Chapter 3: Experimenting with

Technologies

SPORE

A quick introduction:

Spore: an overview

What do you think?

What is your first impression of Spore?

Is this meaningful learning?

SPORE

The possibilities:– A little more information

After Spore

Did your impression change of how Spore could promote meaningful learning?

What could you learn from this game?

How could you use this in the classroom?

Reasoning Causally

When you are experimenting with technologies you should be:– Exploring– Hypothesizing– Conjecturing– Experimenting– Speculating– Testing

Open PowerPoint on class website.

What we are going to look at:

MicroworldsSimulations Virtual WorldsGames

Microworlds

Characteristics – Simulation program that uses Logo– Allows students to study real world phenomena and

manipulate them

Pros– This program is very powerful and allows for teachers and

students to create and manipulate simulations

Cons– The programming language is difficult to learn.

Simulations

Characteristics

– Imitations of some real thing, state of affairs, or process.

– Must be able to manipulate the system

Difference between Simulations and Microworlds?

– Microworlds are just highly specific simulations that sometimes can be manipulated.  Simulations can apply to just a broader set of systems.

Sunny Meadows

– (Thanks Jamie!)

Virtual Worlds

Characteristics – highly interactive 3-D environment – users create an avatar to interact with other users– A combination of simulations and games– Simulation world appears and functions similar to

a normal world

Quest Atlantis exampleShort Comings:Difficult to find a variety of quality virtual worlds that

fit your students needs

Games

Characteristics: – Designed to be fun.– Teach or reinforce a previously learned skill– There is a goal or a prize that you are aiming for

PLEASE MUTE COMPUTERS!!

Fruit Shoot Addition

Magic Pen

Group Activities:choose one

Games– Table 1

Renaissance Florence: Time Machine Adventure

Viking Quest– Table 2

Animal Food Chain click on the icon for “Food Chain”

The Plural Girls

Simulations– Table 3Explore Mars: How Big?

Earth Biomes

– Table 4Tortoise

Mixtures

Questions to think about

What is good about this game/simulation?

What is bad about this game/simulation?

How could you adapt this to your classroom?

Resources

Virtual Worlds

3D Learn; 3D Learn Examples

Quest Atlantis

Games

GRE verbal practice

Funbrain main page

Animal Games - look around this website for more games in different subject areas, especially math.

Simulations

Elementary Science Gizmo

Diffusion Simulation