Science Superstars: Show me the Learning!

My Students

Imagine an 8th grade student who struggles with writing, or a student unable to show their Spanish-speaking only parents what they have learned. If students could visually show and verbally communicate their learning through video, how much more meaningful would their learning become?

I teach 8th grade physical science in a public school in Oregon with 30-32 eighth grade students in each class.

These students have a wide range of abilities from TAG to learning disabled. I also have a large percentage of students for whom English is their second language. It's always a challenge to find new ways to show their learning, and at the same time continue to be motivated and excited about their academic accomplishments. As I surveyed my class this year, like in other years, the number one way in which the students like to learn about science topics is by doing. They describe "doing" by performing labs, experiments, projects, or anything that is hands-on. I have learned that as I teach, I have more clarity in my own understanding, I make connections with what I already know through my own experiences, and therefore it becomes more meaningful to me. When students do this, they too, will have a greater understanding, make connections, and have their learning become more meaningful.

My Project

I have requested a "shoot and share" camcorder and memory card for students to record with so they can teach others and reinforce their own understanding. My goal is to have students record how they are problem solving, inquiring, experimenting, and learning in the form of a video. The results, I hope, will include: 1. Motivation and higher interest in the topic. 2. Easier time of remembering/recalling science content and processes. 3. Using videos as a learning tool for other students. 4. Posting videos online to show quality work and allow parents to experience what their child is doing in the classroom. 5. Students showing pride in their understanding by sharing with others. By students creating a video of their experiments, they will communicate verbally and visually to the audience their learning. They will communicate their inquiries, questions, observations, inferences, experiments, analyses, problem solving strategies, and applications to the world around them.

Imagine a group of students recording safety procedures of a lab experiment and sharing this video with a student that was absent.

Imagine a group of students that have difficulty writing to communicate their results, but video they created of them speaking, showing, and doing proves their understanding of the content. And imagine, if posted online, spoken in a native language, students can proudly explain to their parents and show what they've learned. Imagine the motivation to learn science!