R&D Project on Algebra Software Shows Promise

SRI, the sponsor of TappedIn online educational social network, reports provided encouraging data used to determine that a longitudinal study of SimCalc based Algebra I and II learning. It appears that teachers with strong professional development in the use of the software and working knowledge of the state's curriculum standards effectively lead students in learning that was significantly higher than the students in the control classes learning from their usual textbooks.

clipped from www.edweek.org Computer software that shows students visual models of mathematical concepts—and lets them manipulate those models by doing math—has a certain intuitive appeal. recent research on SimCalc MathWorlds, is providing some of the best evidence can lead to gains in student learning. Data released last spring by SRI International “large effects” from the use of SimCalc, when bolstered by professional development and a curriculum that are both geared to the state’s math standards University of Massachusetts Dartmouth owns the software U.S. Department of Education has provided a $2 million grant to the university to conduct a four-year longitudinal study starting this fall In one algebra activity using SimCalc, each of two students has a colored “fish” that moves according to formulas they create. Lines of corresponding colors underneath represent the students’ formulas. —Photo/Graphic by Kindra Clineff

Nature - Technology MASHUP

1. Observe the weather and seasonal conditions in your area today or some time in the next few days. Report to JourneyNorth PhenologyDataChecklist. See my post, 2 Equal Earth Days on Classroom2.0 for more information.


2. Join the Jason Project, a premiere online educational program with an emphasis in Science, Math, Language Arts and Social Studies. More about the Jason Project in upcoming postings.
   


3. Look out for migrations and join the Virtual Monarch Migrations beginning soon. Check it out at JourneyNorth.

Since I believe the focus of my efforts in the blogosphere is to share and learn about related topics of interest to those who love technology, people, education and the natural world, my related educational blog postings can be found at my Classroom2.0 blog, my TECS390fhsu, and my Greenbush blog. I invite you to take a look at the ongoing postings for my thoughts on teaching, networking and the virtual world.

I stand on the shoulder of giants, and I stay in the mix with help from my friends and neighbors. Please let me know if you spot something to correct, to add, or to change that can improve my story of teaching. Won't you be my neighbor?

2 Equal Earth Days

Isn't this image a great example of what excellent teachers do best?

Today is the Autumnal or Fall Equinox, one of 2 Equal Earth Days during our orbit around Sol. All over Earth, there is an equal ratio of day to night hours, except at the poles. Equinox is a pretty cool name to describe the moment in Earth's yearly solar orbit that we mark as the beginning of the fall season in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of the spring season in the Southern Hemisphere.

Previously, I had mention the JourneyNorth Phenology Project, where individuals or classes note the weather and outdoor sightings around the world,each month, beginning on or about September 23, 2007....TODAY.

Most JourneyNorth project members are located in the Northern Hemisphere, but not all. Therefore the core of the JourneyNorth project relates to migrations, weather, and seasonal changes in the Northern Hemisphere.

Teachers, parents, and other interested adults can use JourneyNorth DataCollection link to get ideas on how to make bulletin board displays, charts and other data collection and display samples for kids to use. Kids will gain basic lifehacks from the natural world while learning a standards based curriculum. These activities will help make up for the nature deficit modern children tend to exhibit through lack of experience.

Sign up to receive the emails, access free materials and be able to login for data collection. While you are learning about the program, do as much or as little as you can. Using JourneyNorth really helps kids understand scientific method first hand, by using it.

Whatever you do will easily mesh with your science, math, language arts, and social studies curriculum. Most of all, using JourneyNorth really helps kids discover learning is NOT tedious or boring...it is exciting and fun.

Phenology - What's Up With That?

Phenology - What Is It?

Phenology - Where Is It?

Phenology - Who Cares?

Signs of the Seasons - That's What I'm Talkin' 'bout!!!

"Phenology is the term for the study of the timing of these seasonal changes in plants and animals. The amount of sunlight, which affects day length and temperature, is the main factor driving these shifts.

When students closely observe the natural world, record data, and notice patterns as the seasons unfold, they build a deeper understanding of seasonal change!

Each season, carefully observe the seasonal changes shown on the Phenology Checklist."

Beginning on September 23, 2007, people all over the world will look up and around their outside environment and report just what they see. This information is taken from Journey North, a wonderful online learning project that kids, parents, and teachers; along with interested hobbyists can learn more about science, migrations, and related topics.

Obscure, Yet Powerful Science

Having discovered that a colleague, Nancy Bosch is also very interested in teaching literacy through the use of primary sources, I was most impressed. Her work at A Very Old Place and that of her students, A Really Different Place is represented well.

I too have spent most of my life reading and learning about primary sources. My mother is a librarian, and my father is a science teacher.

While I love history, my own personal interests lay within the realm of science under the auspices of many researcher/professors who allowed me entrance into their world when I was a little girl. Most of their work was often obscured to the general public, but they were recognized by their researcher peers as the experts that they were. I grew to appreciate the power of science, and a distrust for those who seem more interested in publicity. I appreciated these scientists work and their humility, and it marked my love of science.

Nonfiction writing and its practice came from the lessons learned from my high school American History teacher. He taught us to properly approach the essay and how important primary sources were.

My teacher was a WWII vet, and I will never forget the primary source documentary movies he used with our lessons. Especially poignant remains the documentary of the Americans opening the prison camps, such as Auschwitz, and freeing the walking dead.

Rough or Smooth: It's all good!

clipped from www.nature.com

Special Issue on the Endoplasmic Reticulum

This special issue features a collection of reviews on the endoplasmic
reticulum (ER), dysfunction of which has been implicated in multiple major human diseases,
including diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. These reviews provide unique insights into
the physiological role of, and the mechanisms behind, the endoplasmic reticulum stress response,
as well as possible targets for the treatment of human diseases involving ER stress.

I have always been fascinated with the endoplasmic reticulum, and scientists are finding out that problems or dysfunctions in that organelle can cause death of the cell and eventually diseases.

7 Steps For Online Class

TappedIN, an educational social network, is sponsored by Stanford Research Institute, Inc. within their Center for Technology in Learning, an innovator in educational research interests, including TappedIN.

Follow
these seven simple steps to discover TappedIN, the online tech campus.
You can have an office and make protected classrooms for K-12 students.
TappedIN is robust and receptive to the educational needs of teachers,
students and tech leaders:

1. Visit TappedIN as a guest. Sign in as a guest. Enable chat.
   


2. After signing in, you will be directed to the Reception Room.


3. You have arrived. Usually, volunteers are available to help...if you want.
   


4. Move your cursor to the bottom of the TappedIN Reception Room and read the Quick orientation to Tapped In.


5. At the top of the webpage, you will see tabs. Click on the Me tab. Read your message.
   


6. Click on the TappedIN tab and visit the campus, people and calendar of events.


7. After that, the "sky's the limit"...read more, join TappedIN, talk online or visit offices.