Comments on: Comparing web seminars with other modes of learning. http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/ NSDL seminar Web Seminar (January 30th, 2007) , Charging into Electrostatics with ComPADRE, the NSDL Pathway Portal for astronomy and physics. Great questions and discussion! Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:02:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Shannon Clepper http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-209 Shannon Clepper Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:24:39 +0000 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-209 How do you feel about learning and teaching through web seminars compared to traditional methods? I thought that the web seminars were a great way to change the atmosphere in the classroom. I think this provides students with an alternative mode in learning and can enhance their technology skills by using web seminars. I on the other do not learn very well from these types of activities. I would rather do hands on activiities, I find myself becoming easily distracted. How does Charging into Electrostatics compare with other web seminars you have participated in? I think the first seminar was more hands on and would be easier for the younger grades. The second seminar seemed to be aimed for higher level grades and more in depth and not to much of a hands on experience. If you were to create a web seminar for your students, what methods used in the seminars you have seen would be important for you to include? I would want there to be a lot of interaction so the students can get the hands on experience. I feel that having hands on experience is the best a student can get. I would probably have it modeled similar to that of the first seminar with more hands on. How do you feel about learning and teaching through web seminars compared to traditional methods? I thought that the web seminars were a great way to change the atmosphere in the classroom. I think this provides students with an alternative mode in learning and can enhance their technology skills by using web seminars. I on the other do not learn very well from these types of activities. I would rather do hands on activiities, I find myself becoming easily distracted.

How does Charging into Electrostatics compare with other web seminars you have participated in? I think the first seminar was more hands on and would be easier for the younger grades. The second seminar seemed to be aimed for higher level grades and more in depth and not to much of a hands on experience.

If you were to create a web seminar for your students, what methods used in the seminars you have seen would be important for you to include? I would want there to be a lot of interaction so the students can get the hands on experience. I feel that having hands on experience is the best a student can get. I would probably have it modeled similar to that of the first seminar with more hands on.

]]> By: Farah Rehman http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-207 Farah Rehman Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:08:47 +0000 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-207 I had never experienced anything like a web seminar before participating in these two web seminars this semester. I have to say that they are a very useful tool for teaching and explaining topics for science. The first web seminar "Charging Into Electrostatics" was very enoyable and I participated in answering questions as much as I could. It was an interesting seminar and I liked all of the examples that were given. The second web seminar titled "Small Creatures Under the Microscope" was i felt had more pictures to look at and I enjoyed viewing this one better. I definetly will use these web seminars as a tool in the future to gather ideas for teaching my own classroom! I had never experienced anything like a web seminar before participating in these two web seminars this semester. I have to say that they are a very useful tool for teaching and explaining topics for science. The first web seminar “Charging Into Electrostatics” was very enoyable and I participated in answering questions as much as I could. It was an interesting seminar and I liked all of the examples that were given. The second web seminar titled “Small Creatures Under the Microscope” was i felt had more pictures to look at and I enjoyed viewing this one better. I definetly will use these web seminars as a tool in the future to gather ideas for teaching my own classroom!

]]> By: Lisa Howerton http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-185 Lisa Howerton Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:55:17 +0000 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-185 These two seminars were my first experiences with on-line lectures. It was very interesting to participate with other people all over the US in Charging Into Electrostatics. I didn’t know that technology like that was available to me on my home computer. I really liked both of the seminars. My favorite would definitely have to be Small Creatures Under the Microscope, though. It was cool to get to see all the interesting pictures. Biology has always interested me most and children of all ages are fascinated with all things biological. Although it didn’t have as many hands-on activities that younger children could participate in, it did offer lots of practical and helpful suggestions for teachers including lots of resources available on their website. These two seminars were my first experiences with on-line lectures. It was very interesting to participate with other people all over the US in Charging Into Electrostatics. I didn’t know that technology like that was available to me on my home computer. I really liked both of the seminars. My favorite would definitely have to be Small Creatures Under the Microscope, though. It was cool to get to see all the interesting pictures. Biology has always interested me most and children of all ages are fascinated with all things biological. Although it didn’t have as many hands-on activities that younger children could participate in, it did offer lots of practical and helpful suggestions for teachers including lots of resources available on their website.

