Classroom Collaboration Tools
NESA Virtual Science Fair
When Stuart Fleischer, veteran middle school science teacher, envisioned reviving the science fair at the WBAIS, he recognized that today’s middle schoolers are growing up in a digital environment vastly different from twenty years ago. Today, students easily master the technologies of chat, instant messaging, blogs, streaming video and e-mail, and a “virtual” science fair using internet technologies and digital tools was not such a daunting task.
Utilizing the powerful online tools provided by the Blackboard™ interactive software, Dr. Fleischer developed a “virtual” science fair with student projects hosted online with digital images and streaming video. While eliminating some of the logistical problems of the traditional science fair, this virtual fair tapped into the communicative potential of the web. E-Mentors skilled in science discussed the development of the project with teams of students throughout the design, research, experimental, and analytical phases of their projects. Using an e-dairy, the student reported and reflected on the process. Qualified e-judges (scientists and science education professors) interviewed the students and assessed their projects online.
Read the NAIS article featuring the NVSF
Utilizing the powerful online tools provided by the Blackboard™ interactive software, Dr. Fleischer developed a “virtual” science fair with student projects hosted online with digital images and streaming video. While eliminating some of the logistical problems of the traditional science fair, this virtual fair tapped into the communicative potential of the web. E-Mentors skilled in science discussed the development of the project with teams of students throughout the design, research, experimental, and analytical phases of their projects. Using an e-dairy, the student reported and reflected on the process. Qualified e-judges (scientists and science education professors) interviewed the students and assessed their projects online.
Read the NAIS article featuring the NVSF
GAIA Project
The GAIA Project (Global Awareness, Investigation and Action) is a climate change initiative that aims to inspire middle and high school students around the world to perform environmental research and sustainability on a local, regional, and global basis. GAIA emphasizes collaboration between students and local peers from a spectrum of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds through field trips and forums. Regional and global communication is enabled through virtual classrooms, forums and science camps. GAIA will produce and publish actual scientific research while strengthening student achievement across the entire curriculum.
GAIA Israel offers local schools the opportunity to tap into the educational resources of WBAIS Israel (The Walworth Barbour American International School in Israel) and invites your students to join a stimulating experience to promote science and research. The GAIA initiative offers equipment, mentoring, a small stipend, free training for teachers as well as students, opportunities for student researchers to publish their contributions, and possibilities to attend a summer science camp.
Three international schools are the hubs for this program: AIS Israel, International School of Monterey, and the Caltex American School of Sumatra. We invite you to become one of our local partners.
Go to the WBAIS - Israel GAIA Site to see what is happening
GAIA Israel offers local schools the opportunity to tap into the educational resources of WBAIS Israel (The Walworth Barbour American International School in Israel) and invites your students to join a stimulating experience to promote science and research. The GAIA initiative offers equipment, mentoring, a small stipend, free training for teachers as well as students, opportunities for student researchers to publish their contributions, and possibilities to attend a summer science camp.
Three international schools are the hubs for this program: AIS Israel, International School of Monterey, and the Caltex American School of Sumatra. We invite you to become one of our local partners.
Go to the WBAIS - Israel GAIA Site to see what is happening
WORKSHOPS
Contact Stuart about developing workshops for your teachers and / or students.