Tag Archives: apps

by | October 9, 2023 · 8:04 pm

Space Exploration Resources (K-12)

Many students are fascinated by outer space and space exploration. Understanding our planet, solar system, galaxy, and beyond is part of the BC Curriculum for science at several different grade levels, including objects in the sky at grade 1, the earth’s orbit in grade 4, and tides and eclipses in Earth Sciences 11, among others.

Educational Resources:

  • The Canadian Space Agency has many resources (in both French and English) for teachers, including printable materials, hands-on experiments and activities, and digital games and resources. A couple of highlights include instructions to build your own projector for watching solar eclipses safely and a lesson about designing astronaut patches that would be a great community building activity.
  • If you’re looking for videos to support learning about space, The Kids Should See This is an award-winning website of curated videos (ad-free) with hundreds of searchable videos separated by subject areas.
  • Let’s Talk Science has a number of ongoing projects that classes can join by collecting, recording, and uploading their own data related to space research.
  • Students can explore the surface of Mars via Access Mars. This is a VR experience using data collected from NASA’s Curiosity Rover.
  • NASA offers many resources for educators, such as a daily moon guide experience and a number of interdisciplinary activities, like the Pi in the Sky activity (math + science).

Apps:

  •  Apps can be a great way to integrate tech into science classes. For example,  Star Walk 2 allows users to view constellations (images paired with stars) anywhere in the world, in the past, present or future.
  • The NASA app offers videos, information about missions, and a live-feed from the International Space Station.

Guest post by Peer Mentor Lindsay Cunningham (Ph.D. student, EDCP), October 2023.

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by | February 20, 2021 · 8:33 pm

Native Land

Native Land is an online, interactive map that maps out the ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples all over the world, specifically in the Americas, Northern Europe and Austronesia. Its “About” page states that it was created in 2015 by a non-Indigenous man named from the Okanagan named Victor Temprano. Right now, Native Land is run by a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from around Canada and around the world.

There is incredible diversity amongst Indigenous populations which is sometimes overlooked and can lead to a pan-Indigenous view…  Native Land is a valuable resource that can help expose students to the heterogeneity of Indigenous populations, both nationally and internationally. Teachers might use Native land to recognize the territories on which their own school resides, or when learning about other places in the world so that they incorporate more local voices and resources in their teaching.

  1. Go to native-land.ca
  2. Use the interactive map to view the locations of the ancestral lands of various Indigenous groups from around the world.
    1. There are now two ways to view and search: Classic Map and Constellations.

      Constellations view: search by address and get help from Kōrero

      Native Land also includes an ‘acknowledgement helper’ they call ‘Kōrero’.

    2. Search the lands by address, Territories, Languages and/or Treaties
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by | September 23, 2020 · 7:02 pm

iNaturalist

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A joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society, iNaturalist creates an online and global network of naturalists, biologists, and plant-enthusiasts. With the goals to connect people with nature and to create a repertoire of biodiversity data, iNaturalist is a potential entry point for students (and teachers!) into the world of Citizen Science.

Seek by iNaturalist is a tool teachers might consider incorporating in their classrooms, school yard explorations, field trips or home learning opportunities. Seek by iNaturalist utilizes the database of observations from the iNaturalist community and is more geared to students (especially younger students) with a gameified approach to species identification. (No sign up is required to use Seek)

All users need is a mobile device with camera to log observations. With iNaturalist, you can share observations and instantly connect with other community members who are ready to help with species identification or you can record observations offline and upload when you have wifi. With Seek, you can instantly check you ID skills by taking a photo of the plant or insect and compare it to ‘hits’ in the database.

Some cool features of iNaturalist include:

  • Free of charge
  • Android and iOS apps available for mobile devices
  • Cellphone reception and wi-fi coverage are not necessary for iNaturalist observations
  • Powerful search functions that allow users to browse identifications based on broad classifications and specific species
  • Automatic identification suggestions that match an uploaded observation with the 10 most visually similar species
  • Crowdsourcing identification from the iNaturalist community
  • Available in 35+ different languages
  • Protection of privacy (users can choose to share an obscured/general location or no location at all); Important for teachers to help students develop their digital literacy by showing them how to turn off location services.

Why is it Relevant?

