Atomic Structure Glog

Click here to view my first glog. It will educate you about atomic structure and the periodic table of the elements in a fancy, interactive way! :) Since my students will be learning about this topic this coming year, I will have them explore this glog when we reach the chemistry unit in science class.

In case you are not familiar with a glog, it is basically an online poster that you can put videos, graphics, audio, text and hyperlinks on to. For us educators, it is like creating an online learning center where students can choose what order to learn things in, explore digital media at their pace and level, and even do interactive activities or quizzes in which a teacher can assess their learning.

I like learning centers (real or online) because they give students some autonomy and choices, which free them to be more in control of their learning. And we all know that students self-motivated even in the least bit will learn and enjoy their learning experience a lot more than information learned purely from extrinsic reasons like grades. And although the quiz in this glog will be graded, there is still a lot of optional information a student can look into if they have the time and interest to do so. In other words, I think it will be more effective versus learning from a lecture or textbook reading.

I think this glog will be a great way for students to be introduced to this topic versus a textbook too. I can basically let them loose on it, making sure that they stay on task at their computers, and that they are engaged in the topic. Another way I could use this glog is for students that finish another assignment early and want a bit more of a challenge or independence with the topic. They could spend a little time on the glog, or a lot. That's the advantage of this tool. Students can spend more or less time on it, which will naturally happen because of their varied skill levels and completion of other work. It could also be a motivator for struggling students to finish an assignment so that they have some extra special time to go do some activities online!



Here are the standards (learning outcomes) that will be accomplished from students doing this glog:

EALR 1 6-8 SYSA Given a system, identify subsystems and a larger encompassing system.

EALR 4 6-8 PS2C Explain that all matter is made of atoms, and give examples of common elements - substances composed of just one kind of atom.

GLE 2.2.2 Use organizational features and electronic sources (such as headings and numberings, CD-ROM, Internet, pull- down menus, key word searches, and icons) to access information.

A. National Science Education Standards for Grades 5-8

Physical Science (Content Standard B)

Properties and Changes of Properties of Matter

B. Benchmark for Science Literacy (American Association for the Advancement of Science - Project 2061) - for Grades 6-8 - The Physical Setting: 4D The Structure of Matter