From: Eric Muller (emuller@exploratorium.edu)
Date: Fri Oct 06 2000 - 06:48:02 PDT
Message-Id: <l03110700b6038863d36e@[192.174.3.228]> Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2000 14:48:02 +0100 From: Eric Muller <emuller@exploratorium.edu> Subject: testing materials
>>Dear Teachers,
>>
>>We are very looking for some high school science teachers to field-test a
>>few interactive web-based curriculum modules. The field-test is quick,
>>informal, and will introduce you to some interesting new curriculum
>>materials.
>>
>>If you are interested, please let us know (as soon as possible) which
>>module(s) you would be interested in testing from the list below and the
>>grade level you are currently teaching.
>>
>>Call us at 800-410-2820 or email to: rina@rockman.com
>>
>>Thanks for your consideration,
>>
>>Rina Hoffer, Research Project Manger
>>Rockman et al
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Modules available for testing:
>>
>>1. Geologic Time (grades 6-10)
>>
>>Students will learn about how scientists have gathered evidence for the
>>events of the history of the Earth. The focus is first on putting events
>>in order relative to one another. An analogy is given to U.S. History.
>>Then students learn about superposition and how the relative position
>>within the rock layers can tell us much about when events occurred. In
>>order to give precise or absolute dates to those events, radiometric
>>dating is used.
>>Finally, all of these events are represented in the Geologic Time Scale.
>>Students
>>learn what about the different time periods, how they were named, and that
>>they represent major changes in the bio-diversity of the Earth.
>>
>>
>>2. Interpreting the Fossil Record (grades 6-10)
>>
>>Students will learn that fossils can tell us a lot more than just who was
>>there and when. By interpreting the fossil record, we can learn about:
>>
>>ß >past ecosystems and how organisms interacted with one another and with
>>the environment;
>>ß >geologic events of the past, such as plate tectonics;
>>ß >biodiversity past and present and extinction events;
>>ß >individual lifestyles - life span, behavior, the evolution of features
>>and changes in their functions
>>
>>Students can either explore the entire span of information presented or
>>divide into four teams to explore and report back to one another.
>>
>>Subject area or course: Earth Science, Life Science
>>
>>
>>3. Life Has a History
>>Grade levels: 5-8, 9-12
>>
>>Purpose: The purpose of Life Has a History informational tour is for
>>students to gain a basic understanding and introduction to the history of
>>life and exposure to the biodiversity within the surrounding environment.
>>Students gain an understanding of how fossils provide evidence of past
>>life, and provide
>>
>>Student learning objectives:
>>During this module students will learnŠ
>>ß >About the diversity of life and the common history all living things
share.
>>ß >How life forms have evolved over time.
>>ß >About the role of fossils in discovering the Earth's history.
>>ß >How organisms with common features can be used to trace common ancestors.
>>ß >How variation and natural selection function as a mechanism of evolution.
>>
>>Activities:
>>Students access Life Has a History online or on CD-ROM. Students move at
>>a self-selected pace through a series of web screens by clicking on shell
>>arrows at the bottom of the pages. On some of the pages students are
>>presented with a question and choices of possible answers. If they select
>>the incorrect response, they are referred to a page that gives some brief
>>information and offers them a chance to try again. If they select the
>>correct response, they automatically move to the next page. Throughout the
>>module, students view actual fossil images from the UCMP collections.
>>
>>Related Resources:
>>The following is a list of suggested lessons that can be used to enhance
>>and extend the concepts emphasized in Life Has a History. They can be
>>accessed in the Teacher's Guide section of the tour. Although this unit
>>can be completed in a single class period, its greatest value for grades
>>5-12 is as part of a larger unit on evolution. In this way, it could be
>>expanded to a three (or more) day lesson plan that incorporates class
>>discussion, review, and assessment.
>>
>>Type of Module: moderately interactive, online, informational tour.
>>
>>Duration: 40-60 minutes, depending on student learning level.
>>
>>Duration for pilot: 1 class on computer, 1 class for post-test and
>>discussion, 1 hour for teachers to go through teacher guide.
>>
>>Requirements:
>>Computers with Internet access or computers with CD drive. In addition,
>>the following is required based on the type of computers being used:
>>Netscape 4.0 or greater, or Explorer 4.0 or greater with a Javascript
>>enabled and an Operating System of 7.6.1 or higher and a T1 or above
>>connection speed (online version only).
>>
>>Rockman et al is the evaluator of the paleontology modules being developed
>>by the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) in Berkeley.
>>
>>==========================================================================
====
>>Heather Hughes, Rockman et al
>>"Bringing Technology and Learning Together"
>>605 Market Street, Suite 305
>>San Francisco, CA 94105-3205
>>(415) 543-4144, Fax:(415) 543-4145, www.rockman.com
>>==========================================================================
====
>>
Eric Muller
Staff Teacher
Exploratorium
3601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-561-0313
email:emuller@exploratorium.edu
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Oct 16 2001 - 12:21:57 PDT