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     Becoming Scientists
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District/School Administration > PK-16 Program Support > Educational Technology >
Technology Toolkit

Becoming Scientists
Pioneer Valley Regional School District

Curriculum area: Science and Technology/Engineering        Grade level: 4
School: Bernardston Elementary School, Pioneer Valley Regional School District
Adopted by: Newton School, Greenfield Public Schools
Hardware used: Palm m130 Handhelds, Pasco Scientific probeware (Pasport Interface with light and sound sensors), FlexCam document camera, projector, and Macintosh computers
Software used: Pasco Scientific DataStudio software for Palm handhelds and AppleWorks word processing and spreadsheet programs

Project Description

This project involved the development of two science units that address the curriculum standards for the study of light and sound. Each unit followed the same format, integrating the use of science probes with the teaching unit. To ensure that students were highly motivated to conduct the investigations, the students were given fictitious scenarios presenting problems that could only be solved after sound and light data had been collected and analyzed. The result of integrating technology in this way was that students became deeply engaged in this authentic learning experience.

Boys using handheld computer and probe




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