A Look at Science eTextbooks - Engaging and Inspiring Students

One of the biggest challenges of teaching with iPads, for me at least, is churning through what often seems like an endless sea of quality apps.  There has been an explosion of resources made available for parents and educators alike.  Trying to choose which app to use can be one of the biggest challenges for those educators thinking of using the iPads with students for the first time.  (In fact, this is why I advocate choosing two or three apps and using them almost exclusively in the beginning).  Often overlooked when searching for resources and ideas are some of the most visually stunning eTextbooks and eBooks.  I thought it was about time these resources got a look (and yes, I do know I have added another level of resources to the mix).  Here are some of my favourite eTextbooks for teaching and learning Science.

Senses and Natural History: Origins are two examples of the visually stunning, interactive and informative eTextbooks that are sure to revolutionize the type of textbooks educators will soon choose to use.  Published by Imaxina, an educational organization from Spain, and written by science specialist and educators, both Senses and Natural History: Origins are suitable for students ages 12 and older.  The texts use interactive media and amazing imagery.  My favourite image was the enlarged pop-up picture of the octopus tentacles.  The texts are engaging, contain the information students need and are visually complex.  The Science textbooks I have been using with my Grade 6 and 7 students for the past decade are wordy and difficult to use in any way other then…. read for information, answer the comprehension questions and fill out the worksheets.  Science should be exciting and these eTextbooks present the material in an interesting and informative way.  I was engaged and I am pretty sure they will engage my students.  I can see using them in any Science classroom and believe them to be a valuable resource for educators

Another amazing series of eBooks are the Life on Earth series of 7 eBooks by E. O. Wilson, a noted Biologist and University Research Professor Emeritus at Harvard.  Developed in partnership with Apple, they are free and can be used in conjunction with a free iTunes U course.  The course and books cover several topics.

I had the privilege of hearing E O. Wilson speak about these books in July and was amazed and inspired by the amount of detail and work that went into them.  Added to the interactive media are some pretty detailed scientific animations that so clearly demonstrate the scientific concepts that even I can understand them.  The visuals are stunning, the text is written by one of the leading experts in the field of Biology and…it is a free resource that is far superior to any I have seen in my classroom. While the text is more suitable for older students (and is designed to provide the full high school Biology curriculum), the images will engage younger students and provide a starting point for discussion, questioning and scientific inquiry, exploration and discovery. 

Thinking Like a Scientist:  Students as Mobile Researchers by Julie Hearn (a Maple Ridge, BC Grade 6/7 Teacher and Apple Distinguished Educator) is not an eTextbook for students but rather a guide for teachers on how-to introduce inquiry into the curriculum.  These ideas can be adapted for all grade levels and give examples of ways to use iPads to capture and share the learning experience.  This eBook is free, as are many others, and well worth the read.  Check out the Apple Bookstore for other great examples.

Recommended Sites - On-Line Resources that Work

"In fact, one of the saddest but most common conditions in elementary school computer labs (when they exist in the developing world), is the children are being trained to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint.  I consider that criminal, because children should be making things, communicating, exploring, sharing, not running office automation tools."

---Nicholas Negroponte, Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab 

One of the challenges for educators hoping to provide a 21st century learning experience for their students is to shift through the thousands of resources created for the educational market.  For me, the goal is to find free (or inexpensive) sites (or apps) that can create opportunities for my students to engage in inquiry learning with quality resources.  Here are some of my favourites.

 

 To Use with Your Students 

 

Kiva  

I have blogged about Kiva before.  Kiva is non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty through micro-financing - loans are made in $25 amounts.  Their motto is Empowering people around the world with a $25 loan.  Students get to choose a loan recipient, investigate a country and its' social issues, look at loan repayment and finance...and help others globally.

Gizmos

Gizmos is an online website (created by Explore Learning) that has an extensive collection of math and science simulations that cover the required curriculum from Grade 3 and up.   It provides an opportunity for students to carry out simulations that my students could never replicate in class (due to lack of equipment and supplies).  I have recommended it before and I can attest to its' power in creating understanding and learning opportunities for students.

Smarter Science

Smarter Science is a great resource - its' resources include an open framework that teachers can use to support inquiry and investigation in the classroom, inquiry cards with specific lesson ideas, Science Fair resources and more.  It is well worth exploring,  (Read more about Getting Smarter About Science here.  Stephen Lippa, an educator from Ontario, has created resources that connect using Gizmos to the Smarter Science Framework and supports integrating the two programs.)

Discovery Education

Discovery Education is an incredible resource for the classroom.  There is an extensive and seemingly endless media library of content on any imaginable topic.  There are teacher resources, learning communities, assessment tools, virtual classrooms, account management and more.  As a resource for learning it is hard to beat the quality and volume of what is available.  The media content can be downloaded and streamed.  I have my students choose clips and do voice-overs to show what they have learned - think a travelogue for an extreme environment or another country.

Clean Air Achievers

This site has resources that can be used to teach students about the impact transportation has on the creation of greenhouse gases.  There are games and resources to support student learning including a trip tracker that allows students to measure the decrease in their contribution to the creation of greenhouse gases as they choose more environmentally friendly transportation methods.  If you are in Canada, you can arrange to have a champion visit - these are Olympic athletes who come to share experiences and make the connection between clean air and healthy outdoor activities.

Flipsnack

 I love this app/site.  You can upload a PDF file and convert it into a book with pages that flip - lots of options for appearances and it is free (if you want to embed or download then you need the premium account).  Check out this book I made.

