Tech resources

Share your topic and “most powerful” web addresses and hyperlink sites on your blog. This gives you and your colleagues an open resource of ideas to draw from on 21st-century topics and tools.

thinkcentral.com-our textbook site is one of the best things I have found
NASA.gov-perfect for looking at the universe and posting questions to astronauts

Explain how you expect these tools will help prepare your students to be 21st-century scientifically literate citizens.

These sites allow students to manipulate new science concepts because of the up to date technology they use to integrate new scientific discoveries into their learning.  They are also useful because many state are connected to these two sites, allowing the current NEST standards to be uploaded and part of their lessons

Describe at least one physical science activity you can plan around the use of one of these tools. Identify how this tool will help to engage students in the subject matter/topic of the activity.

I would like to look at the gravitational forces placed on objects on different places in space using the NASA website.  Students have a difficult time remembering the difference between weight and mass and the online sources they have regarding the gravitational pull of different planets on different bodies.  The website allows students to "travel" to the different planets which allows them to "see" what their weight would be on different bodies in the universe.

Share challenges you might face in integrating the use of this tool into your instruction.

The biggest challenge I for see is the ability to schedule time in our computer lab.  The issue is the fact that with online testing and teachers who need to be in the lab at certain times for state testing, it is very difficult for teachers to get into the lab.  Without this resource and the manipulation the resource makes available, it will be difficult to have our students actually see what is happening with their weight.