for example PE where running technique can be explored. Not only are the students learning about key principles of the curriculum but they are encouraged to use the materials of everyday life (ie phone or ipad) and improve their lifestyle (ie proper running technique) Why I really like this approach is because it puts students at the centre of the learning experience and is a move away from traditional, direct teaching methodologies. It is clear that programming and student presentations have a huge potential in education.
Students here are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning in an ICT rich environment where hypotheses and conclusions are tested and proven as per the Scientific Method.
Tracker promotes the students to perform cross-curricular links with subjects for example PE where running technique can be explored. Not only are the students learning about key principles of the curriculum but they are encouraged to use the materials of everyday life (ie phone or ipad) and improve their lifestyle (ie proper running technique) Why I really like this approach is because it puts students at the centre of the learning experience and is a move away from traditional, direct teaching methodologies. It is clear that programming and student presentations have a huge potential in education.