Integrating Technology into Middle School Chemistry Curriculum

Introduction

    Realizing I was a lifelong learner is how I ended up in education. I thoroughly enjoy learning new things and having a career in which every day is a new day. My journey in education started with a focus in elementary education. Only when I got my first job teaching 5th grade science did I find my passion in a specific subject area. Being a content specialist is not something I had planned on, but once I got a job teaching 7th and 8th grade science I realized I was a content specialist. This led to me continuing my education and beginning work on my master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in Science. Now I am the head of the Science Department for my District and hope to help other teachers develop creative science curriculum for students. Teaching science is my passion, and my hope is to share the excitement and adventure that comes from teaching science. 

Connecting ISTE standards and Middle School Science Standards

    Empowered Learner indicator 1c asks students to use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and demonstrates learning in a variety of ways. 7th Grade Science standard 7.PS1.1 states that students are expected to develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and expected structures (Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science, 2020, p. 63). Using computer representations to model different molecules and types of atoms can help students to show how substances are made from different types of atoms combined in various ways. Students can utilize the PhET – Build a Molecule to build different molecules. Students are given atoms and must build different molecules and compounds in a virtual model. Students can even choose to observe the molecules in 2D and 3D models. 

    Another tool for building molecular models is Happy Atoms which combines the building of the physical model with augmented reality. Students build molecules using plastic atom models with magnets and are able to use an app to identify the type of molecule they built. The educational app provides resources to track the molecules created, examine how it exists in the world, and has educational research experiments students can conduct. The ability to use technology to view molecules in a 3D environment provides concrete representations of concepts that would otherwise be abstract. Giving students control over building models in a virtual platform offers immediate feedback about the type of molecule and how different substances are made from different types of atoms. Furthermore, students can participate in cooperative activities in which they use terminology identifying elements, compounds, and molecules. 

Evidence Supporting the Use of Technology for Modeling Science Concepts

    Using computer-based models in conjunction with face-to-face instruction is an effective method for using technology. According to Kolb (2020) technology should be used to support face-to-face learning and supplemental to instruction. Additionally, it is important to ensure educational apps are vetted by experts (Kolb, 2020). PhET simulations are research-based science and mathematics simulations supported by student interviews and observation (PhET, n.d.). The creators of the PhET website are professionals in their field and many of the contributors hold advanced degrees in science in mathematics. 

    The Happy Atom kit encourages creativity and innovation through allowing students to build their own molecular models and providing research experiments. Gurg (2016) emphasizes the importance of exploration and experimentation during the visual art process. When students engage in exploratory trials like building molecular structures they discover how the same atoms combine to form different substances. This also ties in with Kolb’s (2020) views on integrating technology with face-to-face instruction. 

References

Gura, M. (2016). Make, learn, succeed: Building a culture of creativity in your school. International        Society for Technology in Education. 

International Society for Technology in Education. (2017).  ISTE Standards for Students:  A practical        guide for learning with technology. ISTE (ISBN:  978-1-56484-398-2) (Free download from ISTE).

Kolb, L., & Kolb, L. (2020). Learning first, technology second in Practice: New strategies, research, and    tools for student success. International Society for Technology in Education. 

Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. 2020. 7.PS1.1. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Oklahoma State    Board of Education

PhET interactive simulations. PhET. (n.d.). https://phet.colorado.edu/en/about.