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Hi friends, I've been wondering: How do elementary educators use computers in the classroom or libraries for science lessons? How often do you use computers? Are there other ways you engage your classroom with web resources? I checked out these great ideas about websites for students: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/discuss/default.aspx?tid=GHuCZrrxjj8_E#66635 Are there any kinds of websites you wish existed for students that don't exist already? What would be on your wishlist for a science website that would be most useful for your classroom? Thanks. 

Thank you for the center options!! I like that idea :)

I think that having technology in the classroom is great for students to expand and explore their learning in science! I would use computers in the classroom for center activities where they children could be on several researched websites that promote their learning in science. I would use the BrainPop website in my classroom where there are videos, activities, and examples of different subject matters. I would like to try and incorporate computers as much as possible that would be beneficial for learning. As a teacher, you could use web resources to find videos that would grasp students attention and get them prepared for the upcoming lesson. As far as websites that I wish existed that don't as far as I'm aware of would possibly be a website where students like mine are doing experiments and modeling the science that goes along with the experiment. I think that these videos would be very interesting for my students to watch and then do, with safety precautions of course.

Hi Rachel, There are many ways that elementary teachers can use computers in the classroom, especially for science lessons! You could find videos that show students examples of real-life science. For example, if you were teaching a lesson on space/solar system, you could find videos that present visuals for students to see and better understand/get a grasp on the concepts of space and how big the solar system really is. As a pre-service teacher, I imagine I would use computers everyday (just as my teachers had in high school). You can also have students go to the computer lab and have them explore websites like NASA to get them engrossed in the subject. I wish there were more websites that had interactive games that would interest students and allow them to be more involved in independently learning science. This would not only build/increase their independent interests in science, but it would also bring that interest and positive view on science into the classroom.

Hi! I only let my students use laptops or computers in the classroom when the students are engaging in a simulation activity. Recently, my students went on a website where they melted and froze objects. Some students believe that you can freeze solids, but a solid will always be a solid. For an example, a toy put inside a freezer will always be a solid no matter what because it has a definite shape. I know it sounds obvious, but my students have a hard time understanding that at first. You can add that in the elaborate or explore stage depending on what you have planned to teach. Engaging in activities like that will help them see firsthand why that is. Hope that helps!

Last semester when I did my field work and a few years ago when I was working in Howard County many of the teachers I worked with used brain pop videos for the younger ages K-3 during certain science units. For the older children they used different types of simulations, some showed videos of experiments being done, and some simply did not use a computer much at all and used more of a textbook approach. I learned that the children engaging in the videos were learning the units better than the students being taught through the use of a textbook. I think that the use of a computer can be useful when it is used appropriately and not too much. You do not want to over use a computer and not have the children reading from a textbook sometimes.

Hello! I thought that computer were useful in any subject area and even in science classrooms. Students who have difficulties with less hands on or with less diagram activities, you can use computer to help those students. There are numerous games that could be used with the computer. I will attach few websites for students can education science games. I also checked these websites myself and I loved the games because it quickly gets your attention and also, students can enjoy it as well! http://pbskids.org/games/science/ http://interactivesites.weebly.com/science.html

Computers in the classroom are good to use every once in a while, but I have seen in my student teaching how students learn science by having hands on activities to observe and complete.

Hi! Computers are very helpful in the classroom. School districts are starting to incorporate computers into the classroom for teachers to use in all of their lessons. In order to incorporate computers in to science lessons, it would be a good idea to show students real-life examples of what you are teaching them. If you are teaching them about space, show them videos of stars or some clips that NASA has on their website. If they are learning about bugs, bring up pictures of real bugs so that they can look at them. Go to youtube and type in the type of bug and they could even see it in action.Students love seeing real-life examples of what they are learning about and computers in the classroom is a good way to show them. I hope this helps.

Hello! I am a pre-service teacher currently and in previous schools that I have been in a lot of science was done on computers through simulation activities that correlate with the science concept that they were learning at the time. However, I do not believe that this should be used everyday during science, but I do believe that they can be extremely beneficial when used appropriately. I have also seen many teachers using their technology of smart boards with the whole class showing videos etc. especially if they are unable to do the project that is being shown.

Hello! I am also a pre-service teacher. All of the schools that I have been placed have never used computers for science. In fact most of the schools hardly ever teach science, or at least they did not the days I was there. I also agree with Victoria that computers should not be used everyday to teach science. Science is something that is best learned through experience and not on the computer.

I have used numerous web resources in the science class that I have had the pleasure of student teaching in. There are many ways to integrate science by using web resources. Fortunately for me, I am at a school where each child has an iPad checked out to them, so it makes using technology very easy. The resource we use most often is called nearpod. They have lots of science lessons that are great for reteaching and extended learning through interactive, collaborative lessons!

We have computers in our classroom but they are mostly used for math and reading activities for now. Science should work best when the lessons are interactive rather than on the computer. A great hands on activity in science can help them propel to experiment with new discoveries that they can learn in a lab.