Ideas about specific integration of technology into the classroom.

So the other day I was prompted by my ICT prof. to think about ways that we, as teachers can integrate technology into the classroom… well I immediately thought of my post on September 17th, entitled ‘technological integration into the classroom’… I then thought: well I really shouldn’t be lazy and just resubmit the idea, I really should come up with something else that more specific and that integrates some aspects from the Alberta Education Curriculum. So here my proposed Alberta Fish Species Project (AFSP):

This project is to be studied is Biology 20, Unit B: ecosystems and population change. Even more specifically, it would deal with the general outcome of “explain[ing] that the biosphere is composed of ecosystems, each with distinctive biotic and abiotic characteristics” and “explain[ing] the mechanisms involved in the change of populations over time.” With respect to the specific outcomes I would aim the AFSP to “identify biotic and abiotic characteristics and explain their influence in an aquatic and a terrestrial ecosystem in the local region” and “conduct investigations into relationships between and among observable variables and use a broad range of tools and techniques to gather and record data and information” (“Biology 20-30”, 2007). A few ICT specific outcomes might be “select and use the appropriate technologies to communicate effectively with a targeted audience”, and “identify and analyze a variety of factors that affect the authenticity of information derived from mass media and electronic communication” (“ICT outcomes”, 2007).

So specifically with respect to the AFSP, it would involve getting my students to conduct some research into the diversity and interactions of fish species here in Alberta. This would be a two part process. The first part of the process would involve research and compiling of data from internet sources. This would fulfill the second ICT outcome by allowing the students to identify and analyze the validity of some sources of information. They would compile valid information, explaining why the information was valid, and then move onto the second part of the project. I would take them on a field trip to either survey Alberta anglers or to conduct some catch and release themselves to gain some empirical tabulation on Alberta fish stocks. This information would then be submitted to the Fisheries Management Information System, managed by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development at http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/fishwildlife/guidelinesresearch/fmis.aspx
This would serve to integrate our studies of fish species and their interactions to a public data base that would serve to manage our future fish stocks; this would fulfill the first ICT outcome. I would then extend the AFSP by asking my student possible reasons why Alberta fish and wildlife manages fishing licenses the way they do.
The integration of technology into the AFSP is key in its execution. There is no way that a group of students could conduct a large enough empirical study so as to cover all of Alberta’s lakes and gain a statistically relevant number of catches for a stand-alone-study. The small amount of empirical evidence gathered in part 2 would be added to an already existing data base. Only the viewing of the larger data base would make any of our findings relevant. Secondly, there is not any feasible way of finding the specific species interactions without internet research. An empirical study would take far too much time, equipment, and specialties to conduct properly. However, websites such as The Royal Alberta Museum’s, Alberta’s Fish Diversity website at www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/vexhibit/fishes/index2.htm would provide detailed information at the click of a button. The integration of technology into the AFSP would provide both a broad and in-depth database, and would make the project relevant to the students in that they have a feeling that their data is being used in provincial decisions on fish stocks management.


Biology 20-30. (2007). Retrieved September 23, 2007, from http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/bySubject/science/bio2030_07.pdf

ICT outcomes, Division 4. (2007). Retrieved September 23, 2007, from
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/ict/outcomes/div4.asp