Grades 6-12

Secondary Science Curriculum Coordinator

Email: jnord5257@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: http://ccsoh.us/science
Location: 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: (380) 997-0466
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusCitySchools/

Adding ‘virtual’ in front of the word ‘classroom’ isn’t the only difference between face-to-face and online courses. Teaching methods that work well in one type of learning environment may not succeed in the other. However, effective learning shares many common attributes. It is collaborative, explorative, and experiential. It embraces active learning techniques to engage students, creating a sense of accountability for their own learning. Engaging and challenging students is arguably even more important in virtual classrooms where oversight is minimal and the opportunities for distraction seem endless.

Active learning focuses on involving students in doing things and thinking about what they are doing. It’s about engaging students in activities—not just allowing them to passively listen to a subject matter expert. Infusing active learning throughout your curriculum has been shown to yield many benefits, including student satisfaction, knowledge retention and improved exam performance.

Want to give it a try? There are 3 easy ways to get started:

-Brainstorming: Brainstorming involves generating alternative possibilities to answer a question or approach a problem. With students working together in groups, it encourages risk-taking and creative thinking in order to generate new ideas and solutions. Debating the merits of different ideas also offers important opportunities for developing a deeper understanding of the topic in question while increasing student engagement.

-Online Discussions: Online discussions reveal the complexity of issues and help learners understand that there are a number of ways to approach learning material. Anonymously or not, students can ask clarifying questions to further their own understanding of course content, or spark a discussion with their peers. This allows instructors to take the pulse on how students are comprehending course content, and where they might need further direction.

-Problem-Based Learning: Using this active learning method, problem-based examples in course materials present cases that are relevant to learners and encourage them to apply what they are learning to real-world situations. Problem-based learning motivates students to develop their critical thinking skills by offering opportunities to analyze, synthesize and evaluate information in order to make their case. Depending on your class size, this can be done as a collective or by breaking students into smaller groups.

While you can’t replicate the same experience as face-to face, you can adapt or repurpose existing course material and teaching methods. For instance, you can lecture online but students' attention spans max out after 10-15 minutes of passive listening. Instead, consider using your online time for coaching or mentoring.

Some ways to adapt to incorporate active learning into an online classroom environment include:

-Practice and Feedback: Consider how you’ll give students an opportunity for practice and feedback with both low- and high-stakes assignments. For example, students could analyze and annotate an assigned reading with their classmates using an online teaching platform or other digital collaboration tools.

-Collaboration: Breakout rooms can encourage collaboration typically seen in traditional classrooms. Using online collaboration tools such as Google Docs, students can also co-create papers or projects, and then submit them online.

-Video Assignments: Rather than handing in a paper, students can complete video assignments or make video presentations using digital tools such Flipgrid or EdPuzzle. Loom is another good option. It allows you to easily record screen content and video stream, all in one go. It’s also free.

-Polls and Quizzes: If you normally ask students questions during your lectures, you can ask similar questions in online discussion forums, polls or quizzes, and even offer feedback on their responses. This can boost engagement while identifying gaps in learning.

***GREAT RESOURCE TO ASSIST WITH THIS:

Ditch that Textbook: https://ditchthattextbook.com/explore-explain-apply/

Explore...Explain...Apply

Q&A Collections: Science Instruction - 8 years worth of articles from Education Week: https://tinyurl.com/y6ldwqpd

5 Keys to Successful Homework Assignments during Remote Learning: https://tinyurl.com/y3k83brx

Online Student Discussion Boards: https://tinyurl.com/y2b53t4z

4 Powerful Ways to Engage Students this School Year: https://tinyurl.com/y6nb2g77

How to Reduce Screen Time when School is Online: https://tinyurl.com/y3angd6y

How to Convince Parents to Support Project-Based Learning at Home: https://blog.definedlearning.com/blog/supporting-remote-pbl

What Teachers Need to Know about Self-Efficacy: https://tinyurl.com/yya4kj6c

How to Make Science Class Relevant during the Pandemic: https://tinyurl.com/y4mr4ghe

Collaboration: https://fs24.formsite.com/edweek/images/Spotlight-Collaboration-Sponsored.pdf

• ACT Academy—A free online learning tool and test practice program designed to help students
• Free Test Prep—Study guides, practice for each subject test, daily test questions, and general tips
• Curriculum Department Science ACT Help Guide: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xSWMkthdHEQuF2Zz98d0GGnl4gUSZCdT

NSTA Engage Virtual Conference - Nov. 13-15: https://tinyurl.com/y6cmpq49

NSTA Daily Dos: https://tinyurl.com/y2ypongd

O.D.E. Monday Mini Lessons: http://education.ohio.gov/Media/Ed-Connection/Oct-13-2020/Model-remote-teaching-best-practices-with-Monday-M

Carolina Biological Digestive System Infographic for Anatomy: https://tinyurl.com/y26yjjdc

