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Scoop.it!
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High school science teacher Tyler DeWitt was ecstatic about a lesson plan on bacteria (how cool!) -- and devastated when his students hated it. The problem was the textbook: it was impossible to understand.
Beth Dichter's insight:
The way one teaches makes a difference, and Tyler DeWitt provides us with a look at one way to teach science...so that the students will be engaged! You might also want to check out his YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/tdewitt451. 
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Scoop.it!
Scientists are using video games to tap the collective intelligence of people around the world, while doctors and educators are turning to games to treat and teach.
Beth Dichter's insight:
This is an in-depth article that looks at gaming from three perspectives. One part covers playing games in the realm of science, and discusses how using the cloud to solve problems has gained credence (specifically discussing Foldit). The second portion discusses learning with games. In this section the author notes that "games help students engage in scientific concepts through immersive experiential learning, which often commands greater focus and provides greater rewards for success. For example, Steinkuehler’s research showed that students identified as troubled or struggling readers demonstrated dramatically improved reading skills while playing games, able to comprehend higher reading levels." It also makes note of a game that is being designed by MIT for release in later 2013 called Radix Endeavor (a mulit-player game for STEM learning in high school). The third section discusses "a spoonful of learning" as in how games are now used in medicine. It turns out that games are used in medicine in a variety of areas from helping "stroke victims regain balance" to building universally acceptable maps—using audio and other sensory cues, like the sounds of running water near rivers" to games to help with weight control (not only good for overweight children but also for individuals on the autism spectrum). There is a wealth of information in this piece and it is worth reading.
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Wonderful video about the importance of keeping children engaged with science, over ensuring that every child has to know every single about a progess.
I've seen this TED talk before and it really hits the nail on the head for many students in science. Why would anyone want to pursue a career in science if all they get to experience are facts and figures with a bit of experimentation thrown in! I actually based my Literacy and Numeracy assignment on this. The learning experience for students was to develop a creative story based around a pathogen of their choosing. They had to include how the pathogen was spread, what it did to the person who contracted it (symptoms) and how that person was treated. It was aimed at year 9 students within a biology based unit of work. I would love to implement it one day to see how students respond.