Outdoor education has been increasing highlighted in the BC curriculum (Visit the outdoor learning opportunities blog post on our site). iNaturalist encourages students to to take an active role in their learning through exploring nature at their own pace, uploading their observations, and joining an online community of citizen scientists. Given that iNatualist can be installed on individual mobile devices, students have a lot of freedom with the species they choose to observe and can even take iNaturalist into their backyards, neighborhood walks, and hiking trips.

As well, students can develop their digital citizenship skills through using iNaturalist. There are many learning opportunities within the iNaturalist platform, including but not limited to learning how to take an identifiable photo, improving academic research skills, and engaging with the online community in a safe and responsible manner.

Teacher candidates are invited to check out the teacher’s guide on iNaturalist. Specific protocols and tips address how to maximize the educational potential of the platform and how to responsibly share/store class data. At the bottom of the page, you can find an extensive list of exemples and lesson plans detailing how iNaturalist can be used in the classroom.

 

Getting Started

  1. Download the iNaturalist app
  2. Sign up for a iNaturalist account with your email address
  3. To explore local sightings, click on the “explore” icon to access the map
  4. To upload and share your observations, click on the “observe” icon

 

How to make an observation on iNaturalist

Seek by iNaturalist from iNaturalist on Vimeo.

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by | August 19, 2020 · 11:08 pm

Mathematics All Around Us: Podcast Resource Blogpost

“Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe.”

Galileo Galilei

The last three episodes (episodes 7, 8, and 9) of our Thinking Outside the Sandbox podcast, are dedicated to discussing possible creative ways of teaching Math outside abstraction, in ways that embody more physicality and representation. Dr. Kerry Renwick, Dr. Susan Gerofsky, and Dr. Lorrie Miller shared beautiful diverse ideas and examples that highlighted teaching mathematics experientially through the five senses. For example, teaching the concept of patterns was demonstrated through music, observing nature, cultural activities, weaving, and storytelling.

Decolonizing space in Mathematics, integrating Indigenous Knowledge, redesigning the math classroom, teaching math for social justice were also discussed.

Begin by hearing from Dr. Susan Gerofsky, Janice Novakowsky and Dr. Cynthia Nichol in Thinking Outside the Sandbox: Math Part 1

 

Below are resources that might be used to support teaching Mathematics in an interdisciplinary way, that involves real-life contexts. “The Importance of Context” video by Heinemann explores how stories, posters, and real-life situations could set the stage for students to learn math through real-life contexts and problems.
the famous multi colored cube

Interactive Lessons

Interactive Lessons could be found in K-8 Mathematics station at PBS Learning Media, which includes a wide range of resources (videos, lesson plans, interactive lessons) that integrate real-world and Mathematical Problems.

Mathematics outside the Classroom

  • Mathematical concepts could be explored easily in nature. Concepts as symmetry, spheres, measurements, meteorology, and geometry are all around us. Check this Connections Academy article for activities on these concepts.
  • Age-specific outdoor activities for various concepts are available on the learning outside the classroom blog.
  • For more ideas on Math outside the classroom, check our blogpost, math outside the classroom.

On creating an inclusive, anti-oppressive Math classroom

As opposed to traditional mathematics classrooms that provide one-sided arguments, erase learners’ differences from their processes, and claim right versus wrong ways of problem-solving, Dana Bjornson, a UBC MET grad, in a blogpost suggests teachers would be aware of any oppressive practices in their classrooms.

Creating a non-oppressive, third space which draws from Indigenous wisdom:

  1. Includes collaboration with peer MKOs
    1. peer instruction: where students share responses to MCQ’s, and discuss these responses
    2. formative collaborative review: where students help other students with difficulties
    3. collaborative assessments: where students do their tests individually and mark their own work, then in groups of four complete the same test collaboratively.
  2. Honors multiple ways of knowing; where all forms of solutions are celebrated

Integrating Indigenous Knowledge

  • BC’s redesigned curriculum integrates Indigenous knowledge and perspectives throughout all areas of learning, one of which is math.

Check this BC Curriculum document for implicit and explicit references to Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives throughout Mathematics for K -12.

Teaching Mathematics for Social Justice

Teacher teaching math on a white boardSocial Justice Issues could be easily taught through Math.

  • Radical Math provides a guide on integrating issues of economic and social justice into the Mathematics curriculum.

Mathematics Apps

  • Explore room design apps to learn mathematics principles such as geometry and arithmetic through interior design projects.
  • Photomath is a math teaching app that provides solutions to math problems elaborating the steps to these solutions
  • PHET is an online repository of interactive simulations and lessons fro Science and Math classroom.
  • More ideas the Tech Integration in your Math classroom (links to post on this blog).

