Activities for the iPad in a Science Classroom

David Ganey

Lets start with something most students are familiar with…

The Home screen

Students today are tech savvy.

Students are often more familiar with the newest technology than their teachers.

Such a situation allows for the incorporation of new technology in the classroom and true collaborative learning between the teacher and the student

• Students encounter technology everyday.• Often students use technology to

communicate and play.• As students transition into the work force,

they find that technology is a tool used to solve problems and disseminate information.

• Technology can be used to help students learn and as teachers we can teach students the appropriate use of technology.

Technology in the Classroom - iPad

• There are already available several canned “educational” apps available for the iPad.

• These educational apps may be beneficial, but for the most part are plug and chug programs.

• The activities we have provided for you today are sample inquiry activities in which students use the iPad as a tool, not as a viewing format.

Activity 1: The Doppler Effect

• Students use two free apps to investigate and demonstrate the impact of motion of a sound source on the perceived frequency of the sound.

Doppler Effect

• Students use the internet to find samples of train whistles or sirens of moving vehicle and determine how sounds can change as a result of motion.

• Sounds are analyzed using the app “Spectrum View”.

• Sounds are also generated using the “Tuning fork” app.

Histogram of frequency and decibel level. Bars with dots above them are graphed by students

Frequencies emitted by a train whistle

Frequencies emitted by a tuning fork of a known frequency

• Students use sounds they discover on the internet, they also have the option to investigate sounds they generate using a tuning fork or by whistling.

• The following are screen captured images of sounds analyzed with Spectrum View which can be graphed and use to answer the questions in the activity.

Spectrogram of a whistle with a frequency of 1.4 kHz.

• On this graph students are able to see the frequency on the Y axis and time on the X axis.

• Color indicates decibel level.

• Again, on this graph students are able to see the frequency on the Y axis and time on the X axis.

• Color indicates decibel level.

• This graph is taken from the sound of a rapidly approaching train blowing its whistle.

• The red bars at the base are the multiple frequencies produced by the whistle.

• Notice the decrease in frequency and volume as the train departs. departing

Activity 2: Animated model

• Students learn a variety of concepts throughout the year in their science classes.

• Mastery of concepts can be assessed using tests or the development of models that demonstrate a concept.

• In this activity students use two apps to produce an animation detailing a biological process discussed in class.

Puppet Pals

• Step 1: Students use the Puppet Pals app take pictures and animate the motion of the pictures.

• Step 2: Students use the iMovie app to splice together the animated segments and add sound to their finished product.

• Step 3. Students share their animated models with the class at the Class Animated Model/Movie Premiere.

Puppet Pals and iMovie

• The wonderful thing about student driven model construction is that not only do students demonstrate their understanding of a concept. They also showcase their creativity production skills.

Example 1 of student work• The following is an example how students use the apps

Puppet Pals and iMovie to generate an animation detailing the process of photosynthesis.

Example 2 of student work• The following is an example how students use the

apps Puppet Pals and iMovie to generate an animation detailing the process of photosynthesis.