Our guest blogger this week is Tracey Hunter-Doniger in Teacher Education.
In the FTI (Faulty Technology Institute) I learned several ways to implement technology into my class. One specific tool I demonstrate using with my pre-service teachers is iBooks Author. In this example lesson for their future classes I show my students how this program can help bridge learning through a hands-on creative process.
In recent years the United States has seen a decline in test scores in Math and Science as compared to other Westernized countries (White, 2010). As a result, the U.S. appears to be losing competitive ground with other first world nations. This has sparked a directive in the advancement of science, technology, engineering and math, also known as STEM. There is no question that the STEM subjects are vital to learning but it is missing an important component, the arts. STEAM provides the missing component to STEM by adding the “A” for Art.
THE LESSON:
- The students learn about the scientific components of a nature Field Guide (species of animals, where they can be located, diet, unique qualities of a species, etc.)
- The students gather multiple items from nature.
- The students create their own imaginary species from the found objects from nature.
- Then the student creates an original page for a “class field guide” describing the name, species, classification, etc. of their creature.
- Publish the pages in iBooks Author and enjoy.
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