CONNECT Classroom Technology

What is curriculum integration?
Curriculum integration with the use of technology involves the infusion of technology as a tool to enhance the learning in a content area or multidisciplinary setting. The focus is on technology use on curriculum - dicipline-specific, content area curriculum - using technology as a tool to foster higher level outcomes. Technology enables students to learn in ways not previously possible. Effective integration of technology is achieved when students are able to select technology tools to help them obtain information in a timely manner, analyze and synthesize the information, and present it professionally. The technology should be come an integral part of how the classroom functions - as accessible as all other classroom tools.

The purpose of the NASA CONNECT Norbert's Lab Activity is to optimize instruction by infusing the use of technology into a sample set of online learning activities. The Online Lab Activity uses the inquisitor instruction strategy to place students in a contextual environment and encourages them to understand and explore more thoroughly the mathematics, science, and technology concepts and skills presented in the NASA CONNECT video.

How might technology be used in mathematics and science curriculum?

Mathematics - The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 1989) advocates that problem solving, reasoning, communication, and connections be woven through-out K-12 mathematics instruction. However, real-world connections are often missing from mathematics teaching. Technology facilitates applications of school mathematics to real-world situation by providing access to worthwhile data and tools that alleviate the computational constraints often involved in the analysis of real-world "messy" data. Technology is not the focus of learning, but it can empower teachers and students to explore mathematical concepts in new ways and becomes a powerful tool for students to make sense of mathematics. (Exerpts taken from the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse Focus, vol. 7, no. 3, 2000. Visit enc.org/focus/realworld to see sample projects that use technology to help students learn mathematics concepts.)

Science - Technology serves the science education community by contributing to increased student learning of the processes and skills of science through involvement with authentic, challenging tasks that can be delivered through a vast assortment of tools and media. Changing the way in which science instruction is delivered encourages new roles for students and teachers in which the teacher becomes a guide and facilitator of learning. The effective use of technology can create a culture that supports learning both in the classroom and beyond the school walls so that students develop the skills to be life-long learners. Technology can serve as a vehicle to provide experiences in real-world applications of science concepts with implications for developing the skills for effective functioning in later careers. It's use supports communication, exploration, problem solving, completion of complex tasks, and the development of higher-order thinking skills in all students.

How can a lesson meet both curriculum standards and NETS for students?

Each of the NASA CONNECT Norbert's Lab Activities focuses on what students know and are able to do with technology as a tool for learning. The featured online activity is embedded within a context in which the technology is used so that students can demonstrate their ability to meet the identified standards for a specific CONNECT program. Therefore, the learning activities in Norbert's Lab are cross-coded with both the curriculum area standards and the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for students. In this way, both the content area standards and the NETS for students are addressed within the context of the same learning activity. One learning activity meets two sets of standards!

What are the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) categories?
1. Basic operations and concepts
2. Social, ethical, and human issues
3. Technology productivity tools
4. Technology communication tools
5. Technology research tools
6. Technology problem solving and decision making tools

Which performance Indicators for students are targeted, grades 6-8?
All students should have opportunities to demonstrate the following targeted performances through participation in the NASA CONNECT online activities. Numbers in parentheses following each performance indicator refer to the standards category to which the performance is linked.
1. Use content specific tools, software, and simulations to support learning and research. (3,5)
2. Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum. (3,6)
3. Design, develop, publish, and present products (e.g., web pages) using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom. (4,5,6)
4. Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools to investigate curriculum related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (4,5)
5. Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems. (5,6)
6. Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources concerning real world problems. (2,5,6)

Where can I find more information?

National Education Standards - http://www4.nationalacademies.org/cfe\cfe.nsf

Educational Technology - http://www.iteawww.org

http://www.iste.org

Mathematics - http://www.nctm.org

Science - http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses

www.nsta.org

http://www.project2061.org/