I think one of the most important websites to me
that is very useful for inspiration as well as teaching in all types of subject
matter is your official TEDtalks website. I started watching the TEDtalks because
they were available on Netflix and I became hooked on them and join the
conversation becoming a member.
Another website that I found was very useful is the
center for advancement of informal science education website or CAISE this
website has quite a few resources that are available in PDF form as well as
other formats.
The National Afterschool Association website
provides resources as well as information about healthy afterschool activities,
crime prevention and child development. It also includes quite a few very
useful links.
The Exploring Trees and Ponds Informal Life Science
Activities for Youth website provides wonderful ideas to work with students 10
through 14 in the natural world. Information is given freely although you just
need to create a user account.
Exploratorium afterschool activities website
supplies a bunch of activities that you can do with kids that are downloadable.
Some of these include creating a speaker using Styrofoam cup or a membranophone
out of a water bottle.
The parent website to the previous website also has
a great deal of information on it.
There is The Informal Science Education Association
of Texas website. This website also includes quite a few variable resources as
well as many links to other websites. This one gives you the opportunity to see
what’s going on around the state as well as to find other museums, state parks,
aquariums, nature centers, and other science-rich institutions around the state
of Texas.
The next one is another national resource that
allows you to see what’s going on in the rest of the country as well as also
supplies online resources and allows you to connect with other online
communities.
The local informal science organization is called
the Chihuahuan Desert Educational Coalition. I found this one to be very informative
with a great deal of information of area events as a matter fact it was two
that went on this weekend. The Poppy Festival which included a nature walks
music and food. This was a free educational event for the whole family. As well
as the presentation that was given by the New Mexico State University Chile
Institute that was given also at no charge at the Carlos M Ramirez TecH2O
learning center.
Another local website that can help keep you up-to-date
on what’s going on in the El Paso area is the elpasonaturally blog page. You
can find many events that are being held El Paso area which is on the
environment.
Another one of my favorite websites to check out for
science is the McDonald Observatory website. This one lets you know what’s
going on at the Observatory as well as what’s going on in the sky. The McDonald
Observatory is located in Fort Davis which is approximately two-hour drive from
El Paso and although it is not a free event it is well worth checking out. The
website on the other hand is free and also it’s worth checking.
Dear Cameron,
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing me to TED Talks. This is definitely a useful educational website and seems to be very entertaining as well. Many times people see science as pertaining to education but happen to be one of those who find science to be fun and entertaining and stimulating as well. I think that I gain more knowledge this way because I become more engage in the process of learning. I will take a look today at some more topics in TED talks and see what else I can find. Again, thank you very much for information Cameron.
Dear Cameron,
ReplyDeleteThe chihauhaun desert link is a great resource. Although El Paso is in the desert there can be a lot of interesting events to attend that entail a lot of nature as well. I have been in El Paso for Nine years now and I have yet to discover what is out here. This internet resource can certainly be of some guidance for me when I have the chance to explore some of the nature of El Paso. Thank for giving us this website.
Cameron,
ReplyDeleteI really like your links. Since the feedback on Marian's presentation about the dancing robots I have been checking out the TEDTalks website, and this is a great resource for anything! obviously filled with great informal education ideas. Thank you for this entertaining and wonderfull resource. The other website I really enjoyed is the Exploratorium website. I particularly like what they publish in their website as to what they want to accomplish: "At the Exploratorium, we view learning broadly and believe there are different ways of learning and knowing: through direct experience with phenomena, through art, through dialogue, and through tinkering. We work to change the way the world learns and to promote equal access to these powerful ways of learning about the world." They are very aware that hands-on education is the best way to learn rather than just reading off a text book.
Karla
Cameron, I agree completely with your comment that TED Talks is a great web site that inspires students. I have used these short, but poignant videos with my students. One of particular interest is a video showcasing a few of the international science fair winners along with their projects. My students were able to see other students that were their age and making strides in science. They were able to realize that age does not limit ability, desire and drive does. I love this site and could envision an after school program designed around watching TED Talk video, discussing them, and producing short videos like these. Talk about engagement and differentiation.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the project critique. I appreciate all the valuable feedback. Like I had mentioned prior it is great that we all get to collaborate and provide each other with feedback because we might not always know the best way to do something and someone might have a great suggestion. Thank you and I do agree that we need to target females to be more involved in STEM fields but also males we just need to get as many students as we can expose to these great activities to at least show them what they are about and let them determine if it is something they are interested in. Thank you for the t-test suggestion in order to evaluate my results. Thank you once again for all the feedback.