]]> By: Monica C. Martinez http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-184 Monica C. Martinez Sat, 10 Mar 2007 18:17:03 +0000 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-184 I think that learning and teaching through web seminars is a great way to integrate and differentiate learning as compared to traditional methods. Although experimenting and having a more hands on experience is preferred, resources are limited and to both teach and gain the deepest possible understanding, this is a great resource for those classrooms that are limited in materials/funds. Teaching using web seminars is also great due to the lack of confidence with certain science topics. With the use of the seminars, the students can ask questions and get answers immediately from an intructor that knows more about the topic. The differences between seminars are due to their target audience and topic. The electrostatic seminar was geared for younger students while microscope was geared for higher levels. The electro seminar also integrated experiments that could easily be done at home at little or no cost. The microscope seminar is a prime example of how limited resources and technology can help with the latter. Other differences include the wide array of photos used in microscope and the high number of comprehension questions asked during electrostatics. If I were creating my own web seminar, I would include many comprehension check questions for the students. I would also include a variety of photos (like in microscope) for the students. If there were easy experiments to do, I would make a material list and send out prior to the seminar so students can do at the same time. I think that learning and teaching through web seminars is a great way to integrate and differentiate learning as compared to traditional methods. Although experimenting and having a more hands on experience is preferred, resources are limited and to both teach and gain the deepest possible understanding, this is a great resource for those classrooms that are limited in materials/funds. Teaching using web seminars is also great due to the lack of confidence with certain science topics. With the use of the seminars, the students can ask questions and get answers immediately from an intructor that knows more about the topic.

The differences between seminars are due to their target audience and topic. The electrostatic seminar was geared for younger students while microscope was geared for higher levels. The electro seminar also integrated experiments that could easily be done at home at little or no cost. The microscope seminar is a prime example of how limited resources and technology can help with the latter. Other differences include the wide array of photos used in microscope and the high number of comprehension questions asked during electrostatics.

If I were creating my own web seminar, I would include many comprehension check questions for the students. I would also include a variety of photos (like in microscope) for the students. If there were easy experiments to do, I would make a material list and send out prior to the seminar so students can do at the same time.

]]> By: Tricia Stecker http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-167 Tricia Stecker Tue, 06 Mar 2007 02:54:54 +0000 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-167 Before the “Charging into Electrostatics” web seminar I had never been exposed to this different style of teaching and learning. I enjoyed both web seminars, “Charging into Electrostatics” and “Small Creatures Under the Microscope.” Both seminars kept the audience interested and active by posting different questions and even experiments, such as in the “Charging into Electrostatics”. “Small Creatures Under the Microscope” kept the audience interested by the different array of photographs and questions. I think web seminars are a fun and interesting way to learn and teach because students and teachers do not have to be in the same classroom, let alone the same state! If I were to create a web seminar I would make sure to include interactive questions, pictures, examples, and activities the audience can do during the seminar. The key, I believe, to a rewarding and insightful web seminar is to keep the audience engaged and interested through pictures, questions, and activities. Before the “Charging into Electrostatics” web seminar I had never been exposed to this different style of teaching and learning. I enjoyed both web seminars, “Charging into Electrostatics” and “Small Creatures Under the Microscope.” Both seminars kept the audience interested and active by posting different questions and even experiments, such as in the “Charging into Electrostatics”. “Small Creatures Under the Microscope” kept the audience interested by the different array of photographs and questions. I think web seminars are a fun and interesting way to learn and teach because students and teachers do not have to be in the same classroom, let alone the same state! If I were to create a web seminar I would make sure to include interactive questions, pictures, examples, and activities the audience can do during the seminar. The key, I believe, to a rewarding and insightful web seminar is to keep the audience engaged and interested through pictures, questions, and activities.

