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Description:Have your science students lost the
“wow” factor? If the answer can’t be found in the text, do they seem lost?
Critical thinking, collaboration, and inquiry skills are critical components
of a science classroom. Finding and incorporating the appropriate, grade
level web resources into class projects can foster these skills. The proper
use of technology can reinforce basic skills and help to build a mental
scaffold that ultimately has students analyzing and evaluating data,
questioning each other, and collaborating in a way that promotes higher order
thinking. In this course, we will explore the components and benefits of
functional cooperative learning groups and inquiry learning. As an outcome of
this course, we will create a web-based project that employs collaboration,
critical thinking skills, and inquiry.
Pre-requisites: Learners participating in this course should have
reliable access to the Internet, ability to use email, a working knowledge of
a computer’s file hierarchy, and the ability to browse the Internet. This
course is appropriate professional development for science teachers,
technology specialists, curriculum specialists, or professional development
specialists.
Objectives: • By the end of this workshop, learners will gain the
skills necessary to identify the components of cooperative groups, analyze
grouping strategies, and recognize the benefits of using learning groups in
the science classroom.
• During this course participants will analyze existing web enhanced projects
and for evidence of critical thinking and cooperative strategies.
• As participants learn from peers in discussion groups and weigh the value
of inquiry in the science classroom, learners will apply this knowledge and
evaluate web-based inquiry activities.
• Participants in this course will practice higher order questioning skills
in order to help students create a mental scaffold and then assimilate these
skills into a web based project.
• Learners completing this course will use technology to create a web
enhanced project that requires students to use critical thinking skills,
cooperative learning, & inquiry.
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