Revolutionizing Middle School Science with New Gizmos Investigations

The next generation of K-12 science learning goals, which focus on students’ science sensemaking, are already here. Edtech tools for science teachers must provide instructional materials to help them achieve these new goals. Our library of 550+ Gizmos interactive science simulations has always been an excellent in-class supplement that offers students practice with just this kind of learning, which is now the core of most states’ science assessments.

With so many new teachers entering the workforce, ExploreLearning wanted to bring even more support to all teachers, allowing them to readily get the most out of science Gizmos and efficiently deliver that experience to students. 

Enter Gizmos Investigations! Each lesson highlights just a couple Gizmos and a few science practices but wraps scaffolds around those Gizmos to give students the experience of doing authentic science practices themselves, right in the same ExploreLearning platform they’re used to.

When the Gizmos Team asked for STEM teacher volunteers to beta test the new Gizmos Investigations, Jennifer McSween answered the call. McSween enjoys spending time with family, playing tennis, and engaging in community events. She’s also been an educator for 15 years, currently teaching 8th-grade Physical Science and coaching middle school robotics at Faith Academy in Mobile, AL. Find out about her experience in her own words and what’s next for Gizmos Investigations.

 
Using the new Gizmos Investigations in a middle school science classroom

As a science teacher for 15 years, I have become passionate about helping students discover their curiosity and love of discovery. I am dedicated to making science engaging and accessible for all students. It is imperative to connect real-world phenomena to classroom concepts, helping students understand the relevance of science in their daily lives.

In my classroom, I emphasize hands-on learning, critical thinking, and collaboration. I use experiments, demonstrations, and interactive projects to inspire students to explore the principles of physics and chemistry. My goal is to foster a learning environment where students feel empowered to ask questions, test ideas, and develop a lifelong appreciation for science.

Creating hands-on and interactive learning experiences for students

I teach physical science to 8th graders. In my classes, students enjoy learning and the challenges of growing their knowledge. However, some students would prefer to be given step-by-step instructions.

The process & expectations of becoming a beta tester

As a product beta tester and Collab Crew member, I was asked to explore a new series of Gizmos Investigations. I participated in a one-hour training video session that gave an overview of the teacher and student expectations. I assigned the lessons to my students and noted their pros and cons. I dedicated two 50-minute class periods and quickly assessed the usefulness of these awesome lessons. I was asked to follow up with my insights on what worked and did not work so well.

First impressions: From training to classroom success

Five years ago, the head of our science department introduced our teachers to ExploreLearning Gizmos, and I was immediately impressed. Because of my experience with Gizmos, I was excited to jump into beta testing.

I was very satisfied with the Gizmos Investigations overall. The students understood the concepts in a way they had not understood before. I was surprised at how easy it was for my students to explore independently in pairs. I was also surprised that they looked for the positive reinforcement the Gizmo Investigation had built into it.

How Gizmos Investigations boosted student engagement and understanding

I noticed a big improvement in student engagement! The lessons' graphs and charts improved learning. Students were able to logically make connections from the data collected to the visual displays in graphs and charts. The new investigations helped boost student engagement and science understanding by:

• Encouraging independent exploration and critical thinking
• Making data meaningful via graphs, charts, and real-world applications
• Enforcing positive reinforcement in learning

The in-product feedback was valuable. Students struggled to give it their attention, but I found it well-planned. The amount of reading was not too long for the students to read, yet enough to confirm the crucial information they needed to move forward and be successful.

 
Seamless integration into the classroom

Gizmos Investigations fit easily into the classroom routine. Since our students are already familiar with Gizmos, adding the Investigations was a seamless transition. I used them as a whole-class activity.

I love the flow so far. I like the storyline. The prompts for their answers give useful facts for the next level of information. So far, it has been engaging for the students.

Fitting Gizmos Investigations into an existing science curriculum

I have completed the Phase Changes Investigation Series. There were some great takeaways, including the student creation of data tables. To begin the lesson, the students explored altitude and cook times. This was a great opener for them to start analyzing information and seeing trends. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the lesson gave the students the opportunity to select graph variables.

Analyzing information from the data was crucial for the creation of the graphs and better understanding trends. The student screen space was broken into a double page spread that allowed them to synchronously engage with the Phase Changes Gizmo while interacting with data. It was a great use of screen space, allowing students to complete the task in a more clear and comprehensive way, which was conducive to learning outcomes.

I most appreciate the real-world application component of the Gizmos Investigations. These lessons also give more of an overall experience of analyzing and thinking through a complete science concept as a scientist would.

Using assessments to track student growth & adapt teaching

Using data in science education is essential. The connections students were asked to make were spot on with the presented material. I found the following features to be very effective:

• Excellent student guide through the next steps and analysis of science methods
• Engaging and interactive science phenomenon and testing
• Logical approach to problem-solving and analysis of outcomes

The assessments gave a quick snapshot of student progress, allowing me to choose students I should give one-on-one attention while the other students continued to work.

The future of science education with Gizmos Investigations

I look forward to supporting my students on their journey of discovery and helping them develop the skills and confidence to succeed both in and beyond the classroom. Real-world applications inspire future scientists. That’s why interactive science lessons are the future of STEM education.

I'm pleased so far and excited to continue with Gizmos Investigations. Thank you for providing such a quality product for teachers. Keep up the good work!
 

Explore Gizmos today, and prepare to see a positive difference in student engagement.

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