Welcome to the Technology Enhanced Activity Modules for Science (TEAMS) Project. This National Science Foundation-supported initiative at Kennesaw State University is designed to increase student learning in science and close achievement gaps by raising student expectations, improving teacher quality, and developing new models for teaching science in college courses for early childhood education majors. This project creates unique opportunities for pre-service and in-service teachers to implement inquiry-based science through activities that are designed to rekindle curiosity and build understanding. These technology enhanced activities coordinate with the new grade-level Georgia Performance Standards and the program provides class sets of all the necessary materials so that participating teachers can effectively implement these activities. Through their active exploration and investigation, our teachers (and their students) will build a deeper understanding, appreciation, and love for science.
The project promotes the use of inquiry science approaches in the elementary classroom by using digital technology to provide teachers with a comprehensive collection of resources in each module. In the "Virtual Mentor" section, an experienced instructor walks teachers through the activity and describes tips, tricks, and strategies for effective classroom implementation. The "Activity in Action" shows the activity being conducted with elementary students and enables teachers to see common student reactions and observe presentation and classroom management strategies by an experienced instructor. The "Instructor Resources" section includes a Teacher Handout that provides educational objectives, science standards addressed, science content refresher, materials list, essential questions, safety/disposal information, and extension activities. Student handouts are provided for lower level (grades K, 1, 2) and upper level (grades 3, 4, 5) students. Editable student handouts enable teachers to customize the activity to their grade level and students.
Project content is designed to be easily utilized with the standard component of browser plugins found on most computers. Materials in the Instructor Resources section require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Editable student handouts are in Microsoft Word format. Digital video files are in Windows Media Format and can be viewed with the free Windows Media Player. The project web site is optimally viewed with Internet Explorer. Due to the size of some of the digital video files, a high-speed Internet connection is strongly suggested.
Acrobat Reader - http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Media Player -
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.mspx |
