Watch Out, It's Vital Signs Time!
What to say about Vital Signs? It's been a great experience both as a teacher and as a learner. My students showed an amazing amount of growth between the first and second investigations. While part of it was painful (it turns out that almost none of them actually took notes outside the first time), they learned a very valuable lesson and did much better the second time around. It took me longer than I had originally anticipated, but then again what new ideas/programs ever take up the exact amount of time we originally think. My favorite thing about this program was how it really brought the concept of scientific thinking to these students. My students like to argue, but often it's without really making a point; lots of noise and little information. Although some of them complained at first it was great to hear the change in their ideas as they started to make comparisons of the plants and the species cards.
Our first trip outside proved interesting. The students sure loved to use the camera and they took some awesome pictures. While some of them were disappointed that they couldn't find their plant they got a lot of great discussions going in their groups. For the most part they were very well behaved and on task, but like any group of seventh graders there are always a few that need a little extra prodding to stay on task.
I decided that they needed an easy way to organize their information. After they managed to piece together their information (due to a lack of notes) it was time to upload. In one of my more clever moments I had taken the species survey and transferred it into a NoteShare document. Each student had this digital copy and they had a chance to put the survey and all of their pictures into one place. Besides getting all students on the same page, when it came time to upload their data it was a snap, all they really had to do was copy and paste their information and the pictures were already sorted and prepped.
The second time around was much better. This time they used the species cards to the fullest, checking out seasonal changes (it was November) and taking the time to write notes. Of course this time around they were not allowed to have a camera until I had seen their surveys filled in. Their evidence was much better and they worked more efficiently. It made me wish that I had time to do a third investigation before the snow had started to fall.
Overall I think that the kids learned quite a bit, and although they complained for a while once they settled in they were fine. This spring it will be very exciting as I am planning on taking them for a third run when the plants outside are actually alive and blooming.
As for me, I can't wait for the summer (and not just for the obvious) so I can wander around my town and get some data to upload myself. I even hear some fool planted burning bush around his house. :)
