Queens
College/CUNY
Education Unit
Fall 2009
SYLLABUS
SEYS 753 - Computer Applications in Science Education
Section: E7R3
Thursday 7:10 pm to 9:40 pm
Kiely Hall Room 115
Please complete the course evaluation before the last week
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Brian Murfin,
Ph.D.,
Office: Powdermaker Hall Room 150P,
Office Hours:
Thursday 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
And by appointment
Please send me email to brian.murfin@qc.cuny.edu to arrange an online appointment using either:
- ScienceMOO, or
- DimDim
Phone: 631 223-8311
Email: brian.murfin@qc.cuny.edu
A. COURSE DESCRIPTION
SEYS 753. Computer Applications in Science Education. 3 hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: Matriculation into the MS in secondary science education, an introductory course in computers, and/or permission of instructor. Science teacher candidates enrolled in this course will examine the fundamental issues, concepts, and best practices surrounding the use of multimedia computer systems in science education. They will learn how to use a multimedia computer system, courseware and Internet resources to support science instruction at the secondary level. Some of the teaching and learning activities will take place online.
Education Unit Conceptual Framework:
This course is being offered by the Secondary Education department which is part of the Education Unit at Queens College. The Education Unit seeks to promote equity, excellence, and ethics in urban education and is committed to preparing teachers and other education professionals who will:
- Build inclusive communities that nurture and challenge all learners (Equity)
- Demonstrate professionalism, scholarship, efficacy, and evidence-based and reflective practice (Excellence)
- Diversity, democracy, and social justice (Ethics)
This course is aligned with the Education Unit’s commitment to preparing educational professionals to work in diverse urban and suburban communities. Specifically, the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that candidates will development/demonstrate at the successful completion of this course are directly linked to the Education Unit’s seven principles: 1) discipline specific competencies, 2) learning and development, 3) families and urban communities, 4) diversity, inclusion, democracy and social justice, 5) language and literacy, 6) curriculum, instruction, and assessment, and 7) technology.
B. COURSE GOALS/OBJECTIVES
- Students will acquire basic levels of technology and information literacy. Excellence
- Students will become acquainted with the history of computing, and the history of technology use in education. Excellence, Equity
- Students will have a basic understanding of how computer hardware and software work. Excellence
- Students will be able to critically review educational software and web resources. Excellence
- Students will be able to teach students important ideas related to the safe use of computers, including cybersafety and RSI. Excellence, EthicsStudents will learn techniques to assess the credibility resources on the Internet and World Wide Web. Excellence, Ethics
- Students will be familiar with the different types of technology tools and how they can be used to enhance the teaching and learning of science. Excellence
- Students will be able to design and create a web site. Excellence, Ethics, Equity
- Students will be able to design and create a video or podcast that can be used to enhance science learning. Excellence
- Students will be able to set up and maintain a blog that will be used to enhance science teaching. Excellence
- Students will be able to locate and install open source software. Excellence, Equity
- Students will understand strategies for using technology to help reduce the “digital divide”. Equity
- Students will become familiar with the educational technology literature, especially with relation to science teaching and learning. Excellence, Equity, Ethics
- Students will become familiar with virtual learning environments such as Second Life and Croquet. Excellence
- Students will become familiar with open source course management software and other educational software. Excellence
- Students will learn basic principles of programming using Scratch and Squeak. Excellence
C. REQUIRED PURCHASES: TEXTBOOK(S) AND SUPPLIES
1. Textbook (required): None You will not be required to purchase a textbook for this course. Instead, each student will review a different educational technology book from a list provided by the instructor. Most of these books are available in the Queens College library.