]]> By: Katie Harrison http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-166 Katie Harrison Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:12:04 +0000 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-166 I enjoyed both of the web seminars. Each seminar was interactive and engaging for the people who were apart of them. The first seminar seems more geared for younger learners in the early grades. This seminar (Small Creatures under the Microscope) seemed to be set up for older students, but the great thing is you could always scale it down for younger kids. The first seminar also seemed to have a variety of ideas for hands on activities teachers could use in the classroom. I do not believe I would ever replace traditional methods of teaching with a web seminar, but I believe that using a seminar in the classroom would be a great extension of a lesson possibly for GT students. If I were to create my own seminar a key component I would include would be activities that required participation of my students so that I could be certain they were following along. Also I believe it would be necessary to have an assignment like a summary of the seminar explaining which activity they would like to do as a class. I enjoyed both of the web seminars. Each seminar was interactive and engaging for the people who were apart of them. The first seminar seems more geared for younger learners in the early grades. This seminar (Small Creatures under the Microscope) seemed to be set up for older students, but the great thing is you could always scale it down for younger kids. The first seminar also seemed to have a variety of ideas for hands on activities teachers could use in the classroom. I do not believe I would ever replace traditional methods of teaching with a web seminar, but I believe that using a seminar in the classroom would be a great extension of a lesson possibly for GT students. If I were to create my own seminar a key component I would include would be activities that required participation of my students so that I could be certain they were following along. Also I believe it would be necessary to have an assignment like a summary of the seminar explaining which activity they would like to do as a class.

]]> By: Nicole Nelson http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-162 Nicole Nelson Sat, 03 Mar 2007 22:53:08 +0000 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-162 I felt that the "small creatures under the microscope" seminar would be more difficult to modify compared to the "electrostatics seminar." I guess if would be easier for intermediate age kids and higher grades to understand completely. I did come up with some modified ways that I could bring into a younger age group. I wish that we were able to interact more in with these seminars because it is difficult to remain engaged for a long period of time especially for kids. But it would be neat if you could take clips from each one and incorperate it in with an activity. It sort of could be like bill nye the science guy or something fun like that. I felt that the “small creatures under the microscope” seminar would be more difficult to modify compared to the “electrostatics seminar.” I guess if would be easier for intermediate age kids and higher grades to understand completely. I did come up with some modified ways that I could bring into a younger age group. I wish that we were able to interact more in with these seminars because it is difficult to remain engaged for a long period of time especially for kids. But it would be neat if you could take clips from each one and incorperate it in with an activity. It sort of could be like bill nye the science guy or something fun like that.

]]> By: Samantha Jones http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-161 Samantha Jones Sat, 03 Mar 2007 20:10:33 +0000 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-161 I believe that the "Small Creatures Under the Microscope" seminar was geared more towards teachers and resources that can be used in the classroom. The "Charging Into Electrostatics" seminar could be modified easily for student participation. I felt that the "Charging Into Electorstatics" seminar was more interactive but both seminars were equally useful. I would use web seminars as an introduction to the topic of study. I would make sure that the seminar I created was very interactive and checked for comprehension. I believe that the “Small Creatures Under the Microscope” seminar was geared more towards teachers and resources that can be used in the classroom. The “Charging Into Electrostatics” seminar could be modified easily for student participation. I felt that the “Charging Into Electorstatics” seminar was more interactive but both seminars were equally useful.

I would use web seminars as an introduction to the topic of study. I would make sure that the seminar I created was very interactive and checked for comprehension.

