My+Visit+to+the+Splo+(Dean+Mendoza)

Me at the Splo (Click on the picture, then push right arrow to see entire shot.) SLURL: []
 * __Landmark URL__**:



__**Subject**__: Physics ("I.P.C."), mainly and Chemistry--also,Physical Science, Earth, and Space Science (Biology, too?)

High School (Middle School, too--some)
 * __Grade Level__:**

__**Summary**__: The Splo is an interactive Science Museum. As soon as I saw this place, it looked like a huge playground island for fun-loving Science Teachers. First, I ran to take a Splo Hoverplane tour. I got to see the whole island in a couple of minutes. I saw as much stuff as I could and played with as much as I could, but after over 3 hours of excitement (ending after midnight), I had to get to sleep, so that I could wake up in a few hours and get ready to teach in the real world. In other words, I did not get to do everything that I had seen on my hoverplane tour. I will have to come back again. I HIGHLY recommend this place if you like to play and learn!

I envision using Second Life in my classroom by visiting the Splo and teaching in a new and exciting way--very important in making my subject interesting with a different approach. Either I could use our Infocus to "demonstrate" concepts as I stroll through the museum on the big screen, trying out several pertinant concepts as Demos that pertain to that days lessons--or I could let the students move my avatar around and learn the lesson themselves by "doing"--albeit, working one student at a time. Still, that could put a new spin on reviewed topics, using a little "practicum", or for a TAKS review.

__**TEKS**__ (applicable) : I 4a, 4b, 4c, and, maybe, 4d. These have to do with Speed ("Mass, Velocity, and Bounce" exhibit), Momentum ("Dominos Fall"), Acceleration (Gravity--Hoverplane tour), Newton's Laws of Motion ("Newton's Cradle", for example), Simple Machines, Mechanical Advantage, and Efficiency (all having to do with the Inverted Unicycle that I rode).

(n.b.--There were Chemistry TEKS with the s-p-d-f orbitals "sculptures", and, obviously, Physics TEKS, too.)