2. Textbook (recommended): None
3. Supplies and/or tools: None
D. WEEKLY TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Week 1 – 9/3/2009 – Introduction to technology use in science education
Activities:
- Login, access course in BlackBoard
- Sign up for gmail, access google docs. Email your gmail and qc addresses to qcscied@gmail.com
- Introduce self on Discussion Board in BlackBoard
- Complete Pre-Survey
- Complete the History of Computing Scavenger Hunt
- Introduction to the Smartboard
- Small group discussion of
- The Journey Inside - an excellent technology education resource
- History
of Computers
- The Internet Lesson
- The World Wide Web
Week 2 – 9/10/2009 – Cloud computing, Web 2.0 and Open Source Software
Activities:
- Go over the History of Computing scavenger hunt
- What is cloud computing and why is it important?
- Introduction to Web 2.0
- Introduction to Open Source Software
- What is Open Source software?
- Other terms for free software
- Introduction to Stellarium (open source planetarium software)
- Sourceforge.net
- Select the software application you will review.
- Educational tools from Intel
- Instructional Strategies - Introduction to Computers
- Introduction to Computers - Explore the curriculum
- List of general open source software applications that will be useful in this class. Please feel free to install these at home.
- ChemSpider
- Computer Hardware
- Software
Week 3 – 9/17/2009 – Blogs and Science Education
Assignment #1 due – Web 2.0 app or Open Source app review
In-Class Activities:- Bats, Bats, Bats!
- Extreme Biology
- What is the origin of the term "blog"? Answer: The History of Blogging
- Instructions for the blog assignment
- Brainstorm ideas on how blogs can be used to enhance science teaching and learning, one person in group post on BlackBoard
- Look at some science and science education blogs
- Pick a target audience and theme for your blog
- Take the Quick Tour at blogger.com
- Sign up for a blogger.com account
- Create, name a customize your blog
- Add your first post
- How to add youtube videos to your blog
- More info on adding videos to your blog
- Sharing youtube videos
- Post the url to your blog on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard
Readings and Extension activities:
Week 4 – 9/24/2009 – Videos, webcams, and science educationAssignment #2 due – post link to Blog assignment
In-Class activities:
- The DNA Rap
- The Power of video - View "The Mom Song Sung to William Tell Overture with Lyrics"
- Synaptic Cleft
- Rapping
about genes
- Brainstorm ideas for using webcams, and video in science teaching and learning, post ideas on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard
- Science Education videos
- Science webcams
- Check out the QC Science Education Webcam
- Download a Galapagos creatures (wmv) (mov) (Source: HHMI web site)(right click, and then "save link as"), and import, and edit with MovieMaker
- Demonstration of video creation and editing with Windows MovieMaker.
- Small group activity
- Pick a paper plate science activity
- Write script and instructions
- Record a video, save, edit. You can use the Flip Mino or Quickcam to record a short video
- Sign up for a youtube account or you can sign in with your gmail account
- Upload your video (at home you might want to install the Google Desktop Uploader)
- Post the url on the discussion board in BlackBoard
Useful Links:
- CamStudio - This allows you to record your computer screen
and edit it later.
http://camstudio.org/ - Windows MovieMaker tutorials
- Video Editing Tools
- http://eyespot.com/
- http://www.jumpcut.com/
- http://www.motionbox.com/
- http://photobucket.com/
- http://www.cuts.com/
- Commerical video formats
- Video formats
- http://www.w3schools.com/media/media_videoformats.asp
- http://gizmodo.com/5093670/giz-explains-every-video-format-you-need-to-know
- Video Search - http://www.blinkx.com/
- Video archives
- Science videos
- Science webcams
- How to set up a webcam
Readings and Extension activities:
- Big ideas (pdf), important concepts in computer science
- Construct a concept map to illustrate the relationship between computers and humans
- Write your first program using C++ or Java
- C++
Week 5 – 10/1/2009 – Audio, podcasts and science education
Activities:
- The Power of Technology - Read article and view youtube video "In My Language"
- What technology tools were used and why were they so important?
