Tech Resources for Teaching Science

Photovoice: A Community-Based Socioscientific Pedagogical Tool

Some of the resources that were mentioned in the article that can be used in my own
instruction are the issues around us. One of our standards in kindergarten is the holidays. This
can correlate with learning about Earth Day and how to take care of our planet. This helps to
engage the students to be able to see the issues in person and reflect on it.
I have not currently used these tools in my teaching. However, I could use them in future
teaching by allowing students to be able to better participate and engage in their own learning.
I would like to use it to be able to “create dialogue and serve to advance social action as the
community responds to students’ perspectives and strives toward solutions”.
The challenges that I can see with having instruction focused on community-based issues is
students disagreeing on what is an issue and what is not. The school I am placed at is a very
diverse community. With this being said, some students could see an issue with one thing and
the other students may not get the issues. On the other hand, this could be a great opportunity
for peer learning for the students.
This type of learning benefits all learners because they are able to “authentically and critically
participate and engage in understanding, caring for, and transforming the world to which they
belong”. This not only allows students to be engaged in their learning but also understand why
they are learning it. The article also states that it can be used in any content area at any grade
level. The ability to participate for students allows them to benefit from their own learning
and their peers.
Information Literacy for Science Education: Evaluating Web-Based Materials for
Socioscientific Issues
This rubric could be helpful to begin to teach my students to know the valuable information of
using a resourceful website. I am based in a kindergarten classroom so my students are not
familiar with completing research on their own. However, this could be useful for them to
continue to build their knowledge throughout the years. This would mean by the time they got
to the higher grades they would be experts on being able to evaluate the web-based materials.
The categories that helped to be able to differentiate between good sources and ineffective
sources would be the newsworthiness and content category. These two categories help to
discover the purpose of the webpage and how accurate the information is presented. Without
these details, it could be easy to use an ineffective resource.
This evaluation form can be useful for any type of resource, not just websites. There are so
many different types of resources that we use everyday while teaching and learning. This
evaluation tool can help to navigate with useful sources to better educate students.
After reading this article, what I took away from this that will be helpful in the future for
reviewing/analyzing digital resources is how to navigate what is a valuable resource and what
is not. Many times, I click on the first website from my matched search. This evaluation sheet
can help me to decide if this is worth using as a resource or not.
Part 2
Technology and Early Childhood Education: A Technology Integration Professional
Development Model for Practicing Teachers
The research can apply to my classroom by integrating technology into the classroom when it
is necessary. I am based in a kindergarten classroom. With this being said, many of my
students are not able to login into their computers without help. However, they do thoroughly
enjoy being able to play review games and watch educational videos. I think it is important to
be careful to ensure that the games, videos, and websites used are developmentally
appropriate for students.
What I took away from this article is that technology can be used in the classroom. However,
it should not be used in place of the teacher. Students should be using technology for
educational purposes. For example, they should not be using technology to let the computer
read their books to them. It is still important for students to know how to track their print, turn
the pages, and be able to hold a physical book. I still think technology can be a good thing
while in the classroom. There are many different benefits and engaging tools when it comes to
using technology. For example, I am in a kindergarten classroom and I like to use technology
for instructional review games.
The value it has in preparing teachers to be more informed is that many teachers find it
difficult to have a healthy balance with technology in their classroom. However, this article
can help with being able to use technology at the appropriate times for the appropriate
developmental age.
References
Keengwe, J., & Onchwari, G. (2009). Technology and early childhood education: A
technology integration professional development model for practicing teachers. Early
Childhood Education Journal, 37(3), 209.
Guffrey, Heather. (April/May 2020). Hacking and Tracking Healthy Living. Science and
Children, 57(8).
Klosterman, M. L., & Sadler, T. D. (2008). Information Literacy for Science Education:
Evaluating Web-Based Materials for Socioscientific Issues. Science Scope, 31(8), 62-65.
Cook, K., & Buck, G. (2010). Photovoice: A Community-Based Socioscientific Pedagogical
Tool. Science Scope, 33(7), 35-39.