Monday, August 27, 2012

Literacy, Science, and Educational DVDs [sciencetechnology-center.blogspot.com]

Literacy, Science, and Educational DVDs [sciencetechnology-center.blogspot.com]

Although the fact is not often recognized by educators, science and literacy are connected. As teachers, we must begin to recognize and leverage the role of language in science and this can be done with low-cost, readily-available educational DVDs.

Critical to science inquiry are the skills of reading, writing, and oral communication. For example, in science, we:

o Often read volumes of information before beginning experiments

o Write (almost continuously) to record experiments in minute detail

o Present scientific findings for others to read and evaluate

Educational standards for both science and English/language arts also dictate that science education involve more than acquisition of the scientific skills and facts, such as:

o writing procedures

o following procedures

o expressing concepts

o reviewing information

o summarizing data

o effective use of language

o constructing a reasoned argument

o responding appropriately to critique

When seeking to link science and literacy in the classroom, the goal is to address the four primary literacy components inherently present in science: Science Talks/Discussions, Science Notebooks, Reading Expository Text, and Formal Scientific Reports.

How Educational DVDs Can Help

Science Talks/Discussions - after viewing one or more educational DVDs on a particular topic, students discuss what they learned or present an oral report

Science Notebooks - students record in their notebooks, the findings from an educational DVD demonstrating a lab experiment

Reading Expository Text - students view an educational DVD, read expository text on the same subject and discuss how the writer captured (or did not capture) the appropriate information

Formal Scientific Reports - after viewing several educational DVDs on the same topic and taking notes, students are charged with creating a form al scientific report

Example Lessons for Integrating Literacy Education in Science

Unit: Electric Circuits

Lesson 1 - Discuss what the students already know about electric circuits, have them create drawings showing their thoughts

Lesson 2 - Show one or more educational DVDs on electric circuits

Lesson 3 - Allow students to work with batteries, bulbs, wires, motors to explore electric circuits and keep a science notebook on their findings.

Lesson 4 - Have students orally report their findings to the class using their notebook entries to support their conclusions

Lesson 5 - Have students read high-quality informational texts and make inferences from the material presented

Lesson 6 - Have students create a formal scientific report

The example above is provided only as a starting point for teachers. Overall change in classroom practice can only happen with additional reflection, study, and dialogue among tea chers.

If you'd like to know how to avoid "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make Using Video in the Classroom" and start experiencing the benefits of using video effectively in your classroom, your next step is to download a FREE copy of "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make Using Video in the Classroom" right now.

Related Literacy, Science, and Educational DVDs Topics

Question by APC.: What are easy science experiments to do like baking soda and vinegar? I have to do a science demo in front of the class this week, and it can be any kind of science. I want to do something simple that doesn't require many materials, but I want to do something that is pretty cool though. I guess I was thinking along the lines of something like mixing baking soda and vinegar? Best answer for What are easy science experiments to do like baking soda and vinegar?:

Answer by Kevin
You could supersaturate salt into water. Just heat water to boiling in front of the class add a lot of salt to it. Let the solution cool, and once you drop salt into the solution all of the salt crystals will come "crashing out" of the solution and u will see the salt crystals all over. It takes a little while though... at least 45 minutes needed I would say

â€" [Science]

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