Date of Award
5-2016
Culminating Project Type
Starred Paper
Degree Name
Curriculum and Instruction: M.S.
Department
Teacher Development
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Martin Lo
Second Advisor
Merton Thompson
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Computer Simulations, Inquiry Based Learning, Science
Abstract
Teaching science is a challenging task because the majority of sicence labs are interactive in which students manipulate and move things around in order to better understand the concepts being taught. Finding and utilizing appropriate labs for simpler concepts such as metals vs. non-metals or identifying rocks and minerals is fairly easy. However, the search for and use of appropriate labs is more challenging when teaching lessons of concepts that are of a more intangible nature. Concepts and lessons about the solar system, universe, or molecules are examples of such. For these, there is a lack of available hands-on activities which often requires the use of computer simulations. The purpose of this study is to examine ways of pairing computer simulations and hands-on activities in science instruction to create successful, engaging lessons.
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Adam P., "Computer Simulations and Inquiry Based Activities in an 8th Grade Earth Science Classroom" (2016). Culminating Projects in Teacher Development. 7.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/ed_etds/7