- Digital versus analog sound
- In small groups, brainstorm ideas for how digital sound can be used to enhance science teaching and learning. Post your group's ideas on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard
- Earliest sound recording (mp3) (picture of the phonautogram) (phonautograph)
- Introduction to Audacity, a free open source sound editing application
- Pick a sound from the links below, download it, and play around with it using Audacity
- Sounds from the web
- Australian pygmy owl (Right click and choose "save link as" (from Mangoverde.com bird guide)
- Free sound effects
- Bird songs
- Animal behavior recordings
- Free music
- Demo: Volunteers set up an ipod using the smartboard
- Work in small groups to develop a short science podcast.
- Write a script, record a simple podcast and edit using Audacity. In general, use the same planning process as you did for your youtube video. Remember, it must be related to science! Please note: Audacity on the computers in our lab, does not have LAME installed so you won't be able to export your sound files in mp3 format. You can export the file in .wav format and then email me (qcscied@gmail.com) the file using gmail, I can convert it and send it back to you. Also, for this first attempt at a podcast, just use voice, you don't need to include a music track.
- Upload your mp3 file using freedrive or drop.io Please place your file in a public folder, and then post the url to your folder on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard.
- Advanced activity if you have time: Make a mashup
- http://gsn.k12.oh.us/Westfall/
HS/ITL/Mashup/lesson.htm - http://www.stumbleupon.com/
url/gsn.k12.oh.us/Westfall/HS/ ITL/Mashup/lesson.htm - http://www.maximumpc.com/
article/howtos/how_to_mash_up_ your_music - http://forum.audacityteam.org/
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=12212
- Discuss possible science activities that use Audacity and podcasting
Extension activities:
- At home or school install RavenViewer
- RavenViewer Docs
- then visit http://animalbehaviorarchive.org/
- Pick an education or science podcast from the link below and add it to your blog, OR install Juice on your home computer and add the podcasts and newsfeeds you are interested in.
Useful Links:
- Juice (a nice aggregator to organize your podcast and rss feeds)
- Recording a podcast
- How to make a podcast
- Recording an audio podcast with audacity
- How to make a podcast with audacity
- Audacity tytorial for podcasters
- Itunes Tutorial for Windows
- How to create a podcast on Windows
- Podcasting for Itunes tutorial
- Screencasting and Webinars
- http://www.screentoaster.com/
- Slideshare.net has a nice tool to make screencasts and webinars
How personal audio devices work
Week 6 – 10/8/2009 – Data and Science Teaching and Learning
Brief discussion of the following:
- What is data? What is a database?
- Why is data important?
- Training to Climb an Everest of Digital Data
- What are the advantages and disadvantage of using authentic scientific data in science teaching?
- High-School Student Discovers Strange Astronomical Object
- NASA Student discoveries
- Discovering Student Discoveries
- Students Find Snake Rare to Area; Scientific Discovery Made by Fourth- Graders on Field Trip
- Massive amounts of data - "The end of science?"
- Internet world statistics
- What are some common databases? Oracle, mysql, Filemaker, dbase, Access, Open Office Base
- Database file formats
- Method of data collection,
- surveys, phpESP, google form, survey Monkey
- LAMP applications
- digital probes and software
- scientific instruments
- Bugscope
- http://www.mse.iastate.edu/excel/
- Scanning probe microscope construction kit
- SLOOH space camera
- Online telescopes
- http://mo-www.harvard.edu/MicroObservatory/
- GPS/GIS
- Google Earth
- e.g. the silk road in china
- STEM career tours
- Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle
- the path of a food from farm to table
- the migration of birds, salmon, eels, monarch butterflies
- Online databases, scientific data
- Earthquake data,
- weather data, Wunderground
- Earth Science data
- NASA Space Science data center
- genome data,
- Genecards
- EPA data
- Data sets
- Social science data sources
- Google Flu Trends
- Google trends
- Data analysis
- Wordle, word clouds
- statistical software
- crowdsourcing
- Search engines
- Data visualization and display
- Data analysis
- Free statistics software
- PSPP (alternative to SPSS)
- OpenStat
- Hadoop
- Graphing tools
- Simulations
- PhET - Interactive Physics demonstrations
- breve
- http://scienceshareware.com/indexSub.htm
- http://www.dmoz.org/Science/Software/Simulation/
- http://www.google.com/Top/Science/Software/Simulation/
- http://www.modelscience.com/
- Modeling,
Work in small groups and carry out the following:
- Create a spreadsheet in Google docs and a form associated with it. Test out your form. You can gather data from your colleagues.