]]> By: Shawn Marie Jenson http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-159 Shawn Marie Jenson Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:11:12 +0000 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-159 1.) I think that these web seminars are a great idea and will only get more refined. It is definately much better than the days when a teacher could show an occassional movie. There still are lots of video's available for teachers but this is really a step higher. By virtue of the interaction, I think those who might fall asleep with a video would keep their eyes open. Added to that is the possibility for a student to ask a question from someone who may be in Alaska and get a reply quickly. That makes the inquiry process very personal. I liked the interactive questions that we could respond to. These seminars are an awesome resource 2.) In comparison, I think that both had some good things. I did like the interactive process and that we got the chance to ask questions and put a name to faces. The electrostatics seminar was really geared to younger children and the creatures seemed to be at a higher level. I liked the things like "name that cell", but the typical elementary student would not know that information. Electrostatics had some great, basic experiments that could be done with the children and I think they would cover both older and younger groups. I also liked that some of the experiments could be downloaded and it gave an extra resource to use in your own classroom, when you have the time. It was nice that they had someone in charge who kept the seminars moving. Timewise, the process was a little long for both. For classrooms, it would need to be shorter. 3.) If I were planning a web seminar, I would make sure that students would be able to connect to talk, ask questions and share insight. I would want to have materials, experiments and other information available to downlaod and print out. I would want to have some short video segments that enhance what the topic is. I would try to keep the time limited. Most importantly, I would try to develop a program based on what the class wants to know about so they can claim some right to it. 1.) I think that these web seminars are a great idea and will only get more refined. It is definately much better than the days when a teacher could show an occassional movie. There still are lots of video’s available for teachers but this is really a step higher. By virtue of the interaction, I think those who might fall asleep with a video would keep their eyes open. Added to that is the possibility for a student to ask a question from someone who may be in Alaska and get a reply quickly. That makes the inquiry process very personal. I liked the interactive questions that we could respond to. These seminars are an awesome resource

2.) In comparison, I think that both had some good things. I did like the interactive process and that we got the chance to ask questions and put a name to faces. The electrostatics seminar was really geared to younger children and the creatures seemed to be at a higher level. I liked the things like “name that cell”, but the typical elementary student would not know that information. Electrostatics had some great, basic experiments that could be done with the children and I think they would cover both older and younger groups. I also liked that some of the experiments could be downloaded and it gave an extra resource to use in your own classroom, when you have the time. It was nice that they had someone in charge who kept the seminars moving. Timewise, the process was a little long for both. For classrooms, it would need to be shorter.

3.) If I were planning a web seminar, I would make sure that students would be able to connect to talk, ask questions and share insight. I would want to have materials, experiments and other information available to downlaod and print out. I would want to have some short video segments that enhance what the topic is. I would try to keep the time limited. Most importantly, I would try to develop a program based on what the class wants to know about so they can claim some right to it.

]]> By: Amanda Quigley http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-157 Amanda Quigley Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:11:14 +0000 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/nsta-sem6-electrostatics/2007/02/13/comparing-web-seminars-with-other-modes-of-learning/#comment-157 I think that web seminars are important for both learning and teaching. It is important for learning because not all kids learn the same way and giving them a different way to learn the material and a differnt approach could be benifical to he students. It is important for teaching as a supplimental tool or as a lesson re-enforcement of a particular lesson. I have only participated in the two web seminars for this class: Charging into electrostatics, and Small creatures under the microscope, and have enjoyed them both. I feel that the 1st seminar was more hands on focoused and it was geared towards the younger grades. The 2nd one was more in depth, detailed and more for dealing with the upper grades. If I were to incorporate web seminars into my teaching, I would make them very interactive, and have mini assessments like the first seminar did. I wouldn't have a live chat going on because I feel it would distract my kids from the lesson, and they could post thier questions at the end of the lesson to be answered. I would also keep the seminars shorter for the kids around 30 minutes instead of an hour. I think that web seminars are important for both learning and teaching. It is important for learning because not all kids learn the same way and giving them a different way to learn the material and a differnt approach could be benifical to he students. It is important for teaching as a supplimental tool or as a lesson re-enforcement of a particular lesson. I have only participated in the two web seminars for this class: Charging into electrostatics, and Small creatures under the microscope, and have enjoyed them both. I feel that the 1st seminar was more hands on focoused and it was geared towards the younger grades. The 2nd one was more in depth, detailed and more for dealing with the upper grades. If I were to incorporate web seminars into my teaching, I would make them very interactive, and have mini assessments like the first seminar did. I wouldn’t have a live chat going on because I feel it would distract my kids from the lesson, and they could post thier questions at the end of the lesson to be answered. I would also keep the seminars shorter for the kids around 30 minutes instead of an hour.

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