SCIAnTICT
Science Classroom Investigations of the Affordances in Teaching with ICT:
ICT to support learning about earth science
Some year two findings: December 2010
Kathrin Otrel-Cass, Bronwen Cowie, Elaine Khoo, CSTER, University of Waikato, New Zealand
This Teaching and Learning Initiative (TLRI) funded two-year project started at the beginning of 2009. A team of three
University of Waikato researchers has been working with two teachers and their year 7-8 classes to explore what sort of
information technology the teachers utilised when they were teaching science and how this transformed their teaching and
enhanced their students' learning.
Summary
Some of the findings from 2010 identified interesting aspects around the use of digital technology that supported the
teaching and learning of earth science, specifically, students' learning about and investigating dynamic Earth process such
as rivers and erosion.
The table below shows key teaching activities and how different ICT tools were used by the teachers in support of students'
learning.
Earth science activity
ICT tool used
To do what
To support what learning
Fieldtrip
Video camera
Record, talk and review
recording about location
Making observations and using
science language.
• Later used by students for
report writing
• Used by teachers to
formatively assess progress
Fieldtrip
Digital camera
Record rocks in situ and with
scale
How scientists record and
collect data.
• Later used by students for
report and presentation
Close inspection of rock
samples
Video camera and digital
camera
Film or record rocks when
Ongoing collection of
broken. Record events/places
evidence, to review earlier
for later review/use.
ideas, ie about the colour of
the rock.
Close inspection of rock
samples
Digital microscope
Examination and recording of
microscopic rock features of
broken rock
Collection of data and
recording of evidence.
• Later used by students for
report and presentation
Identifying possible original
source of rock samples
Online maps: Google Earth,
physical maps, geological
map of NZ
To make sense and triangulate
different information
Independent inquiries,
linking real artifacts with
representations.
Identifying possible original
source of rock samples
Blogs
To share ideas in open forum
Communicating and critical
evaluation of findings.
• Blogs also accessed by
experts who had met
students to give additional
insights.
Table: Using visual ICT for earth science teaching and learning
Centre for Science and Technology Research, The University of Waikato