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Showing posts from May, 2024

Curiosity Spark

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 In his TED Talk "3 Rules to Spark Learning," Ramsey Musallam outlines three essential principles to engage students and foster a love of learning: "Curiosity Comes First", which emphasizes the importance of igniting students' natural curiosity before diving into content; "Embrace the Mess", advocating for a trial-and-error approach to learning where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for deeper understanding; and "Practice Reflection", highlighting the need for both teachers and students to regularly reflect on what methods work and what can be improved, ensuring a continuous cycle of growth and discovery. I teach middle school science.  The content area my TPACK model is based on is Newton's Thirda Law of Motion.  This content is summarized by the following concepts: When two objects collide, a force is exerted on each object.  The two forces are exerted in opposite directions, but they are the same strength. Even though the force exe...

Summative Assessments Using Google Forms

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        This summative Google Forms quiz on Newton's Third Law of Motion is an integration of the TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) model. Leveraging technology (Google Forms and YouTube) enhances the pedagogical approach by incorporating diverse question types (multiple choice, short answer, checkbox, dropdown, and video analysis) to cater to different learning styles and deepen content understanding. The quiz assesses students' grasp of the scientific principle through practical examples and multimedia, promoting engagement and retention. This method facilitates formative assessment and encourages students to interact with the content dynamically, demonstrating a seamless blend of technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge. Newton's Third Law of Motion Quiz

TPACK Framework

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  In designing a lesson on Newton's Third Law of Motion using the TPACK framework, technological knowledge (TK) is leveraged through the use of digital tools like interactive simulations and virtual labs to illustrate action-reaction pairs. Pedagogical knowledge (PK) drives inquiry-based learning strategies, hands-on activities, and critical thinking exercises, while content knowledge (CK) ensures a thorough understanding of the law's principles and application in real-world scenarios. By integrating these elements, students engage in active learning experiences, collaboratively exploring action-reaction pairs and their significance, leading to a deeper comprehension of Newton's Third Law of Motion.

Professional Background & Interests

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     I received my formal education from the University of California at Davis.  While there, I earned a B.S. in Evolution & Ecology, a Single Subject Teaching Credential - Secondary Science, and an M.A. in Education.  I am now in my 3rd decade of teaching science at the middle school level, primarily 8th-grade science.  My interests in this field include the engineering design process and leveraging technology to make science relevant and meaningful for students.  My goal as a result of completing this program is to start building the capacity of my student's digital literacy.  I plan to begin teaching a 'computer science principles class' as well as an 'applied digital skills class' beginning in the 25-26 academic year.  I hope to gain an understanding of the relationship between technology, pedagogy, and content from the program to effectively apply various technologies to support and assess the completion of learning outcomes for...