Web Content and Change in Teacher Practice
baumann@fi.edu
Thu, 27 Mar 1997 09:22:27 -0500
Can web "content" or the context within which web "content" is presented
assist in changing teacher practice?
Ben Franklin built a wonderful musical instrument called an armonica. See it
at http://www.fi.edu/franklin/musician/images/armonica.jpg
We created an interactive which allows an online visitor to "play" sounds
from the armonica. http://www.fi.edu/franklin/musician/virtualarmonica.html
We also created a quicktime movie with Ben (he's a hard guy to nail down
these days) playing a replica of the armonica.
http://www.fi.edu/franklin/musician/video.armonica.mov
What will teachers do with this "content?" In many instances they will have
their students visit the pages and play the movie and interactive. They will
then ask their students when it was made or how does it work.
How do we get teachers to use this content in creative and pedagogically
exciting ways? We want students to be inspired by this content and then be
encouraged to go off and create their own musical instruments. We want
students to investigate sound and the variation in sound caused by use of
similar materials (glass, wood, plastic, etc.) in different configurations.
We want students to present what they have learned in ways that use new
media and demonstrate their authentic learning.
This I believe is the challenge of presenting content over the network. What
elements must comprise "content" so that it encourages teachers to teach in
a different way?
Steve
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stephen H. Baumann (baumann@fi.edu) Director of Educational
The Franklin Institute Science Museum Technology Programs
222 N. 20th St. (tel) 215-448-1206
Philadelphia, PA 19103 (fax) 215-448-1274