Digital Media

As a special education teacher, I am responsible for supporting students in all four subject areas in the inclusion setting, and also for providing direct instruction in what is called a Learning Skills/Academic Support class.  The LS/AS time is small group time that allows for me to work on individual skill development with a specific student as well as to pre- and re-teach content information for one or more students. Pre-teaching provides background knowledge and experience, so that my students can feel confident to take risks and participate with their peers in their general classroom activities.

In the 6th grade science classroom we are currently working on a unit about the Changes in Earth’s Surface.  We have recently studied concepts of Pangaea, continental drift, seafloor spreading and other topics related to the theory of plate tectonics. Our newest topic will be Earthquakes and Volcanoes.  The Discovery Education digital asset that I am planning to use to preview this topic with my small group is Science Desk-Earthquakes and Science Desk-Volcanoes available at the following link: 

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=60FE45E3-9393-463F-9CAA-DB9EE0241947
 

I can set up the projector with my computer to share the tool with the small group of students.  Because the Science Desk has many different buttons for accessing animations, videos, spoken vocabulary, and even a shared reading selection, many students can go to the computer to choose and share the next element of the Desk to explore. 

The Desk topics appeal to visual learners by using short, colorful, animated videos, and real-life videos to explain the causes and effects of earthquakes and volcanoes.  By presenting the Science Desk tool in the small group we have the ability to stop and talk about the scientific vocabulary that can confound some of my students who have language-based learning disabilities.  The vocabulary is paired with audio for correct pronunciation and also with a picture.  We can also discuss any topical misconceptions, and most importantly pause to hear the connections that my social learners inevitably generate.  There is also an interactive earthquake simulation that models the destruction that lower and higher intensity earthquakes can cause.  The students determine and adjust the intensity on the simulated Richter scale. There is also a volcano simulation that models what occurs under Earth’s surface and inside the volcano to cause an eruption.  

An additional benefit to the Discovery Education Science Desk tool is that I can share it with one of my student’s who has a heart condition.  She has been sick and unable to come to school.  We have been sending her books, and worksheet assignments to work on when she is able.  This would be an interesting and more interactive way for her to engage with the topic. 

While the outward effects of earthquakes and volcanoes are more comprehensible for my 11 year-olds, the causes of these phenomena seem somewhat mystical and abstract.  They struggle to get their brains around ideas that they cannot see and hold.  If seeing is believing for my young students, then the Earthquake and Volcano Science Desk tools may provide the visuals and virtual manipulatives that will help them gain access to this topic.

iKnowthat.com. (2005). Science Lab:Earthquakes. Retrieved February 1, 2011 from Discovery Education streaming website: http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=60FE45E3-9393-463F-9CAA-DB9EE0241947.

iKnowthat.com. (2005). Science Lab:Volcanoes. Retrieved February 1, 2011 from Discovery Education streaming website: http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=a13003d0-3b8f-426a-96d6-f511b2a25cc5.