On-Line Learning Experience

What content could this help you teach?

I searched through the online project section and found many different areas I could use.  The first was the NASA website which, ironically I already used.  It had a section where students could build their own planet.  This helped with our "Another Earth" project where students were trying to create an Earth like planet.  I also enjoyed the The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education website.  It had numerous projects that I could pick from.  Teaching a general science curriculum can be tricky when trying to make all areas interesting and this website had a wide selection of projects that could help with this. 

What type of pedagogical strategies might you use with your students?

I think that by using these types of websites, students are able to explore, examine, and recreate quicker, and more efficiently.  Each one of the projects offers students the ability to create a hypothesis.  Then, they are able to collect data or design a rough draft model for examination.  Because students could explore and test their hypothesis by using technology, students get quick results which allowed for them to make adjustments for a better product.  Using these websites allows for an inductive learning process along with hands on experience.   

What technologies do you think would be harder to use with your students? Why?

Some of the hardest technologies to use are the ones where there seems to be simulations but the only things you click on and paragraph comes up.  They are very misleading and students become disappointed when they find that there is very little interaction.  Another technology that is hard to use with students is the online gaming.  Not that students do not enjoy this, but a lot of them require you to download the program which makes it difficult because only certain people have access.