- List at least three ways you could use a Google spreadsheet and form in your science classes
- Come up with an idea for a science activity that uses authentic scientific data from the web. Download a dataset and try transfering the data from a spreadsheet to a database such as OpenOffice Base. Write a brief description of the activity that the students could carry out. Include examples of questions students could use to guide their exploration. All software used should be free. Post your groups Data Exploration activity on the Discussion Board.
- Biology - Check out the DOGS (Database of Genome Sizes) or other Biology data sets
- Earth Science - Earth Quake global data
- Chemistry - NIST Web book
- Physics
- Create a brief Google Earth Tour related to a science topic you teach. Post the link to your tour on the discussion board in BlackBoard.
- Continue planning of your group project.
Week 7 – 10/15/2009 - Introduction to Linux
Class activities:
Read the following:
- What is linux?
- Common linux distros
- Useful linux commands
- Volunteers will install ubuntu on a discarded (and rescued) desktop computer
- launch putty
- hostname is qcpages.qc.cuny.edu and click open
- login as: INSTR\username (for students)(Note: this is case-sensitive)
- or login as QC\username (for faculty) ( Note: this is case-sensitive)
- enter your password: (remember this is case sensitive)
- commands to try:
- ls
- ls -al
- ps -aux
- pico (this is a simple text editor, you press the ctrl key with various letters to carry out commands)
- help
- man
- exit
- How might you use linux to enhance your science teaching?
- Ubuntu
- Download Kubuntu and burn on CD-ROM
- Change boot order on machine
- Boot up with CD-ROM, install Kubuntu
- Configure Kubuntu and install software
Week 8 – 10/22/2009 – Designing and creating web pages
Activities:
- Demonstration of how to create a web page and upload it to qcpages.qc.cuny.edu (Using Kompozer and WinSCP)
- http://www.webmonkey.com/tutorial/Make_an_HTML_Document
- Post the URL of your QC web page on the discussion board in BlackBoard
- Create a simple web page using Kompozer and upload to your qcpages.qc.cuny.edu account using WinSCP. (help creating web pages)
- The Educator's Guide to Copyright and Fair Use (PLEASE READ)
- Fair use and intellectural property on the web
- How to author a web site using Kompozer
- Webmonkey.com
- Kompozer site
- Kompozer tutorials
- How to design and publish your web site with Kompozer
- Graphics and Web Design based on Edward Tufte's Principles
- Top Ten Mistakes in Web Design
- Usability 101
- Complete HTML tutorial
Week 9 – 10/29/2009 – Virtual learning environments in Science Education (We will do this lesson near the end of the semester on a date to be accounced)
Assignment 3 due – Creation of a web site
Before class, please try and do the following:
Our class is online in the old ScienceMOO 10/29. You can attendfrom anywhere as long as you have a computer and compatible web
browser. Please make sure to try and do the following BEFORE tomorrow's
class:
1) Look through the following:
Beginner's Guide
http://www.accd.edu/sac/
Quick Start
http://www.accd.edu/sac/
User's Guide for ScienceMOO
http://www.accd.edu/sac/
2) Make sure that you can login to the old ScienceMOO using the
computer and web browser you will use tomorrow during class. Some
versions of Internet Explorer and Safari have problems. You can
always download and install Firefox for free and use it.
Here is the link for ScienceMOO and to download Firefox:
http://sciencemoo.org:7001/
http://www.mozilla.com/
3) If you have a problem with your ScienceMOO account, please let me
know as soon as possible. You can always login as a guest without a
password but you will not be able to do as much.
