Methods of Teaching Physical Sciences
Chemistry 4802, Physics 4800, Secondary Education 3240
Fall 2003
SYLLABUS (Continuously revised)
This course is intended for students who have nearly completed a major in chemistry or physics, and requirements for a teaching certificate in those areas, with the exception of the semester of practice teaching and its associated seminar. It is designed to introduce the pre-service teacher to a variety of instructional strategies that will enable their students to: gain proficiency in the content areas of physics and chemistry; develop an understanding of the nature of science; develop positive attitudes toward science; understand the relationships between science, technology, and society; and develop science process skills. Each student will develop and express an instructional philosophy that will provide the framework for the selection, organization, and presentation of concepts in chemistry and physics, and evaluation of student achievement in those concepts. Students will continue the development of a portfolio that exhibits evidence that these goals and objectives have been achieved. Most of the students in the course will also be participating in a semester of Internship at the school and with the mentor teacher with whom they will be Student Teaching during the Winter, 2004 semester.
During the Fall term of 2003, Methods of Teaching Physical Sciences is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00 to 5:15 in 451 Benton Hall. The instructor is Professor H. Harris (office Benton 315e, phone 516-5344 (office) 993-5422 (home), e-mail hharris@umsl.edu). Students will also be expected to participate in professional meetings that occur outside of regular class times.
The assigned textbook for the course is, Teaching Secondary School Science: Strategies for Developing Science Literacy, 8th edition, by Leslie W. Trowbridge and Roger W. Bybee (Prentice Hall Publishing Company, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 1999). Other books that may be found useful are, for chemistry students The Chemistry Classroom: Formulas for Successful Teaching, by Dudley Herron (ACS Books, New York, 1995) and, for physics students Teaching Introductory Physics by Arnold B. Arons (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1997) and Peer Instruction: A User's Manual by Eric Mazur (Prentice Hall 1997). Students will also be expected to subscribe to the major periodicals in chemistry or physics education. For chemistry students, this will be the Journal of Chemical Education and for physics students The Physics Teacher. See the External Links menu for information about these and other resources.
The schedule of lessons below represents the approximate schedule of topics
to be covered this term, but it is likely that adjustments will be necessary
during the semester. Items in boldface occur outside of our normal
meeting times.
|
Date |
|
Subject |
|
Aug |
Introduction of class members. Logistics of Internships and Student Teaching semesters. Developing a philosophy of education. |
|
|
|
What is expected of students in this course? Critique of classroom videos. |
LAST DAY TO ENROLL IS AUGUST 26
|
|
Hand in Philosophy of Teaching Science; Textbook for this class. Professional affiliations and subscriptions. List servers. Content knowledge assessment. |
|
|
Sep |
Discussion of Against School. |
|
|
|
4 |
Continued discussion of Against School. "A Mind of Our Own- Can We Believe Our Eyes?" video. |
|
|
9 |
Professor Harris will be out of town. No class meeting. |
|
|
11 |
The completion of “Can We Believe Our Eyes?” Teaching through misconceptions. Bodner quiz. Hand in chemistry or physics tests. |
|
|
16 |
Discussing the Bodner quiz. Baking soda + vinegar demo. Lesson Planning in the Physical Sciences. Debriefing the baking soda + vinegar demo. |
|
|
18 |
Models for Science Teaching. Constructivism. (Chapters 2 and 6 in T-B) Advice on portfolio development, and examples. Using Chemical Education Research. |
|
|
18 |
Educator Open House at the St. Louis Science
Center. 3:30-7:00p. Planetarium,
free Omnimax films. Refreshments. 15% discount in store. Call (314)286-4617 or e-mail
awalker@slsc.org. Not any part of
this course – just an invitation! |
|
Sat |
20 |
SLAPT at Six Flags (free). Introduction to portable data collection, which will be a student activity in the spring. (see http://www.slapt.org) |
|
|
23 |
Report on Six Flags. Discussion of content knowledge test results. What to do? |
|
|
25 |
Learning cycle practicum (optical transforms) (T-B Chapter 14) |
|
|
30 |
Mr. Mark Schober of John Burroughs School will talk about Modeling Physics and the Modeling movement in science education. |
|
Oct |
2 |
Discussion of the Learning Cycle practicum. Bring and be ready to discuss a lesson plan for one class (T-B Chapter 15) Science Education Reform Movements (T-B Chapter 4) |
|
|
7 |
Laboratory Safety, including Flinn video I, T-B Chapter 14 |
|
|
8 |
ACS Education Topical Group at John Burroughs School. 7:00p |
|
|
9 |
Instead of our regular class
meeting - Workshop on portfolios conducted by Harvey Chiles. 3:30-5:00p in the Auditorium of Marillac
Hall |
|
|
14 |
Teaching problem-solving. Video example. (T-B Ch. 12-13, Herron Ch. 7-8) |
|
|
16 |
More on safety, storage, and waste management (Flinn video II) |
|
Sat |
18 |
SLAPT program: Astronomy and Learning Cycles Workshop presented
by Rebecca Lindell of SIUE at Trinity Catholic High School (see http://www.slapt.org) |
|
|
21 |
Teaching physically handicapped students. (Including Web resources on this). |
|
|
23 |
Short and long-term planning. |
|
|
28 |
Preparing for the Praxis Exams. Assessment: goals and techniques (T-B Chapters 17 and 18)Laboratory learning (T-B Chapter 14). |
|
|
30 |
Concept mapping as a science teaching strategy (handouts, T-B Chapter 18) |
|
Nov |
4 |
Gender issues in science education (handouts) |
|
|
6 |
No class - Professor Harris will be at the ACS Midwest Regional Meeting in Columbia |
|
|
11 |
Electronic Access to Resources in Science Education (103 CCB) |
NOVEMBER 11 IS THE LAST DAY A STUDENT MAY DROP
|
Wed |
12 |
Vernier Workshop on interfacing experiments. 4:00-8:00p. Preregistration required. http://www.vernier.com/workshop/evaluationapp.html?id=90 |
|
|
13 |
Electronic Access to Resources in Science Education (103 CCB) |
|
|
13-15 |
NSTA South Midwestern Area Convention – Kansas City, Missouri. This is FYI only – attendance is not expected. |
|
Sat |
15 |
SLAPT – “Quantum Mechanics for All” presented by Sanjay Rebello at Lindenwood College. Free, but preregistration required. This is basically a marketing opportunity for Visual Quantum Mechanics, by Ztek software. (see http://www.slapt.org) |
|
|
18 |
Instructions for making Web-based electronic portfolio |
|
|
20 |
Cooperative Education (Peer Learning) (guest editorial on pp. 206-7 of T-B) |
|
|
25 |
Videotape Jeremy and view tape of Eric’s class |
|
|
27 |
Thanksgiving Holiday - no class |
|
Dec |
2 |
Turn in a unit plan in your subject to be included in portfolio, including lesson plans for two days of the unit. |
|
|
4 |
Science, Technology, and Society (T-B Chapter 16) |
|
Sat |
6 |
SLAPT “Make ‘n Take” circular motion device, followed by Modeling lesson by Rex Rice. 8:00a-3:00p at Clayton High School (see http://www.slapt.org) |
|
|
9 |
ACS Education Topical Group on use of the Internet
for teaching Chemistry, at St. Joseph’s Academy (on Lindbergh, south of
Clayton Rd., Plaza Frontenac, and the Shriner’s Hospital. 4:00-5:30p. |
|
|
16 |
2:45-4:45 Sharing of online Unit plans; logistics for next semester |
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This page last modified 11/25/03