The Media Equation
It took me forever to get to this blog, with so many things going on in my life right now. I found the premise of the article interesting. Does media=reality? With the total pervasion of media into today's society, I'm sure it can be difficult to differentiate between what is real and what has been created. So much media today is intended to reflect reality that the line continues to blur.
Within the context of my study this semester, the question is an excellent one. Does the experience of laboratory work on the screen equal the experience of laboratory work in the classroom? Is it possible for one to replace the other. In many ways, it seems like a possibility, but as the studies have seemed to flush out, it just is not the case. Students don't learn as much about the experiments they do, and they really can't connect with the concrete topics as much as they could. I think that connection, if a software can make it happen, can provide the impulse to push the quality of digital simulations over the edge.
As someone with a great deal of experience in the lab, I really didn't buy the experience as authentic. The science geek in me thought it was a killer game, but I never felt like I was experimenting. My students reported the same feeling, and really did not enjoy the assignment. I'll give the idea another chance, but it will definitely be in another venue, as I won't be teaching AP Chemistry for a while.
Within the context of my study this semester, the question is an excellent one. Does the experience of laboratory work on the screen equal the experience of laboratory work in the classroom? Is it possible for one to replace the other. In many ways, it seems like a possibility, but as the studies have seemed to flush out, it just is not the case. Students don't learn as much about the experiments they do, and they really can't connect with the concrete topics as much as they could. I think that connection, if a software can make it happen, can provide the impulse to push the quality of digital simulations over the edge.
As someone with a great deal of experience in the lab, I really didn't buy the experience as authentic. The science geek in me thought it was a killer game, but I never felt like I was experimenting. My students reported the same feeling, and really did not enjoy the assignment. I'll give the idea another chance, but it will definitely be in another venue, as I won't be teaching AP Chemistry for a while.
posted by MJS at 9:55 PM
1 Comments:
Matt,
I think the key will be in tying together simulations (think of all the ways they are used in training inthe real world), lab experiments, and real life experiments. If we can do this, then our kids will leave with a lot. I really think you will like Scott Jevic, our AP Chemistry teacher. Who knows what you guys can do with that program. I remember AP Chem in high school. We had 3 kids out of my class go to Harvard. I remember us using the error to work backwards mathematically - kinda scarey!
Beth
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