Learning Page Chat, December 18, 2003: Science and Invention

Tapped In, ASO (After School Online)
LeniD joined the room.
GailP joined the room.
SusanR: Greetings, Gail
GailP: Hi Susan :-)
SusanR: and Leni
LeniD: Hi, Susan :-)
LeniD: Hello Beau :-)
BeauB: Hello Leni

BjB: |** ANNOUNCEMENT: The Library of Congress Learning Page chat on science and inventions is starting in the After School Online room. To participate click on the ONLINE tab to the left of the chat window, single click on LeniD and then click on the door icon. **|
LeniD: We'll let BJ round up any stragglers, and then we'll begin. Perhaps holiday activities have captured our usual audience.
BJ: How about if we start with introductions, Leni?
LeniD: Please, BJ...thanks!

BJ: I'm a teacher in Pennsylvania and a helpdesk volunteer for Tapped In
LeniD: I'm Leni, coordinator of the Learning Page project at the Library of Congress.
GailP: I'm Gail - retired library media specialist now working with the Learning Page at the Library of Congress - and Leni!
LeniD: Beau and Susan?
BJ: Sue? Beau?
BJ chuckles
LeniD: Double teamed ya!
SusanR: I'm a K to 8 Occasional Teacher from Ontario, Canada
GailP: Great minds think alike
BeauB: High school social studies teacher that received an american memory grant from loc
GailP: What is an Occasional Teacher - quick question!
LeniD: Thanks...I was wondering that, too!
LeniD: Beau, are you an American Memory Fellow? or???
SusanR: a fancy name for a substitute teacher...that's what they call us in Ontario
GailP: Beau - a recent grant?
GailP: Thanks, Susan!
LeniD: Ah...that explains it, Susan. Thanks.
BeauB: yes, Fall 2003, and I'm from South Carolina
LeniD: The Adventure of the American Mind project, Beau?
BeauB: Yes leni
LeniD: Thanks :-)
GailP: That's great, Beau - welcome!
BJ: How great that you could join us, Beau!

LeniD: While we usually share topics that are considered "history", tonight we would like you to think about inventors and their inventions, scientists and their work.
LeniD: Thomas A. Edison said, "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."
BJ agrees
LeniD: Thomas H. Huxley suggested that one should, "Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every conceived notion, follow humbly wherever and whatever abysses nature leads, or you will learn nothing."

LeniD: Sooo...
LeniD: What leads some scientists and inventors to great success and others to frustration and failure?
LeniD: And...
LeniD: How do you engage your students in considering such a question?
BJ: are you going to give us some ideas, Leni?
GailP :-)
LeniD :-)
LeniD: We believe you tie such questions to students' own lives...and you catch their attention and imagination in the process!
BJ nods

LeniD: We are building a new activity on the Learning Page that will be published in a week or two.
LeniD: We would love your feedback about this activity, so will share some of it with you tonight.
LeniD: Then, we will give you a lightening quick tour of the resources available to as you plan learning activities dealing with science and invention and look for primary sources to support your curriculum. Are you ready?
BJ looks forward to seeing the new activity
SusanR is anxious to view the new resources
GailP: Leni is practicing the power of positive thinking about timing - but truly - we would LOVE your input!

LeniD: Click on this link...
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00185179+Rh-179
LeniD: What in the world is this???
BJ: a switchboard?
GailP: good thought, BJ
LeniD: Good guess, BJ :-)
BJ: a phonograph
GailP: but no
LeniD: What do you see?
GailP: no again
LeniD: What prior information do you bring to this image that suggests what this may be?
LeniD: What do you know about this image and/or the objects in it?
BJ: I see the sound horn...
SusanR: Is there a camera there?
BJ: and what looks like a microphone?
LeniD: Keep going... :-)
BJ: a radio?
GailP: Lots of wires!
LeniD: Ahhh...why do you think that, BJ?
BeauB: radio with vintage speakers?
BJ: process of elimination ;-)
BJ: also looks like a code key on the shelf
BJ . o O ( morse code )
LeniD: You are doing  great! :-)
LeniD: If I had taken you to the bibliographic record, you would have seen the title, "Old-time battery radio / photo by Harry M. Rhoads."
BJ: Ha! I was right!
GailP: Yea, BJ!

LeniD: How can you guide your students' observation and thinking skills as they try to solve such a mystery?
LeniD: How would you use photos like this with your students?
BeauB: to describe period of the Great Depression
LeniD: Tell us about what you would do with the photo, Beau :-)
GailP: In the activity we will have 10-15 "interesting" and "unusual" images like this.
JeffC joined the room.
LeniD: Where in the learning process would you use a "mystery" image?
BJ: we have tons of prior knowledge to help us identify the parts in the picture...
SusanR: I would use your strategy...
BJ: how many kids would recognize that horn as a speaker?
BJ . o O ( or the microphone? )
LeniD: True, BJ...but how do you tease it out of kids?
LeniD: Go on, Susan :-)
LeniD: Welcome, Jeff!
BeauB: To try and give students a sense of how far technology has come.  Today a radio could be the size of a dime, with ear plug speakers.  The visual gives students a concrete idea on how to start a discussion on how far technology has come.
SusanR: Keep them guessing ...while giving clues
JeffC waves
GailP: That's a great thought - change over time!
LeniD: True, Beau :-)  It engages the students interest and becomes a good "starter' activity.
SusanR: A picture is worth a thousand words
BeauB: Especially when they have no idea what an 8 track is.
LeniD: Good tactic, Sue :-)
BJ chuckles. Right, Beau..poor deprived dears@
JeffC: how about those vinyl cds?
BJ . o O ( can't find that !!!! tonight )
BeauB: true, true
GailP: Or the Edison cylinders!
LeniD: Well, as Gail told you...we will be providing a thought provoking, interactive activity that engages their imagination and curiosity...we hope!  Watch for it soon :-)

