Education 3601 Principles of Curriculum and Instruction Science Instructor: Paul Stevenson

Class 1 – Orientation to Ed 3601 Outline for January 8, 2007 –Welcome and a Puzzler –Introductions –Science Teaching Inventory –Great Science Teachers I have Known (Brainwrite) –Course Outline Resources Schedule Assignments –Placements Information Sheet –Nature of Science

Education 3601 Science Teaching Inventory/Discussion

Ed 3601: Science Teaching Inventory Informed Science teaching: 1.B7. B 2.B8. B 3.B9. A 4.A10. B 5.A11. B 6.B12. A Multiply No. out of 12 X 8.33 = Approx % of how informed you are. ( From Chiappetta and Koballa, p. 11)

Education 3601 Brainwrite: What are the characteristics of the best science teachers I have known?

Education 3601 Course Outline Assignments –Web Quest Assignment (handout) –Science mini-lesson (handout) –Unit Plan (handout) –TPGP

Education 3601 –Nature of Science What is Science? Define in your words – ( a useful start for students)

Education 3601: Towards a definition of Science Science What statements would you use to fill the boxes?

Education 3601: Towards a definition of Science Science Discover nature Organizing facts into theories The search for truth A study of the universe A method of discovery A body of organized knowledge Problem Solving A process of finding out Logical reasoning Observing and describing reality

Science is a particular way of knowing about the world. In science, explanations are limited to those based on observations and experiments that can be substantiated by other scientists. Explanations that cannot be based on empirical evidence are not part of science. –National Academy of Sciences, 1999 Education 3601

Scientific Knowledge –“Students will construct knowledge and understandings of concepts in life science, physical science, and earth and space science and apply these understandings to interpret, integrate, and extend their knowledge” Science 7,8,9 Program of Studies. P.3

Ed 3601 – Teaching Science: The Way it Was The Sun: Composition Size Distance from Earth Comparison to other Stars

Ed 3601 – Teaching Science: The Way it Needs to Be The Sun: What questions do you have about the sun – write them in your logbook

Education 3601 Scientific Inquiry – Partial and Full Descriptive Inquiry –Key Question –Examples Comparative Inquiry –Key question –Examples Experimental Inquiry –Key Question –Examples For a better understanding of how scientific knowledge develops, students need to appreciate there are at least three distinct forms of scientific inquiry: (Roscoe and Mrazek, p. 18)

Full and Partial Inquiries Descriptive: What’s out there?

Comparative Inquiry: Does a plane fly faster on a hot day or on a cold day?

Experimental Inquiry: Which emulsion of drugs will give the greatest mortality to the bacterial strain…?

Education 3601 Scientific Reasoning –Constructing arguments –Critically evaluating arguments –Structure of a Scientific Argument

Education 3601 Structure of a Scientific Argument A Conclusion +The Evidence + An Explanation The judgement The data on The line of based on the which the reasoning by Evidenceconclusion is which the conclusion- based is based Connects the evidence to relevant scientific concepts,laws and principles

Education 3601 The Nature of Science and Science Teaching – An Example Focusing Question: –How do scientists know about space when they can’t travel there? (Grade 6 – Sky Science or Grade 9 – Space Exploration) –How many stars are visible in the night sky? How would you do this?

Education 3601 How many stars are visible in the night sky? –Prediction and defining Problem (Initiating and Planning) –Procedure (performing and recording) –Analyzing and Interpreting –Communicating and Teamwork

Education 3601 How many stars are visible in the night sky? –Type of Inquiry? –Partial versus full inquiry? (Cookbook science) –Scientific knowledge? Role of technology –Scientific Reasoning (Scientific Argument)

Education 3601 Assignment 1: 1.Read chapter 1 and 2 from Scientific Literacy. Focus on learning processes and the Learning Cycle Be prepared to adapt what you read about learning to a quick exercise in designing a lesson 2. Contact A former Science Teacher. Be prepared to discuss your findings during the Jan 22 class.