4) I will send out the instructions and seating chart later on today,
so please check your email before class starts. You will be working
on tomorrow's activities in groups by sitting at virtual tables. I
will give each group a virtual tape recorder so you can record your
groups discussions. We will be putting the results of our night's
work on a wiki and I'll send out the procedure soon.
If you have questions or problems, please email me at
brian.murfin@qc.cuny.edu before class starts. I will also set up a
live video and audio stream at justin.tv and record it.
I am looking forward to having an interesting, fun and productive
lesson tomorrow night in cyberspace! See you there!
Activities:
Browse through the following:
- Virtual learning environments - definition, types
- Today we are going to concentrate on virtual worlds and science education
- Virtual Worlds
- Text-based, 2D graphics
- Moos
- 3D graphics
- Croquet --> Open Cobalt
- ScienceSim
- Sign up for a ScienceSim account
- Read Getting Started
- Download a Second Life client
- Visit ScienceSim at the following SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Newton/154/133/25
- Visit some virtual learning environments:
- ScienceMOO 2
- login as a guest and explore
- login with your builder account and create some objects
- login as a teacher and create and share educational objects
- TappedIn
- SchMOOze University
- Today's main activity:
- You are going to work in small groups in ScienceMOO to add new and fresh material to the fun science wiki!
- Procedure:
- Connect to ScienceMOO
- Check the seating chart
- Find your name and table and sit table
- Start your virtual tape player
- Check your email for the invitation to the Fun Science Wiki (If you didn't get the email, visit the http://funscience.wikispaces.com/ and request a wiki membership
- Visit the Fun Science wiki and pick a topic
- Go through the wikispaces help
- Add new material to your fun science topic
- Post title and author of book you are reviewing on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard
- Work in groups on your final project.
Other useful collaboration tools and VLE's
- Try out DimDim
- Other collaboration tools:
- http://lifehacker.com/5373339/
top-10-web-collaboration- tools-that-arent-google-wave? skyline=true&s=x - http://www.ccbetty.com/
- http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/
MediaWiki - http://www.timebridge.com/
- http://www.textflow.com/
- http://mindmeister.com/
- http://drop.io/?code=present
- http://campfirenow.com/
- http://www.zoho.com/
Readings and Extension Activities:
Week 10 – 11/5/2009 – Web conferencing, Course Management Software and Science Education, Science Education in Second Life
Before class, please try to do the following:
- Visit Second Life
- Join Second Life, download the software, login and visit Help Island
- (Optional) Visit Open Cobalt, download and try out the software
Activities:
- What is moodle?
- The pedagogical principles of Moodle
- Take a look at Science Moodle
- Login as a guest and take a look at the Moodle demonstration course
- Play around and create a new course in Science Moodle
- Small group activity using DimDim, an open source web conferencing application
- Second Life
- Join Second Life, download the software, login and visit Help Island
- Sign up for a Second Life account
- Open Cobalt
- View SL Science School video
- Augmented reality
- http://blog.papervision3d.org/
2009/01/07/augmented-reality- with-flartoolkit/ - http://blog.makezine.com/
archive/2005/11/diy_augmented_ reality_wit.html
Week 11 – 11/12/2009 – Interactive multimedia development, Scratch and the scratchboard
Activities:
- Sign up for a scratch account
- Go through the "How to Get Started" page and the Getting Started Guide
- Create a Scratch project that illustrates a science concept
- Share your project on the scratch web site and upload to BlackBoard and post the link to your scratch project on the Discussion Board
- Scratch site
- Connect real-world sensors to scratch projects
- OpenLazlo
- simulations and modeling software
Week 12 – 11/19/2009 - Squeakland, EToys
Assignment 4 due – Review of Educational Technology book
Activities: (You can install this at home. Unfortunately we do not have the new version installed on the computers in the lab yet.)
