Technology in Science

Teachers need to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum instead of viewing it as an add-on, an afterthought, or an event. -Heidi Hayes Jacobs. It is no secret that integration is a crucial part of any efficient classroom. We are in a critical point in time where students need to be prepared for the real-world. A truly effective classroom in today's society is one where the students can not completely distinguish which subject is being taught at a given point. Obviously they should know what's going on, but they shouldn't be able to say, "Math is from 9:00 to 10:00, then Language Arts is from 10:00 to 11:00."  Classrooms should contain enough integration that almost every subject is being included.  This is especially important for the STEM areas.  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math should all be intertwined in a seamless manner.

The United States Department of Labor has reported that by the year 2014, 15 of the 20 fastest growing occupations require significant science training to successfully compete for a job.  Right now, students are getting maybe 30 minutes of Science class per day. How are we expected to compete whenever we aren't learning the subject? The practical, efficient use of technology makes this much easier.  With all of the technological advances, there is no excuse for not including technology in our classrooms.

Research suggests that the best way for students to experience science and technology is through the use of hands-on materials and manipulatives. According to the National Science Teachers Association, or NSTA, students experience the best learning through the investigation and exploration of inquiry-based questioning and process skills. Although the students play a large role in the integration of technology within science, it is also up to the administrators to build instructional leadership. This is achieved through building a consensus for an elementary science program that reflects state and national standards (NSTA, 2002).  

A great way to integrate technology into the science curriculum is through the use of Logger Pro software. This is a very easy to use program that is used in the collection and analysis of data. Logger Pro can be used with any type of computer, and involves many different ways to get the students involved and interested in science.  Science does not mean listening to a PowerPoint presentation on rocks and minerals. It involves moving around and actually touching/feeling the topics of the lesson.  This is how students will truly learn science concepts.  

Logger Pro can be used with countless experiments, one of which being ways to make the temperature of water colder.  Students can be asked in the beginning of class which would make the water the coldest: ice, sugar, or salt. Then the students can experiment putting ice, salt, and sugar into separate cups of water and then using the Logger Pro software and probe to analyze the results. This is just one of many ways to incorporate hands-on, effective technology into the science curriculum.  

As stated previously, students truly learn the best whenever they are able to work in a hands-on environment. Science is the type of subject that needs to be experienced, not taught. Through the use of manipulating different materials and working with an inquiry-based approach, students will benefit from and enjoy science much more.


Sources
National science teachers association. (2002, July).
     http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/elementary.aspx

United States Department of Labor. (2013). http://www.dol.gov