Games

  • A variety of games that could help students better comprehend mathematics, on various concepts, from numbers and counting to decimals, fractions, graphs, money, and time, are included in this Mobile Math list.

Guest Post: Nashwa Khedr, EDCP graduate student, project assistant 2020

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by | August 3, 2020 · 2:47 pm

Microsoft Teams

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Microsoft Teams is a web communication tool that can be used to facilitate group chats and host meetings. In support of remote teaching and learning, Microsoft currently offers free access to Office 365 (including Teams) for students and teachers. This blog post will highlight specific features of Microsoft Teams and provide information on how to get started.

Some cool features of Microsoft Teams include:

  • Up to 250 participants in a private Teams meeting
  • Unlimited chat and search capabilities
  • Desktop and mobile apps available
  • Join a meeting from anywhere (e.g., Team Calling, Phone System, Calling Plan, Direct Routing Plan)
  • Build-in function to schedule meetings and audio/video calls
  • 10 GB of team file storage and 2 GB of personal file storage
  • Ability to share your screen, a file, a slideshow, and more
  • Background blur that can eliminate distractions and protect privacy
  • Seamless integration of content from Word Docs, PowerPoint, and Excel
  • Ability to coauthor and edit shared files in real-time
  • Education-specific features such as attendance report for teachers and raise-hand option for students

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What makes Microsoft Teams stand out from other web communication tools is its seamless integration of collaborative features such as group chats, team file storage, and the ability to edit shared files in real time. For teacher candidates and students, Microsoft Teams is more than just a space for online meetings but truly an online classroom that supports group collaboration and participation. With many students already using Word Docs and PowerPoint for school assignments, Microsoft Teams makes it easy for students to share files with group members/teachers and present their work virtually. As well, teachers are able to access the shared files and provide feedback directly.

“My experience using Microsoft Teams in my high school biology and chemistry classes significantly reduced the stress of thinking, listening, and taking notes at the same time. My teachers would add annotations and diagrams to the notes during class, and I could access the materials instantaneously and review them after class. Everything could be found in the class folder. ”

– Cindy Yu, project assistant 2020

Currently, Microsoft offers Office 365 Education (including access to Teams) for free to students and teachers with a valid school email address. As well, Microsoft regularly hosts online webinars that support new Teams users and even has a free online course “Transform Learning with Microsoft Teams” designed for educators like you!

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  1. Sign up for a free account here.
  2. Download Microsoft teams for your desktop or mobile devices.
  3. To explore features such as creating class teams and scheduling meetings, check out this detailed guide created by Microsoft Teams for Education.

*If you are a Teacher Candidate in the Faculty of Ed at UBC, you can sign up for our current #UBCBEd Team. I’ve set it up so you have the ability to administer the team and create channels, initiate meetings, chats, etc. A ‘sandbox space’ to play and learn or connect with one another. Please email scarfe.sandbox@ubc.ca if interested. You’ll need a UBC student email account to join.

How to use Microsoft Teams, a demo tutorial

 

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by | July 31, 2020 · 12:33 pm

Zoom

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Zoom is a free web communication tool that has been widely used ever since the transition to virtual work and learning. Similar to other web communication tools featured in the Scarfe Sandbox resource bank, Zoom allows teachers and students to meet in real-time and actively participate online. This blog post will cover the tool in greater details and provide information on how to get started.

Some cool features of Zoom include:

  • Host meetings up to 100 participants
  • Unlimited one-on-one meetings with Zoom’s free plan
  • Join from anywhere (e.g., mobile device, desktop app, web browser, email invite)
  • Calendar integration with Google Calendar, Office 365, and Exchange
  • Build-in screen sharing that allows multiple presenters at the same time
  • Team chat and individual messaging
  • Ability to share slideshow presentations and videos
  • Co-annotation on shared screen
  • Polls that instantly show students’ results and data distribution
  • Breakout rooms for small group discussions
  • Virtual background that minimizes distractions (good for privacy as well)

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With many class sessions now taking place online, Zoom provides a much-needed space for teachers and students. Not only can many classroom activities (e.g., small group discussions in breakout rooms, practice questions, presentations) be carried out through Zoom, students can play an active role in their learning by sharing their camera, microphone, screen, and adding real-time annotations.