ReplyDelete“Our water in the High Desert”, is a great title for your project. I must say I really liked your project since I myself have never been to the desalination plant even though it is really close to where I reside. It looks like so much fun and lots of great history. Your project clearly addressed knowledge and interest in science. It was great to see all the different age groups within your project to show that it is never to early to learn and or be engaged in science. I like the fact that this facility has things for younger and also older students alike. The hands-on interactive section sounds like so much fun especially for the younger kids. The only thing that I did not see in your presentation was the survey data and or results to show that you did hit the 2 impact categories of knowledge and interest in science. Overall, great job once again.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a useful educational website and seems to be very entertaining as well. Many times people see science as pertaining to education but happen to be one of those who find science to be fun and entertaining and stimulating as well. I think that I gain more knowledge this way because I become more engage in the process of learning. I will take a look today at some more topics in TED talks and see what else I can find.
ReplyDeleteCameron, for whatever reason I get a lot of useful information from your blogs. I realize that there are places I have never heard of until I met you. For instance, I had no idea about the Tech H2O laboratory nor the desalinization plant. Now I have learned from you about the McDonald's Observatory in Fort Davis. I believe that I have a few trips to plan for the summer if I have time. Sometimes I am so worried that my son has not seen enough of the exhibits or museums in and outside of El Paso. He told me that he has been to the Tech H2O and desalinization plant. I guess it is me who needs to get out more.
ReplyDeleteAnother one of my favorite websites to check out for science is the McDonald Observatory website. This one lets you know what’s going on at the Observatory as well as what’s going on in the sky.
Cameron, I finally took your advice and checked out TEDTalks. I read a posting titled, “How can we help sustainability community maintain its growth?” There were certainly much great ideas about community and integrating sustainable communities as alternatives to the destructive and wasteful mindset of consumerism. One posting (the micro-solution to toddler sustainability) that really caught my attention was advice a person was giving to help one make the transition to sustainable living. There was simple steps one followed gradually in order to successfully implement this change in one’s life. I also liked the TEDTalks to TEDWalks.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
Cameron, I just saw the internet resource on How to build a Cup Speaker (http://www.naaweb.org/). I can see how this is really a great site for after-school kids to download and work on. This is a great example of how informal science activities can get students interested in learning and participating in science. Imagine what innovations some of these kids will design and build. I liked how the website included a concept map on what concepts kids will accomplish as they work on this project. More, the instructions were simple and clear and they explained how and why speakers can produce sound the way they do. This is how I got into science was through speaker design and building since I could not afford many of the Hi-Fi equipment out there as a kid!
ReplyDeleteTruly Hand-ons!
Cameron, I enjoyed reading your suggestion about the interest resource: EL Paso Naturally (http://www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/). There was a posting about Flushing Water Hydrants need not be a water waster. I was informed that the City of El Paso is purchasing a device which would allow water quality test and others to be performed without wasting any water!
ReplyDeleteI also learned something new about solarcanals. Solar Canals are being built in India over water canals to reduce water evaporation and generate electricity at the same time. Great innovations!
On this same site I read an article from El Paso Inc. about how the El Paso Water Utilities wants to design turning sewage water into drinking water by treating sewage water and reusing it directly a “direct potable” drinking water.
Cameron, I saw the website Gorilla Gardening (http://www.guerrillagardening.org/) on the blog, El Paso Naturally. It is awesome how people are going out into the city and transforming curbsides and pavements into little pockets of paradise! I like how people are investing their time, money, effort, and creativity into making the concrete jungle around us more livable. I also enjoyed reading about the stories of older people liking Gorilla gardening because it allows them time and an opportunity to interact with young people and share their garden expertise with others.
ReplyDeleteCameron, I also saw the blog on for the 2014 ISEA 17th Annual Conference
ReplyDeleteFebruary 26-28, 2014 in Wimberly, Texas (http://texasinformalscience.org/). Keynote speakers are Dr. Coble and Dr. Lynn Dierking. Many of the workshops have fees but look very interesting and it appears the presenters come from all different venues for ISE.
Cameron, I found the website on ISE topics, Hot Topics, Relating Research to Practice (http://research2practice.info/hot_topics/266), very informative and inspiring! I feel that after taking this course, TED 5319 on Informal Science Education, I am more empowered to provide better opportunities for students to engage and participate in science and most importantly change students attitudes about science since some students do not find science relevant, interesting, or beneficial to them. Some of the topics I found: Communicating Climate Change, Engaging Learners with Scientific Practices, Expanding Access to Non-Dominant Populations, etc…
ReplyDelete