I’m Here at the IT-DATE 2!

IF THERE is one thing I have always love about teaching at a Regional Science High School is the vast opportunity for teacher training, especially those that are sponsored or organized by the Department of Science and Technology or by the University of the Philippines…

Playing with PhET Simulation: Lunar Lander

LEARNING PHYSICS has been viewed by many as dragging and difficult. A lot would say, “I hate learning physics,” but with physics simulations from PhET, not anymore. When teaching velocity and acceleration, you can use this fun simulation called the Lunar Lander, where players attempt…

Video Tutorial: Creating a Map with Google Maps

HERE’S THE first video tutorial I made for my third year students. I asked them to create maps using Google Maps and they will describe their trip home with kinematics. I made a short (less than five minutes) tutorial video and here it is:  …

e-Learning in Physics: Hopes and Fears

THERE’S A gazillion of learning opportunities in the web today and if we can only harness its full potential, we can enhance the students’ learning experience and, consequently, improve their performance. There is wisdom behind the Department of Education’s Cyber Education Project (CEP). Had traditional…

Why does the Moon appear Red during a Lunar Eclipse?

WE EXPERIENCED a lunar eclipse last night, June 15, 2011. Unfortunately, due to cloudy skies, we failed to witness the moon turn into a reddish glowing sphere in the night sky. It should have been an amazing spectacle.   But why does the moon look…

Issues and Opportunities for Learning in Social Networking Sites

TODAY’S GENERATION may be aptly called the generation of social networking. Get inside any classroom and ask who among the students have an account on Facebook, Twitter, Plurk, Tumblr, Formspring, or Friendster, and behold a sea of hands raised in response. If you would even pry into how much time they spend on these social networking sites, you would wonder if they still have time for their studies. Until thorough research is made, we can only speculate on the extent of influence social networking sites have on our kids.

My Own Guidelines for Online Learning Activities

They may not cover all the important considerations, but at least, they give me a clear idea of what I am doing and why I am doing it. ICT integration does not only mean making use of technology in teaching but making sure that they effectively facilitate learning.

PhET: A Vast Resource for Science and Mathematics Teachers

According to the Sensory Stimulation Theory, there is greater learning if the different senses are stimulated at the same time. That is why, we always have to use visual aids during lectures, why we make students simulate real-life physical phenomena in the laboratory, and a host of other teaching strategies wherein the students make us of their senses.