Please note that currently, users in the free basic plan are limited to 40 minutes per group meeting. Teacher candidates can take this into consideration when evaluating if Zoom is suitable for their specific teaching needs.

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  1. Download the Zoom app for desktop or mobile devices
  2. Sign up for a Zoom account with your email address
  3. To schedule a meeting, click on the calendar icon and edit details such as meeting time, meeting ID, and camera access
  4. Invite others by copying the invitation and sharing it through email/calendar

How a UCLA Professor Is Adapting Her Curriculum for Remote Learning & Teaching

Zoom 101 Sign up & Download Meeting Client

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by | July 28, 2020 · 11:20 pm

Digital-Tech Integration: podcast resource post

Digital literacy is a critical element as we look to enhance teaching and learning in today’s classrooms. In Episode 2 of our recently launched Thinking outside the Sandbox podcast, Dr. Jennifer Jenson, Dr. Marina Milner-Bolotin, and Dr. Sandrine Han share their ideas and experiences with respect to digital technology integration and the development of digital competencies in K-12 and pre-service teacher contexts.

Download Podcast Transcript: Transcript_Ep 2 Technology

Below are a few edtech tools or resources that might be used to support each of the main points discussed in this episode:

1. Computational Participation

"Hello World", first thing that anyone who is learning programing writes!

Dr. Jennifer Jenson shares the value of offering students the opportunity to learn to code and emphasizes the learning value of learners engaging in collaboration, communication and learning by doing. This active approach affords the opportunity to develop build competencies including algorithmic and computational thinking. Visit this link for a more comprehensive resource about learning to code. Below are just a couple of suggested tools/activities:

Scratch is a drag and drop programming language (aka visual programming as noted in the Gr. 6/7 ADST curriculum). It is designed with younger learners in mind but could be used by anyone wanting to get started with coding and learn the logic behind it!
Twine is an open source tool for creating interactive ‘pick a path’ and other stories.
Ozobot is a small and smart robot designed for kids to learn about robotics and coding that allows for scaffolded learning using ‘line and colour’ commands, visual programming block commands and even Java or Python script writing.

2. Integrating Video Games in the classroom to learn STEAM-based competencies

Below are examples shared by Dr. Jennifer Jenson about learning algorithms as well as analyzing racist, sexist content through Video Games:

Breakout EDU provides standards-aligned games that are played collaboratively and encourage creative problem-solving.

ARIS allows students to create location-based games, tours, or stories.

Twine is another great example of the possibilities for creating story through code (as is the case when designing a digital game!).

For more examples of game design applications including low and no tech, read the Sandbox Blog post about Scavenger hunts & other Edu Game Tools!

3. Using Technology to share knowledge with students in Science classrooms

Dr. Marina Milner-Bolotin explains how technology serves as an important tool in science education, especially with the handy tools on smartphones, where it could facilitate data collection, present abstract experiences, record slow-motion videos to observe (E.g: oscillations). She also mentions the use of Camtasia to share experiments with others.

Other useful technological tools that could be used in science education include:

Analytical Chemists

Science Journal: Without access to a physical classroom, Science Journal allows students to make many science experiments without specific measuring tools, but only a mobile device.

Phenomenal Physics & Astronomy at Home: Check out the challenges shared by the UBC physics and astronomy outreach program. Each challenge includes self-guides activities that consist of a general introduction, summaries of physics concepts, videos, and online experiment simulations to support students’ learning experience.

For more science & tech integration ideas, please visit the following blog posts:
– Secondary Science Tech Integration
– Secondary Chemistry Tech Integration

4. Use of Virtual Worlds for interdisciplinary projects

Dr. Sandrine Han proposes the use of Virtual platforms to encourage students to solve real-life problems through an interdisciplinary approach!

– Webcams and Virtual field trips could be used to bring about real-life experiences in the class.

– Augmented and Virtual Reality could be used to engage students in a certain place that would set the stage for an inter-disciplinary project in a real-life setting.

– Minecraft is a virtual world building application with which many students across grade levels are familiar. A variety of resources available freely only provide suggestions and lesson plans for interdisciplinary learning.

5. Intertwining Art in Science projects

Solar systen

Dr. Sandrine Han also shares an example of intertwining Art in a Science project, solar systems! Check these blog posts for detailed examples of lesson and unit planning that integrate Art:

– Intertwining art in each of the following subjects; Mathematics, English Language, and Science

– Creating an interdisciplinary unit that includes Art, Science, and Social Studies.

 

Continue reading →

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