My EvaluationI found this tech tool while searching through Common Sense Education: https://www.commonsense.org/education/top-picks/10-best-science-tools-for-middle-school Inq-ITS is a digital platform that offers lab simulations for students with immediate feedback in student-friendly language. This resource is free to try, but comes at a modest price point to fully utilize all features. For teachers that have grand plans for rich inquiry-based lessons but also need to work around habitual abstenteesim, this could work as an at-home alternative for in class labs. Inq-ITS also works to incorporate mathematic practices and clearly lists how each lab aligns to the Next Generation Science standards, making it easier for teachers to use on the fly, to also differentiate to each students needs. The detailed graphs make it easier for students to monitor trends in their data as well as familiarizing them with the scientific methods. The animations and positive sounds act as the familiar "bing" we get when playing video games, providing the instantaneous reward of points for achievements, linking the extrinsic reward to the intrinsic motivation. How does Literature Support Inq-ITS?Allowing students to design their own experiments around certain topics, Inq-Its lends itself as an educational augmentation to the curriculum when following the SAMR model. Students can demonstrate their understanding of topics by creating a digital lab that they will complete. When used as a stand-alone tool, Inq-ITS acts as a digital manipulative in the modern science class. When looking to use this tool to modify students learning, it could be accompanied by a student-lead presentation, providing a demo that other students will then complete, creating a truly digital age, student-led classroom!
When it comes the the TPACK framework, the tool seems to work mainly at the Technological Content Knowledge area, with students designing their own digital lab simulations, which needs some mastery of the content to achieve. According the the ISTE Standards, Inq-ITS helps to develop the innovative designer within students at the most. With daily, or weekly use, this tool works as a knowledge constructor, as students use it as an alternative resource to deepen their scientific understanding. Inq-ITS is a great tool for students to share their learning with their peers and teachers, much like professionals share their products, or information, on the internet. Because this tool works to support students web-presentation skills, I would say it support Teacher Quality Standard 6 which outlines that teachers demonstrate high levels of student academic growth in the skills necessary for postsecondary and workforce readiness, including democratic and civic participation. Teachers demonstrate their ability to utilize multiple data sources and evidence to evaluate their practice, and make adjustments where needed to continually improve attainment of student academic growth.
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AuthorA science teacher looking for incredible resources! Archives
December 2020
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