LeniD: Are you ready for the promised resources from the Library???  Buckle up tight, because here we go!

LeniD: Lesson plans...
LeniD: Studying about conservation?  Here's a lesson about an ongoing water controversy in the Western United States:
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/97/conser1/xroads.html
SusanR: Got it
LeniD: My son practices water law in CA...I was thrilled to hear him speak about Hetch Hetchy...the controversy continues!

LeniD: Another lesson...
Are you studying weather and natural phenomenon? Take a look at Nature's Fury!
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/00/nature/index.html
BJ: that story continues too!
GailP: the Gallery of Artifacts is a great page in this lesson:
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/00/nature/gallery.html
LeniD: Thanks, Gail :-)

LeniD: Thank you, Mr. Edison....
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/99/edison/intro.html

LeniD: And now, some Collection connections to help you delve into topics dealing with science and invention....
The Alexander Graham Bell Family Papers at the Library of Congress
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/collections/agb/
Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850 - 1920
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/collections/conserv/index.html
Here comes one of my favorites.. Inventing Entertainment...
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/collections/ed/index.html
GailP: Each of these Collection Connections will provide you with a link to the collection itself. But the Connections are a wonderful source for teaching ideas!
LeniD: Exactly, Gail...they give context and strategies for teaching with the collection they describe.

LeniD: Here's a special presentation from the American Memory collections:
Documenting Chronology of  Selected Events in the Development of the American Conservation Movement, 1847 - 1920.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amrvhtml/cnchron1.html

LeniD: Here's a wowser.... from Exhibitions:
Earth As Art...
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/earthasart/
BJ: that is very cool!
LeniD: I love that one, BJ!
GailP: This would be great to use in geography class too!
LeniD: Yep, Gail :-)
BJ: I think the url was on one of the Scout Reports
LeniD: Excellent!
SusanR: Neat
LeniD: Glad you liked it, Susan ;-)

LeniD: Now put on your leather and helmets for...
LeniD: Hog Heaven...
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/harley100/

GailP: I love this one - comparing US and British inventions:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/british/brit-5.html
LeniD: LOL...that would have been my next one, Gail!
GailP :-)
GailP: Back seat driver!

LeniD: Another Exhibiton...
The Work of Charles and Ray Eames...
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/eames/science.html

LeniD: Here's something many teachers never find...
Science Tracer Bullets...
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/tracer-bullets/tbs.html
LeniD: It's worth serious exploration when you have time, folks!

LeniD: And a lighter touch...
With Wings as Eagles...From Fantasy to Flight...
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/flight/index.html
GailP: With Wings as Eagles  is full of images that you could use as "teasers" with your students!
LeniD: Definitely, Gail!

LeniD: And for your students....
Edison's Failed Invention
http://www.americasstory.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/edison/fail_1
Everyday Mysteries...
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/mysteries-home.html
GailP: Keep your eyes on this one - it should be expanding!
LeniD: Yep!
The Invention of the Ice Cream Cone..
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/jb_date.cgi?month=07&day=23&x=15&y=14
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina...First Flight...
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/es/nc/kttyhwk_1
GailP: Check out the Wright Papers - 50,000 items
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wrighthtml/wrighthome.html
LeniD: Any wind burns, or whiplash, folks? :-) All of these links can be explored at your leisure using the transcript– from Tapped In or from the Learning Page.

LeniD: These resources and MANY more can be found in the Science and Invention Community Center:
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/community/cc_science.php

BeauB: Thank you greatly, awesome resources
LeniD: Thanks, Beau...hope they are helpful.
LeniD: We invite you to explore and enjoy them!

LeniD: Please join us next month when we will be talking about the "Branding of America" and sharing a collaborative project to use with your students!

LeniD: Any questions? comments?
LeniD: Thanks for joining us... and...
Have a wonderful holiday season...see you next year!
SusanR: Thanks Leni and Gail
GailP: Great to be here tonight :-)
BeauB: Thank you, and I wish you the same.
BJ: Thanks, Leni and Gail...great resources
LeniD: Thanks for joining us, tonight!
GailP: Come back next year!
BJ: January 22
LeniD: Branding of America...see how YOU and your students can Make History with the Library of Congress!  See you then :-)
LeniD: Good night!
GailP: Good night all :-)