Smartphones are everywhere today, especially for teenagers, and their potential extends far beyond social media and texting. In high school science classrooms, smart- phones and related devices offer a plethora of opportunities to enhance learning, engage students, and facilitate a deeper understanding of scientific concepts across science disciplines. Here’s how and why smartphones can be effectively integrated into high school science education.
1. Enhancing Data Collection and Analysis
One of the most powerful applications of smartphones in science education is their ability to collect and analyze data. Equipped with various sensors, smartphones can measure light intensity, temperature, sound levels, and even acceleration. Apps like Phyphox, a German university designed app, and Sensor Kinetics, for iPhone and Androids, turn smartphones into portable data collection tools. For instance, students studying physics can use their smartphones to measure acceleration and velocity during physics experiments, Earth and Space Science students can use the gravitometer to look for anomalies in Earth’s gravitational strength, providing real-time data that can be analyzed and graphed directly on their device. Why not make a smartphone the center of an engineering project with Carolina STEM Challenge®: Sound Off. Let students design and test “smartphone speakers” to determine whose phone is ready for a gameday broadcast. This encourages students to develop critical analytical skills and to see the science around them.
2. Facilitating Scientific Visualization
Visualization is crucial in science education, particularly in subjects like biology and chemistry where complex processes and structures, often on the microscopic scale, need to be understood. Remember that the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices include Analyzing and Interpreting Data and Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking. Smartphones put the data and math right in students’ hands. With the assistance of the Carolina RBG Colorimetry app and the Carolina® Spectroscopy Chamber, students can turn their smartphone in to a spectrophotometer to gather data on solution concentration for Beer-Lambert experiments. The same principle applies for identifying algae concentrations in a body of water during an eutrophication event. Smartphones can be used to access a range of educational apps and resources that offer 3D models, simulations, and interactive diagrams. Modeling, another NGSS Science and Engineering Practice, is particularly useful for schools with limited resources or for complex experiments that are not feasible or safe in a traditional lab setting. By visualizing molecular structures or biochemical processes, students can better grasp concepts that might otherwise remain abstract.
3. Promoting Collaborative Learning
Smartphones facilitate collaborative learning by enabling students to work together on projects and share information easily. Through platforms like Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, or various educational apps, students can collaborate on research, share findings, and provide peer feedback in real-time. This collaborative approach mirrors modern scientific practices, where teamwork and communication are essential and drive scientific progress. Group projects can be managed more efficiently, and students can use their smartphones to document progress, exchange ideas, and even conduct joint experiments using shared apps. Photo documentation in the lab is a must. You know what your students say, “If there’s not a picture, it didn’t happen!” Engaging, real-time collaboration is social-emotional learning at its best.
4. Encouraging Scientific Inquiry and Exploration
The internet is a treasure trove of scientific information, and smartphones provide instant access to this vast resource. With browsers and educational apps, students can conduct research, explore recent scientific advancements, and access scholarly articles and videos. Tutorial apps are available for most subjects and topics. Students do need to learn to critically evaluate information gathered from apps. Additionally, students can use their smartphones to participate in citizen science projects, such as tracking local wildlife or contributing to global data collection efforts. This fosters a sense of curiosity and encourages students to engage in scientific inquiry beyond the confines of the classroom.
5. Facilitating Field Work and Experiments
Fieldwork is an integral part of science education, and smartphones can enhance this experience significantly. GPS capabilities, camera functions, and data collection apps make smartphones valuable tools for field experiments. For example, biology students can use their smartphones to document plant species during a field trip, record observations, and use identification apps to classify organisms. Enhance the field experience even more by turning a smartphone into a microscope! With a simple attachment like a Carson® MicroPic Pocket Microscope, that clips directly onto a smartphone, students can examine and identify even the smallest of invertebrates. For laboratory-grade microscopic observations in the field, the uHandy® Pro Mobile Science Kit clips to a smartphone or tablet for direct magnification of up to 1,350x and a resolution of 0.7-0.9mm. Earth and Space Science students can keep cloud photos in an online journal and correlate weather data such as humidity, temperature and barometric pressure to develop explanations of weather patterns. This practical application of science in real-world settings helps students understand the relevance of their studies and develop a hands-on approach to learning.
6. Improving Access and Inclusivity
Finally, smartphones can improve access to science education for all students, including those with disabilities. Text-to-speech and speech-to-text apps, along with other accessibility features, ensure that students with diverse needs can participate fully in science activities. Translation into a vast number of languages is immediate. Font size, color, contrast, and volume are easily adjusted for individual student needs. Educational apps designed with accessibility in mind can offer alternative ways to engage with content, making science education more inclusive.
7. Carolina Staff’s Favorite Science App Picks
Here is a list of some of our favorite apps:
Life Science
- Greg-plant identification, plant disease identification, plant care with reminders
- Picture This- plant identification, care guides, and watering reminders
- SEEK by iNaturalist- educational information with plant and animal identification (including bugs)
- Plant Snap-flower and tree identification
- Planta-house plant care with reminders
Earth and Space Science
- Night Sky- (NASA) identification of stars, constellations, planets, and other objects
- Sky Guide-(NASA) identification of stars, constellations, planets, and object motion
- Sky Tonight- overview of what is in the sky and its position
- Rockd-from the University of Wisconsin, everything you want to know about geologic and geographic concepts including summaries, over 200 geologic maps, 3D virtual guide, elevation data, and the geologic record
Chemistry
- Chemistry and the Periodic Table- interactive periodic table, AR atomic structure, chemistry tables
- Chemistry Solver-tutorials and step by step problem solving help
- Chem Quiz-chemistry trivia great for test and exam review
Physics
- Physics Lab AR-physics models and simulations
- Physics Formulas Lite-physics tutorials
- Physics Toolbox Sensors- uses internal smartphone sensors to collect, display, record, and export data files
Federal Government Apps
NASA- all space and remote sensing. This list is just a few of the amazing NASA apps.
- NASA Education
- Next Spaceflight
- ISS Live Now
- Google Aerth
- NASA Visualization
- Spaceflight Simulator
- Satellite Tracker
- Earth-Now-NASA Climate data
NOAA
- NOAA Live Weather
- National Hurricane Center
- Marine Weather
- Tide Alert-tide charts and tide predictions
USGS
- My Earthquake Alerts and Feed
- 3D USGS Maps by Relief Maps- hiking trails and National Park Service trails
- Rivercast-water levels in US rivers
- MyShake-earthquake warnings
In conclusion, integrating smartphones into high school science classes offers numerous benefits, from enhanced data collection and scientific visualization to fostering collaboration and fieldwork. By embracing these technologies, educators can create a more interactive, engaging, and inclusive learning environment that prepares students for the scientific challenges of the future.
