About+this+Site

This public site, HolisticScienceResearch, was originally created as an assignment for an [|OISE], Graduate course, namely, [|CTL 1799], "Holistic Approaches to Information Technology." This site was created to help me synthesize my understanding of holistic education, computer mediated learning environments and science education. First, I have presented a rationale for using an STSE education approach to improve student research in science. Second, I have analyzed my past STSE practice to help shape my future attempts. Third, I have set up a hypothetical group research project. Finally, I have demonstrated some ways that I will be using wikispaces to facilitate the work of student scientists in the future projects. The creation of this site was a reflective act that has helped me think more deeply about concepts and theories that are relatively new to me.

For visitors, I hope that the structures, processes and rationales that are presented in this site can be transferred to your own teaching/learning environments. I recognize that the design of the project pages are in part inspired and in part limited by the wikispaces platform. Regardless, as a visitor, I hope you see potential here for further development (using the wikispaces platform or another) of collaborative student spaces for science projects. Or, perhaps something you see here will sparks an idea or a goal in your own practice. As you navigate through the site, please be aware that I have created 3 system-bot students to illustrate how the site could be used to facilitate project work.

As an Ontario science teacher currently informed by [|STSE] education theory, my goal is to continue to move away from an elitist, traditional transmission style of science teaching toward a student-centred, activist, "science for all" approach. The scholarly works of the following OISE faculty members largely informs my understanding of STSE theory: [|Prof. Larry Bencze], [|Prof. Erminia Pedretti] and [|Prof. Derek Hodson].

As a "holistic learning" novice I am very interest to know how I can improve teaching and learning around student science research/projects. Science projects vary widely in the educational landscapes I inhabit. At one end of the continuum I see topic based "research" projects. Unfortunately, this leads to an emphasis on information gathering and too often, flagrant cut and pasting. At the other end of the spectrum, I see carefully crafted research projects that begin with open-ended problems that can be examined from multiple perspectives using different sources. Ideally, part of the project should involve "doing science" (e.g. conducting experiments to prove the existence of the problem, conducting experiments to support a proposed solution). Yet, the majority of students don't seem to like research projects. This seems so odd to me because "research" should be the natural extension of curiosity. Yet, when students begin to learn about "responsible internet research, "bias, "academic honesty," etc. the fire inside them subsides. Could it be issues relating to topic choice? Could it be research lessons are taught out of context? Could it be they have been getting away with cutting and pasting for years and would prefer this easier option? Is it a matter of making science more meaningful and concrete?

So, this site attempts to address the question, can students embrace science research projects without losing their enthusiasm and curiosity? How is this done in a "holistic way"? What role does technology play in facilitating the process?

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Site Created June 5th, 2013. Last updated, June 15th, 2013