TPACK and other cool stuff

This week I learned about TPACK, which is the combination of technical, pedagogical, and content knowledge. When you have a lot of content knowledge you know a lot about a particular subject. Pedagogical knowledge is knowing how to teach and what methods work best to help students learn. Technological knowledge is knowing how to use technology to increase or enhance knowledge. When all three are intertwined you get effective teaching. It's important for teachers to know and use TPACK because effective teachers are constantly learning how to improve themselves and if lessons meet the criteria for TPACK then the lessons will be effective.

I also learned about some really neat and useful science tools. My favorites were stellarium and the microscope. It was amazing to be able to have a microscope that hooks up to the computer so that everyone can see what's going on. What an amazing way to have the benefits of using a microscope for science without having to have a microscope for every few students.