What are "Visualization Tools"
and
How Can We Use Them in Science Classes?
Sharon Comstock
(slcomstock@ameritech.net)
(ready to use)
ASK
Subject Areas
| Education, Educational Technology, Information Science, Science |
Grade Levels
Unit Keywords
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science, biology, chemistry, physics, library, librarian, technology, visualization, tools, media, school, high school |
Rationale of the Unit
| How can we as media specialists introduce web-based visualization tools to our science teachers? I'm creating this unit to serve as an integrated introduction. |
Background and Resources
POSSIBLE VISUALIZATION RESOURCES AND SITES OF INTEREST: The Sciences
Visualization tools across the sciences:
http://www.eot.org/edgrid/resources.shtml#interactive
EdGrid Resources Page
"Meta" site that contains web-based visualization tools. Compiled by the EdGrid project, a nation-wide, 10-year educational technology project funded by the NSF that integrates technology and the sciences.
http://chemviz.ncsa.uiuc.edu/
ChemViz
The Chemistry Visualization (ChemViz) program at National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) is a program which uses the WWW in combination with the power of the Condor pool, a distributed computing network, to generate images of atoms, molecules, and atomic orbitals. The student/user inputs a set of parameters as they are prompted and submits these parameters to the web interface. A picture file is generated which the user downloads and views in their Web browser.
http://theory.uwinnipeg.ca/java/
Interactive Physics and Math with Java
Various modeling tools that allow students to manipulate data visually. Several different tools are on this site.
http://www.shodor.org/master/
MASTER Tools
Modeling and Simulation Tools for Education Reform
(MASTER) Tools, developed by The Shodor Education Foundation, Inc. are the result of on-going collaborations with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), George Mason University, and other education organizations. They are designed to be interactive tools and simulation environments that enable and encourage exploration and discovery through observation, conjecture, and modeling activities. All simulations and supporting curriculum materials are designed in accordance with the new National Science Education Standards and the National Math Education Standards.
Instructional materials are currently available for GalaxSee, SimSurface, and the Fractal Microscope. There is also a beginning collection of models and materials in medicine and biosciences, and environmental science.
http://www.hi-ce.org/
Investigation Station
Center for Highly Interactive Computing in Education (HICE)
Students can go to the "Science Laboratory" to download and use a range of data collection, graphing, and modeling software tools to investigate complex problems.
Teachers can go to the "Teacher Workroom" to view and download project-based science software and curriculum, see what other teachers are doing in their classrooms, and find out about professional development programs.
Examples of how science teachers use these tools:
Susan Camasta, Chemistry
http://www.district86.k12.il.us/south/index.html
(To get to this page: click on "Faculty", "Science", "Susan Camasta", "Courses", and then "Enriched Chemistry.")
This is her course page with links for her students in enriched chemistry (chemistry and algebra taught during block schedules).
Paul Lock, Biology
http://www.inquiry.uiuc.edu/bin/update_unit.cgi?command=select&xmlfile=u10211.xml
Study on how students use concept mapping for biology research:
http://www.ala.org/aasl/SLMR/vol3/mapping/mapping.html
sc/12/2001
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Activities and Open-ended problems
IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES -- activities and discussions within synchronous classes
LAB ACTIVITIES -- work to do in labs or other special settings
We're creating a series of visits to the computer lab here in the library in order to introduce some of these tools and their functions.
ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF CLASS / INDEPENDENT WORK
OPEN-ENDED PROBLEMS -- creative extensions
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Dialogues, Discussions, and Presentations
FACE-TO-FACE DIALOGUES
GROUP DIALOGUES
ON-LINE DIALOGUES
IN-CLASS DISCUSSIONS
PRESENTATIONS
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Assessment, Related Questions, and Story of the Unit
ASSESSMENT
RELATED QUESTIONS
STORY OF THE UNIT -- How did it go?
RESPONSES FROM OTHERS (teachers)
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