Environmental Topics in Physics by Inquiry Course: Integration Models Used by Physics Teachers

As we approach the second quarter of the twenty-first century, one may predict the environment will be among the dominant themes in political and educational discourse. This study investigates how three physics teachers integrated environmental topics and issues in their classroom. Data collection methods including field notes taken from observations, teachers’ interviews, and a collection of artifacts and documents were used. The data were coded, analyzed, and organized into categories utilizing Fogarty’s models of curriculum integration. Findings of this study indicate teachers acknowledge the importance of teaching environmental issues in their classrooms; however, implementing and utilizing effective integration strategies and models continues to present a challenge.

Adopting a Blended Learning Model in Education: Opportunities and Challenges

In the last two decades, it has been observed that the blended learning model becomes a firm alternative and expand traditional teaching. The purpose of this paper is to do a review of blended learning in education analytically. Depending upon the detailed literature review and investigations in blended learning course integration the author counters challenges and opportunities in educational institutions. Hence, the study encapsulates the successful implementation of blended learning by a mix of online and face to face learning. In the future, the outcomes of this study may open a way forward for researchers and others to design their research accordingly in this field to deeply investigate therein.

A Holistic Approach to Integrating ePortfolios as Instructional Methods in Online Programs

The purpose of this chapter is to review a holistic approach to the integration of digital portfolios (“ePortfolios”) as an instructional method in online degree programs. The chapter reviews the evidence-based best practices that support four phases to the integration of ePortfolios as an instructional method in online degree programs: scaffolding, tutorials, course integration, and student engagement. Each phase offers a different way to make a lasting impact on students. The innovative instructional method is not the portfolio itself, the supporting tutorials, or any one piece of the ePortfolio project. Rather, the true innovation is the project as a whole, taking a holistic look at how portfolios fit into the program and how to support the development and evaluation of the portfolio for both students and faculty.

APRENDER “COM” A TECNOLOGIA: O uso do Facebook no processo de aprendizagem e interação de curso online

Aprender com tecnologias na perspectiva de Jonassen (1996) compreende encarar as tecnologias digitais de informação e comunicação - TDIC como ferramentas cognitivas em que o estudante toma partido efetivo do seu potencial usando-as para ampliar seu conhecimento. Neste caso, a partícula com indica parceria, ou seja, o estudante não é controlado pela tecnologia, antes assume o domínio desta para atender a seus objetivos de aprendizagem. Assim, este artigo discute o papel das redes sociais nos contextos educativos presenciais e mediados por tecnologias. Neste sentido, o texto apresenta a experiência do uso da rede social Facebook no processo de aprendizagem entre os servidores da Universidade Federal do Tocantins alunos do curso Integração do servidor na UFT 2016. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Ferramentas cognitivas, Redes Sociais, Facebook. ABSTRACT Learning from technologies from the perspective of Jonassen (1996) includes looking at digital information and communication technologies (TDIC) as cognitive tools in which the student effectively takes advantage of their potential by using them to broaden their knowledge. In this case, the particle with indicates partnership, that is, the student is not controlled by the technology, but rather takes control of it to meet its learning objectives. Thus, this article discusses the role of social networks in the face-to-face and technology-mediated educational contexts. In this sense, the text presents the experience of using the social network Facebook in the process of learning among the servers of the Federal University of Tocantins students of the course Integration of the server in UFT 2016. From the observation of the participations of the students in the group created on Facebook for the course, as well as the analysis of the final evaluation of the module, data was collected that demonstrated the success of the experience considering the significant interest of the participants in the module due to the differential that Facebook offers in terms of accessibility and ease of interaction. However, the article points out some bottlenecks during the process that are interesting to share in order to expand theoretical production in this area of ​​increasing expansion - educational technology. KEYWORDS: : Cognitive Tools, Social Networks, Facebook. RESUMEN Aprender de las tecnologías desde la perspectiva de Jonassen (1996) incluye considerar las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación digitales (TDIC) como herramientas cognitivas en las que el estudiante aprovecha efectivamente su potencial al usarlas para ampliar sus conocimientos. En este caso, la partícula con indica asociación, es decir, el estudiante no está controlado por la tecnología, sino que toma el control de la misma para cumplir con sus objetivos de aprendizaje. Por lo tanto, este artículo analiza el papel de las redes sociales en los contextos educativos presenciales y de tecnología. En este sentido, el texto presenta la experiencia de utilizar la red social Facebook en el proceso de aprendizaje entre los servidores de los estudiantes de la Universidad Federal de Tocantins del curso Integración del servidor en UFT 2016. Desde la observación de las participaciones de los estudiantes en el grupo creado en Facebook para El curso, así como el análisis de la evaluación final del módulo, se recopilaron datos que demostraron el éxito de la experiencia, considerando el gran interés de los participantes en el módulo debido al diferencial que ofrece Facebook en términos de accesibilidad y facilidad de interacción. Sin embargo, el artículo señala algunos cuellos de botella durante el proceso que es interesante compartir para ampliar la producción teórica en esta área de expansión creciente: tecnología educativa. PALABRAS CLAVE: Herramientas Cognitivas, Redes Sociales, Facebook.