Using Technology To Create A Community Of Young Scientists
My students need a document camera in order to present their lab results for all to see and analyze as a community of young scientists.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Rice's classroom raised $725
This project is fully funded
I want my students to form a community of young scientists. In order to do this, they must be able to present their work and discuss it with others in their community.
I teach 8th grade science in a rural area with energetic students who love to perform and receive attention during class. Many of the students are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and/or seek counseling for other issues. More than 98% of the students are eligible for a free lunch. The school serves both free breakfast and free lunch each day. 75% of the students are African-American. 16% are Caucasian. 8% are Hispanic. 1% is Asian.
In a recent national test by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), close to 3/4 of the 8th grade class scored below the 50th percentile. Our state test scores show that only 22% scored "proficient" and 6% scored "advanced" for the 8th grade.
Labs where the students are in charge of data collection and its analysis engage the students more than reading from the textbook or hearing my explanation. The obstacle is making the data easy for all students to access and to analyze. I want students to be able to display their work, discuss it with the class, and receive feedback from the class on it. Students, as young scientists, would take ownership over their lab and their data. By discussing it, the students would form a community where they are accountable for their data and the interpretation of the data.
A document camera would allow the students to display their data for the whole class and to interact with each other when presenting the data. The camera works to display any object placed under it. In this case it would be a student-constructed table or graph from a lab carried out by the students. The camera would then be attached to a LCD projector or other display device where the work would be shown for all to see. Students would then present their data collection and analysis to the class for further discussion. By making this a regular activity, my students would develop into a community of young scientists.
With your help my students will be able to present and to converse as a community of young scientists. With your contribution, my students will be able to present the fruits of their labor and engage in analyzing the work of their fellow scientists.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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