iEARN ONLINE

SCIENCE/ ENVIRONMENT/ MATH

COURSE

'The PBL course on line has been a refreshing and enriching course. I have been attending workshops for the past ten years as a teacher, but this time I feel the on line course changed my perceptions with regards to teaching and learning. The contributions from team mates have great bearing on my approach to teaching and learning in the future. PBL enhances concepts and marries learning to real life. The use of technology in learning and teaching is a new , but welcome development. I am a changed teacher.' Paul Mpofu, Zimbabwe

Make Math, Science and Environmental education more alive!

In this workshop, you will learn how to integrate a math, science or environmental iEARN project into your classroom by being involved in one. You will examine the various iEARN math, science and environment topics and determine how they connect to your curriculum standards. You will design ways to guide your students to in a project-oriented, interdisciplinary approach using action research, traditional scientific methods, mathematical problem-solving and historical analysis. You and your students will identify and analyze a relevant problem in their community that relates to the curriculum and share their results, conclusions and concerns with other students around the world.

Overview of course

In this workshop, you will:

• Learn how to integrate an iEARN Science, Environment or Math project by being involved in one
• Explore the various Science projects and their correlation with your local/state/national curriculum standards
• Choose a project that bests fits your classroom
• Plan and implement your project with your students
• Share your students' research, essays/reflections in iEARN forums.
• Along with your students, appreciate and give constructive feedback to the work of others.
• Join an open discussion about the issues related to integrating online project-based learning in your classroom.
• Meet and collaborate with local and international teachers who are interested in addressing the same projects/issues.
• Discuss and plan your project implementation
• Develop ways to teach your students to gather and organize information for print and online publication.
• Make your Science, Environment or Math lessons more challenging interesting and engaging and network with colleagues around the world.

Expectations:

You will:

• Communicate with facilitators and classmates through iEARN forums and e-mail
• Complete supporting activities for lessons
• Participate in an iEARN project with your students
• Develop lesson plans for incorporating an iEARN project into your classroom

Current Facilitators:

Section 1: Lockias Chitanana and Charles Brewster

Section 2: Amy Dwyer and Dave Abeleven

Lockias Chitanana

Lockias Chitanana is working for the Ministry of Higher Education at Mkoba Teachers College in Zimbabwe, in the Professional Studies Department where he is responsible for the Educational Media and Technology section. His duties include helping student teachers, teachers and Lecturers to integrate ICTs into their daily teaching practices.

Prior to this he has been an ICT resource teacher with World Links for Development (WorLD) at Mucheke High School, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. He has taught Science at High School for 12 years. Lockias got involved in iEARN collaborative projects in 1999, when he participated in the Fight Against Child Labour iEARN project and became a co-facilitator of the online courses in 2000. He has also participated in all iEARN Learning Circles since May 1999. He also participated in the October/November 2001 online course.

Charles Brewster

Charles is a Lecturer in Computing (Web Design, System Support, MultiMedia) at Aberdare Campus of Coleg Morgannwg in Wales, UK; he also teaches project work within the Key Skills curriculum area at the College. Charles has a BA in Systems Design and BSc Honours in Mathematics, both degrees awarded by the UK's Open University; in 1993/4 he did a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) at University of Wales, Swansea, specialising in secondary level Mathematics. In his teaching career Charles has built upon wide experience in the computing, electronics and information industry. Having originally trained as a Programmer in 1969, he also has experience of hardware and network design; during the 1980s he was a Project Manager for one of the world's leading financial information services, responsible for provision of tailored systems for multi-national clients.

A relative newcomer to iEARN, Charles look part in the Science/Environment/Math Online course in 2002 and has since been pursuing an environmental project with a group of students in association with YouthCaN. He has a diversity of interests including the history and philosophy of Mathematics, advocacy of open source software, and earth sciences.

Dave Abeleven

I am the country coordinator for Suriname since 2000. My field of studies are math (i have several teachers degrees in math)and economics (studied at the university of Suriname). I have been a teacher for almost ten years, teaching at several types of schools and education levels such as junior and senior high school, vocational education, and also training people on several subjects such as presenting, communication, project based learning, scientific subjects, etc.

For the past three years I work as a math and economics teacher at the Institute for Natural Resources and Technical Studies(a vocational senior high school level) in the Capital of Suriname, Paramaribo. I am also the deputy director at this institute in charge of student administration and ICT. One of my main responsibilities is the integration of ICT into the curriculum of the several studies that the institute offers. I must make sure that the integration is carried out responsibly and according to standard national and international educational guidelines on ICT and education.

As iEARN country coordinator I have been involved in several national and international based iEARN projects since 1999. Because of the strict and some what outdated school programs in Suriname most projects were carried out as a after school activity. Now there is a gradual integration of iEARN projects in the schools, adapted to the circumstances in Suriname. Some of the projects are Medicine in our Backyard (international project), Tap Sey mit Foto Sey- link and learn (national based), Folk Costumes (international and national), Learning Circles- Global Teenager project (international). Most of the projects were focused on cultural expression and integration, science and environmental, issues which are very important in Suriname. I have also had the opportunity to be one of the first people who took part in a iEARN online course some years back.

Being a co-facilitator for the science, math and environment in the course of October 2004 gives me the opportunity to share some of my experiences in iEARN with others around the world. It gives me also the opportunity to help and assist others in getting acquainted with the iEARN methodology and iEARN projects, especially projects focused upon science, math and environment. For me it will be again a new and exciting iEARN experience and challenge to interact intensively with other educators around the world in this online course.

Amy Dwyer

As the “Technology Coordinator” for a small private school Wilmington, Delaware for the past 2 years I have been responsible for helping teachers use their computers with their students. I teach the computer classes for 1st- 6th graders as well as maintain the computers and the network for the school.

I was very excited when the State of Delaware offered teachers the opportunity to participate in a professional development year-long course that included taking the On-line Professional Development from iEARN and participating in one or two of the projects offered by iEARN. I was thrilled with the opportunity and worked on a recycling project with our students and the classroom teachers that culminated in our attending the YouthCaN conference in NYC in April 2004! The highlight of my summer was attending the iEARN2004 conference in Slovakia.

My experience with IT has come through teacher workshops and hands-on practice of my own and very patient mentors. Before working for the Elementary Workshop Montessori School I worked for a small business called Tech Connections that specialized in teaching teachers how to use computers and to integrate technology into their classrooms. I have taught several levels of integrating technology into the curriculum. My “specialty” is ‘reluctant users!!.’

My undergraduate degree is in Biology and Chemistry and my Masters is in Early Childhood Education. Before working for Tech Connections I taught Kindergarten, First Grade and several preschool classes as we raised our two children.
I am an “email junkie” and am looking forward to involving more of the teachers at my school in iEARN as well as helping to facilitating this course.

Content Developers: Diane Midness, Kelly Teamey, Lockias Chitanana, Charles Brewster