- Introduction to Squeak
- Sign up for a squeak account
- Watch the tutorial screencasts
- Quick Guides
- The SqueakyTales Courseware - More tutorials
- Tutorials
- Features of EToys
- Showcase of Science Squeak projects
- Go through screencasts of lessons or interative demos
- Share one of your squeak projects on the squeak web site
- Brainstorm possible ways you might use Squeak in science teaching and learning
Readings and Extension activities:
Week 13 – 11/26/2009 – THANKSGIVING RECESS - COLLEGE CLOSED
Week 14 – 12/3/2009 – (Please continue working on your projects using all the tools at your disposal, e.g. google groups, ScienceMOO, DimDim, etc)
Week 15 – 12/10/2009 – E-waste, other important topics related to educational technology, Work on projects,
Assignment 5 Due – Grant proposal for submission to donorschoose.org
Class activities:
- Carry out a personal E-waste inventory
- Work in small groups to develop E-waste plans
- The Digital Divide
- Cybersafety - How can we keep students safe on the web?
- Student misbehavior and technology - What can teachers and parents do?
- Health aspects of technology use
- RSI, eye strain, Internet addiction, obesity and others
Useful
links:
Week 16 – 12/17/2009 – FINAL EXAMINATIONS
PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL MEET FROM 6:15PM TO 8:15PM
Please complete the course evaluation before the last week
Presentations of group projects
Assignment 6 Due – Science video or podcast along with lesson plan and web page
E. ASSIGNMENTS, DUE DATES, AND GRADING PLAN
Procedure for submitting assignments:
1) All assignments that include text:
- Post a copy on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard
- Submit an electronic version (a Word document) using the Digital Dropbox in BlackBoard
- Upload your document to docs.google.com and share with qcscied@gmail.com
2) Video or podcast assignments:
- Upload your video to Youtube.com (or other site) or podcast to Itunes. Post the link to your video or podcast on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard. Burn a copy of your video or ipod on a CD-ROM and hand in.
3) Web site and blog
- Post the URL to your blog and web site on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard
Assignment Description |
Due Date |
Possible Points |
Assignment 1 – Review of a web 2.0 application OR Review of an open source software application for possible use in science education |
9/10/2009 |
10 |
Assignment 2 – Create and maintain a blog related to an aspect of science or science education |
9/17/2009 |
10 |
Assignment 3 – Creation of an individual web site to serve as an electronic portfolio to display all work in this class |
10/22/2009 |
10 |
Assignment 4 – Critical review of an educational technology book from the list of recommended books |
10/22/2009 |
10 |
Assignment 5 – Grant proposal to fund a project that makes innovative use of technology in science education, donorschoose.org |
12/3/2008 |
10 |
Assignment 6 – Group project 1) Create, edit and post an educational science video on youtube.com and teachertube.com OR Group project - Create, edit and post an educational science podcast on itunes, 2) web page with a lesson plan and, 3) explanation should also be provided. 4) Presentation (10 points each) |
12/10/2009 |
40 points |
Participation – Active participation in all class activities. |
|
10 |
F.
FIELDWORK REQUIREMENTS -
None
G.
CUNY POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic
Dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and is
punishable
by penalties, including failing grades,
suspension, and expulsion as provided at:
http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/provost/policies/index.html
H. ADA
Statement
Students with
disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1)
register with and provide documentation to the Special
Services Office, Kiely 171; (2) bring a letter to the
instructor indicating the need for
accommodation and what type. This should
be done
during the first week of class. For more information about
services available
to Queens students
contact: Dr. Mirian Detres-Hickey, Special Services Office;
171 Kiely
Hall; 718 997-5870 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). E-mail
address: mdetres@yahoo.com
or to mirian.detreshicky@qc.cuny.edu
I. USE OF
STUDENT WORK
All teacher education programs in New York State undergo periodic
reviews by
accreditation agencies and the state education
department. For these purposes, samples
of students’ work are made available to those professionals
conducting the review. Student anonymity
is
assured under these circumstances. If you do not wish to have
your work made
available for these purposes, please let the professor
know before the start of the second class.
Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
J.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
K. RECENT BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/~bmurfin/classes/fall2008/seys753/readinglist-seys753-fall2008.html