 

HowStuffWorks  

This is another Discovery site and it basically explains everything.  Have a question?  Search for the answer here.  There are answers to questions, countdowns, quizzes, galleries, videos and games.  It a great resource for inquisitive students and a starting (and possibly ending) point for research.

Reflex Math

Reflex Math is another Explore Learning site and one of the best I have seen for promoting math fluency.  I have blogged about the impact it has had on my students as a whole and one at-risk student in particular.   The program assessed students and teaches fact families as they progress. In twelve weeks my Grade 6 and 7 students solved over 238,000 math facts and went from a 26% fluency rate to 93%.

Action Schools BC 

This site is designed to provide elementary and middle-school educators with resources and support to promote healthy living.  The physical activity and healthy eating programs are tied to the curriculum.  Any school in British Columbia can join.  Members get professional development, student leadership training, badges, posters, lesson resources and equipment.  The resources are available in a variety of languages and are available to anyone.

Khan Academy 

Not sure how to do the math? There's an site for that. Khan Academy has a wide range of videos that explain everything from adding to calculus. Students can watch, rewind and review.  This is a great resource for flipped classrooms, to support the learning of students away on short or extended absences and for use inremediation.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud is an online site that allows you to search and explore original music and audio clips. There are a wide range of clips - my favourites are the sounds from space submitted by astronaut Chris Hadfield. Have your child download the sounds or audio clips and create backgrounds for movies, slideshows or add to media projects. A wonderful resource.

Storybird

Choose an image, create a story and publish the book. Storybird is an art-based storytelling platform that allows young writers of all ages to produce beautiful picture books that they can print or share on their devices.  Visually appealing as well.

National Geographic Kids

This is an amazing site full of videos, photos, games and other fun stuff created and delivered by National Geographic.  Homework help is even offered.  I grew up with National Geographic and I have never stopped appreciating the quality of what they offer.  This site is geared towards kids of all ages and there is a link to resources for little kids as well.  Highly recommended.

 

 To Support Teachers

•  Recommended Apps for Supporting 21st Century Literacy

•  Recommended Apps for Mathematical Thinking

•  Recommended Apps for Measurement in Math and Science

•  Essential Apps for Teachers

 
QR Code Generator

There are a lot of QR Code Generator sites and apps out there but I really like QRStuff.com.  It has 20 different data types you can choose from and allows you to create coloured QR codes or visual ones embedded in images.  Great resource for teachers interested in using these to increase students' engagement.

TeachThought

This is a great blog full of ideas, activities, research and recommendations for apps to use with the iPad.

21 Century Fluency Project

This site provides an explanation of the process in developing challenge-based learning experiences, an explanation of what a 21st century learning environment is and provides insight into what best practice in terms of integration is. Scholarly but well worth a read.  The site also has resources, books and a free unit plan creator app. 

Apple in Education Resources

A collection of video tutorials, classroom guides, and web pages for educators.

 

....and check back regularly for updates

 

Gizmos - Science and Math Simulations for Your Classroom

Gizmos - Science and Math Simulations for Your Classroom

Gizmos is an online website (created by Explore Learning) that has an extensive collection of math and science simulations that cover the required curriculum from Grade 3 and up.  

The simulations can be searched for by curriculum and grade level, academic standard and textbook.  They are interactive and engaging and do a great job of providing students with an opportunity to carry out scientific inquiry and test their understanding of concepts.  There are supporting lesson materials, student guides, vocabulary and online quizzes educators can use to test student understanding.   In addition, Explore Learning provides video tutorials for professional development and support for use in classrooms. 

In Food Chain students can run a simulation of an ecosystem over time and explore the effect of removing different levels from the food chain. The predator - prey relationship is explained.  Students can even examine opportunities for recovery from catastrophic damage to the food chain.  In Building Pangaea, students can shift continents and explore and test Alfred Wegener's theory that a supercontinent once existed.  pH Analysis was a great success with my students. I used Gizmos to introduce the lesson and then provided students with litmus paper so they could experiment and test other fluids.  The achieved a much deeper understanding of pH analysis that I could have hoped for.

While good pedagogical practice requires students have an opportunity to work on hands-on activities with manipulatives and materials in order to develop deeper, conceptual understandings, the sad truth is there is no funding available to support this in public schools today.   Gizmos is one alternative.  I believe this program to be the best chance my Grade 6 and 7 students have to carry out many of these simulations and experiments in a learning environment where there are few materials or even space for exploring scientific inquiry.  Smarter Science is another such framework.  (Read more about getting Smarter About Science here.  Stephen Lippa, an educator from Ontario, has created resources that connect using Gizmos to the Smarter Science Framework and supports integrating the two programs.)

Explore Learning does an excellent job of providing quality programs.  They are responsible for Reflex Math as well.  (I have written about using Reflex with students and at-risk students.)  I like their focus on facilitating teacher record keeping and they have an eye on the assessment piece as well.  Explore Learning offers a 30-day trial so it is worth checking out in the fall.  And definitely check out Cannonball Clowns (Number Line Estimation) - it's my favourite.

A Collection of Math Apps to Promote Mathematical Thinking

I decided to create this collection after watching teachers have their students repeatedly use the iPad to play checkers during their limited time with the devices.  While I have nothing against checkers, this does turn the iPad into a $375 checkerboard.  Using the iPad to replicate activities that can be done without it may not be best practice, especially when you consider the limited access to devices such as these by many students.  This collection has apps for mathematical thinking and reasoning and some for project creation.  There are very few game-based learning apps as they often focus on specific skill fluency rather than deeper learning.   I have added some notes about each app that can be viewed in the list mode.

....and check back regularly for updates