Carolina Physics - Engineering an Electromagnetic Train Activity: https://tinyurl.com/y6lcsa4n

STEMscopes Distance Learning Free Webinars: https://tinyurl.com/y4cnj67y

Ted-Ed Educator Talks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9k9wQAp0SrWYZVORZnPIlg

Soil and Water Newsletter: https://www.franklinswcd.org/data/doc_lib/1234/SWIFT_2020-3-Fall.pdf

• Stormwater Awareness Week
• Virtual School Programs
• 2021 Conservation Poster Contest

Ditch that Textbook:

- How to Make a Top 10 Video on Flipgrid: https://ditchthattextbook.com/top-10-videos/

- 12 Social Media Inspired Google Slides Templates: https://ditchthattextbook.com/social-media-templates

-Comparing Kahoot, Quizziz, Quizlet Live and Gimkit: https://ditchthattextbook.com/game-show-classroom-comparing-kahoot-quizizz-quizlet-live-and-quizalize/

-How to Make a Digital Escape Room: https://ditchthattextbook.com/30-digital-escape-rooms-plus-tips-and-tools-for-creating-your-own/#tve-jump-1756feef17b

-40 Free Escape Rooms: https://ditchthattextbook.com/30-digital-escape-rooms-plus-tips-and-tools-for-creating-your-own/#tve-jump-1756fef331d

-A Quick Digital Escape Room You Can Try out Yourself: https://ditchthattextbook.com/30-digital-escape-rooms-plus-tips-and-tools-for-creating-your-own/

Do you use ADI?:

Tweaking Existing ADI Labs for Online Instruction Webinar Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oExRtqdUm7w&feature=youtu.be

High Quality Synchronous Discussions Webinar Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JXrcNj-Ji0&feature=youtu.be

Using Lab Materials Safely Webinar Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrYglsroHb4&feature=youtu.be

Upcoming Free Webinars: https://argumentdriveninquiry.com/webinars

Lab Planning Document for Online/Hybrid: https://argumentdriveninquiry.com/downloadable-materials/adi-lab-planning-spreadsheet

Google Slide Deck for ADI: https://argumentdriveninquiry.com/downloadable-materials/adi-lab-slides-for-distance-learning

Now that we are back, we need you to complete the lab sheets and chemical inventory sheets for last year. We will again collect these in the spring for the 2020-2021 school year, but these are for the 2019-2020 school year. Thank you for your assistance in this as we catch up from our abrupt closing last spring.

Please be sure to choose only the documents applicable to you and your classroom. Everyone should fill out a chemical inventory sheet and then the appropriate room sheet.

The Columbus Zoo has a virtual school opportunity that your students might love. Check it out:

https://reservations.columbuszoo.org/Info.aspx?EventID=5159

There are scholarships available, reducing the rate to $25/class to participate!

Interested in outdoor education for your students? Check out Geri's most recent newsletter. She has many resources that may be of interest to you and 5 ways you can incorporate outdoor education into your classroom.

https://www.smore.com/r4hzu-spruce-run-environmental-center

1. Flat Ranger Granger: take her with you

2. The Ranger Granger Show: short selfie videos for you and your students

3. Invite her to be a guest speaker

4. Citizen science data collection

5. Classroom Connections: check her newsletter for link and passcodes

Geri has Google Classrooms JUST FOR YOU! Check out her resources for you specifically:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jEJpZasaE2Nh9ct0DiDx_h2LY8kRetza/view?usp=sharing

Join the classroom with these codes:

Middle School: gurxfvh

High School: okryalj

Remember...if you use any lab or activity that you find online, be sure to follow all safety guidelines. Make sure that it is safe and appropriate to our safety guidelines before you ever attempt it. If showing something virtually, be sure to caution students NOT to try these at home.

Chemistry of Thanksgiving Food: many activities https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/students/highschool/chemistryclubs/activities/thanksgiving.html

Let's Talk Turkey: Transfer of Energy and Thanksgiving: https://www.teachingchannel.com/blog/transfer-of-energy-thanksgiving

18 Thanksgiving Science Activities: https://elementalscience.com/blogs/science-activities/18-thanksgiving-science-activities

6 Experiments You Can Do with Food: https://www.weareteachers.com/thanksgiving-food-experiments/

3 Thanksgiving Science Activities: https://elementalscience.com/blogs/science-activities/thanksgiving-science

Office of Teaching and Learning (614-365-5727) is located at 3700 S. High St. We're back!

Alyse Clark, Executive Director, Teaching and Learning

Kenny Lee, Director of Secondary Curriculum

Katy Myers, Secondary Curriculum Supervisor

Heather Allen, K-5 Coordinator, hallen704@columbus.k12.oh.us

Jennifer Nord, 6-12 Science Coordinator, jnord5257@columbus.k12.oh.us

Geri Granger, K-12 Spruce Run Coordinator, ggranger9556@columbus.k12.oh.us