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Web 2.0 in the Classroom: 
Collaborative Learning Tools
 
for Science
NSTA 2009 Annual Conference
Presented by:Stephen Best, University of Michigan
More information at:http://mmstlc.net
 
WEB 2.0 IN THE CLASSROOM:COLLABORATIVE LEARNINGTOOLS FOR SCIENCE
Overview of this Session:
Several Web 2.0 tools can support inquiry and problem solving forlearners. See how these new tools are providing new learningopportunities specifically for science.In this session, we are going to look at the wide variety of collaborative learning tools that are available onthe Web, and will see look at some of the specific functions of these tools to see how they can ease orenhance our students’ learning of science. We’ll look at some of the different functionality of these toolsand see how they work to allow you to enhance the learningexperience for students by allowing them to engage with others.Along with all of this come a variety of issues and concerns thatteachers may need to consider in selecting and using some of these tools in the classroom. We’ll show you how you can reviewthese tools and plan for instruction using them to ensure the bestpossible outcomes for you and your students.
About the Presenters and Resources:
These resources are generated from the Michigan Mathematics and Science Teacher Leadership Collaborative(MMSTLC), a statewide effort to support instructional leadership at many levels in local schools, regionalsupport agencies, and higher education. These resources are a part of the broader set of resources beingprovided to project participants to help them support other teachers in their schools and region.For more information about the project or any of these tools, visit the MMSTLC Web site:http://mmstlc.netStephen Best is one of the project directors of the MMSTLC, and has been directing professionaldevelopment, outreach, research, and teacher education efforts in the University of Michigan School of Education for the past 15 years. He is a former middle and high school science and mathematics teacher,and provides support and leadership in these areas, as well as educational technology and comprehensiveschool reform.
MMSTLC Science: Collaborative Online Tools for Science Education
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Thinking About Student Learning
Too often, when we hear about an interesting web site or resource, we decide we are going to use it beforewe know much about it, just because of some unique quality about the site itself. But, before we startthinking about what tools we can use or should use, we should first think about what we actually do (orshould do!) in our classrooms to help students develop an understanding and appreciation for scienceconcepts. Ideally, once we dothis, and subsequently thinkabout what we want ourstudents to understand, wecan then start thinking abouthow the functions of theonline tools we are going tolook at will help our studentsunderstand science.The slide at right shows someof the possible activities wemight have our students do inour science classes. This isnot a definitive list by anymeans - it just gives some of the common examples of activities that we often haveour students engage in withthe hope of building theirknowledge and understandingof content.Needless to say, we don’twant to try finding tools toaddress each and every one of these. Rather, we could lookat this list and start tocategorize these items by thegeneral “type” of activity thatwe often have students do tolearn about or “do” science.The next slide identifies thesemajor categories. We willlook at some of the onlinetools that might address eachof these.
MMSTLC Science: Collaborative Online Tools for Science Education
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