|
Science Education
(ESCI) 4440, Fall 2009 |
Dr. David F.
Jackson |
|
Science Teaching
Methods for the Middle Grades |
University of
Georgia |
|
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays,
11:15-12:05 |
212 Aderhold
Hall |
|
215 Aderhold
Hall |
(706) 542-1763 djackson@uga.edu |
Course description,
from UGA Bulletin:
Science teaching methods using classroom, laboratory, and field
experiences.
Development of a range of strategies appropriate for use with middle
grades
students. Special attention to examples and
problems drawn
from the physical sciences.
A web site for the course may be
accessed at http://djackson.myweb.uga.edu//ESCI4440.html
and will be continuously developed and revised during the semester. To
allow
for maximum flexibility/responsiveness in teaching approach and
emphasis, daily
updates listing activities, readings,
and assignments will typically be posted within
a few hours immediately following
(only partially and tentatively before) each class.
As stated by UGA policy, "the course syllabus is a general plan for the
course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be
necessary."
There is no single textbook for the
course. Text materials will be extensive and will consist of
photocopied
material drawn from a wide variety of sources, in accordance with
accepted
Educational Fair Use guidelines. A large (at least 2 inch) three-ring
binder
for them is highly advisable. The course web site
has links to handouts that I have produced or that may be accessed
directly on other public sites. Excerpts from
copyrighted materials are available under this course number on UGA's eLearningCommons
system. For those who are interested in further detail, a
library of the entire books or journals from which these readings are
drawn (as well as videos shown or recommended in class) will be
continuously built and maintained in Room 215 during the semester for
reference and informal lending.
The specific schedule will be
determined, week-to-week and day-to-day, based on the progress and
input of the
class, the occasional availability of field experience opportunities or
guest
instructors, coordination with CHEM 1060 activities, and, in the case
of
several outdoor lab activities, the weather.
My available office hours are: most
of the day on most Tuesdays and Thursdays;
before or
after class Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Formal assignments, of which there
will be approximately six during the course of the semester, will be
practical
lesson or unit design projects, designed to require creative and
critical
thinking about the issues being addressed. In order to
accommodate
preferences in working styles and schedules, students may choose to
prepare and
submit these either alone or as groups of as many as three people.
Late work policy: A formal assignment will be
penalized 10% for lateness if submitted after it has already been
returned to
those who submitted it on time.
Mastery Learning policy: Any assignment may be redone as
a whole (in a significantly different way or on a different
specific topic) for a fully revised grade, if desired.
General grading rubric for each
assignment/project/exam question:
100%: beyond the call of duty;
strikingly impressive; excellent in every way
90%: both complete and
showing some evidence of original thought
80%: all aspects of
assignment minimally satisfied
<80%: one or more aspects of assignment
missing or of unacceptable quality
Elements of Grade:
90% Six formal assignments, equally
weighted
10% Final exam*
*Required,
but with format and schedule highly flexible - see below.
Final exam items will be a series of
practical problems, designed to require creative and critical thinking
in
applying general principles learned in the course to the potential use
of
specific, previously unfamiliar curriculum materials. The final exam
will
require some reading and preparation based on materials (text, video,
and/or
software-based) distributed or demonstrated during the last week of
classes,
and will be given on a time-limited but open-notes basis. The option of
either
a 30-minute oral interview or a traditional 3-hour written exam will be
offered. The oral interview format is strongly suggested, has been
customary
for nearly all students in this course for many years, and may be
scheduled at
any mutually convenient time during the exam week (as with written
exams,
according to University rules, not
earlier).
Attendance policy: Attendance and class participation are not in
themselves
a formal aspect of the course grade. My goal is to try to design class
activities so that you feel that you are clearly missing something
important if
you are not present (both physically and mentally!). Polite but pointed
inquiries will be made, however, about the reasons for repeated or
habitual
absence or lateness.
In accordance with the University Honor
Code and Academic Honesty Policy, academic work must meet the
standards
contained in the UGA document A Culture
of Honesty. Each student is responsible to inform themselves about
those
standards before performing any academic work. Details are available at
http://www.uga.edu/ovpi/honesty/acadhon.htm.
Music will be played regularly
during the 10-15 minutes immediately preceding class (in order to, as
Bugs
Bunny would say, soothe the savage beast). Everybody should take turns
bringing
in CDs, or else risk being subjected to my own wildly eclectic tastes.
Course Objectives ("Students will
be able
to..."):
Basic Principles of Science Teaching
Science
Curriculum and Assessment Issues
Electronic
Technologies in Science Teaching