TPACK Questions Response (Science Lesson)

What is the content you’ll be using in your lesson?

The content I focused on in my science lesson from the Utah's state core curriculum was geared towards the 5th grade. Science standard two states that students will understand that volcanoes, earthquakes, uplift, weathering, and erosion reshape Earth's surface. I narrowed the focus from standard two to objective two which states that children will explain how volcanoes, earthquakes, and uplift affect Earth's surface; subsection a states that the children will also be able to identify specific geological features created by volcanoes, earthquakes, and uplift.

What is the pedagogy you’ll be using and why is it a good fit with the content?

There are lots of teaching methods involved in this lesson. Students will collaborate in groups to discover exciting places on earth. They will also use problem solving skills in determining the where and when of assignment; the tour requires that students choose dialog and a vision to implement their tour successfully.

What is the technology you’ll be using and why is it a good fit with the content and pedagogy?

The technology used in my science lesson was Google Earth 5.0. I love how detailed the maps are and how full of life the user created content can be. This software allows students to not only view volcanoes and their effects on surrounding areas (see Mt. St. Helens), which is part of standard two of the educational core in the state of Utah, but it also offers a plethora of data on various areas around the world. Students can click on items to view a range of pictures that contain data about the volcanoes and their surrounding areas. Google Earth also allows children to record a virtual tour that may be watched by fellow classmates. The volcanoes are chosen by the students themselves and therefore the information will be personal because they will have a sense of self involved.