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Brian's Class Materials-
Spring 2014 - SEYS 562
SEYS 562 Home
Queens College/CUNY
Education Unit

Spring 2014
 SYLLABUS

SEYS 562 -01
Section:  41029

Methods of Teaching Science in Middle School and High School
  Wednesday 4:35 pm to 7:05 pm
Kiely Hall Room 119B

Please complete the course evaluation before the last week

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 INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION: 
Brian Murfin, Ph.D.,
Office:  Powdermaker Hall Room 135C,
Office Hours: 
Wednesday 2 to 4 pm
Thursday 2 to 4 pm
And by appointment

Please send me email to brian.murfin@qc.cuny.edu to arrange an online appointment using either:
Phone:  (631) 223-8311
Email:  brian.murfin@qc.cuny.edu
If I am online, I will be be glad to answer your questions.  Type your  name and your question in the chat box below. 

A.     COURSE DESCRIPTION
SEYS 562.  Methods of Teaching Science in Middle School and High School. 3 hr.; 30 hr. of field experience; 3 cr. Prereq. or coreq.: SEYS 536, 700 and 552. Open only to students in science teacher education programs. Focuses on the development of students’ pedagogical content knowledge in their specific science subject areas. Secondary school science curriculum, along with research-based learning, instructional and assessment strategies, will be examined.

Education Unit Conceptual Framework:
This course is being offered by the Secondary Education department which is part of the Education Unit at Queens College. The Education Unit seeks to promote equity, excellence, and ethics in urban education and is committed to preparing teachers and other education professionals who will: This course is aligned with the Education Unit’s commitment to preparing educational professionals to work in diverse urban and suburban communities. Specifically, the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that candidates will development/demonstrate at the successful completion of this course are directly linked to the Education Unit’s seven principles: 1) discipline specific competencies, 2) learning and development, 3) families and urban communities, 4) diversity, inclusion, democracy and social justice, 5) language and literacy, 6) curriculum, instruction, and assessment, and 7) technology.

The Education Unit uses Chalk and Wire as an electronic portfolio and assessment system. When candidates are admitted to one of the undergraduate or graduate programs in the Education Unit, they will be required to purchase a Chalk and Wire ePortfolio subscription to submit their assignments as directed until graduation. Faculty will assess all key program assignments submitted by candidates in Chalk and Wire.

Your Chalk and Wire ePortfolio helps you collect, organize, and reflect on your academic work. It can contain files, images, and multimedia that document your academic progress, enriching your learning, sharpening your technological skills, and preparing you for certification. You can also share your professional ePortfolio with family, friends, and potential employers.  A professional look and feel make the Chalk and Wire ePortfolio a great tool to use when searching for internships, employments and graduate schools. 

Do NOT purchase a Chalk and Wire subscription until you are specifically asked to do so by your instructor.



B. COURSE GOALS/OBJECTIVES
The course objectives for this course are closely aligned with the NCATE and NSTA science teaching standards and these standards have been adapted for this course. Obviously you may not be able to accomplish every objective listed in the NSTA Standards in this one course.  However, by the end of your Science Teacher Education Program you should have met all of the NSTA Standards for Science Teacher Preparation.   You should save this list of Standards, and check off each one as you feel you have accomplished it.  If you have questions about a particular standard, please feel free to ask the instructor.

GOALS: By the end of the course, participants will be able to do the following:
1)   Be able to ensure that all students receive an equal opportunity to learn science, regardless of gender, ethnic group, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. (Equity), (Ethics)
2)   Identify strategies that will help all students learn such as the use of a variety of teaching styles, learning modalities, multiple intelligences, anti-racist teaching, and gender-friendly techniques. (Equity), (Ethics)
3)   Become familiar with learning theories and be able to apply this knowledge to develop more appropriate and effective science learning experiences. (Excellence)
4)   Locate useful science education resources such as lesson plans, unit plans, ideas for activities, science education organizations, etc. (Excellence)
5)   Determine the appropriate content to be taught according to national and state science standards, district and school requirements, the level, experience and background of the students, and an understanding of science teaching philosophy and learning theories.  This includes:
a.   Recognizing what should be included and what should not be included in a curriculum.  (Excellence)
b.   Recognizing the most important content, i.e. making sure content is age-appropriate and prioritizing content.  (Excellence)
c.    Being able to recognize one’s own areas of science content weakness and how to improve them.  (Excellence)
d.   Understanding how to design and teach lessons to different grade levels.  (Excellence)
6)   Understanding the nature of science and how it is different from other areas of knowledge (Excellence)
7)   Developing a personal philosophy of science education that explains why science should be taught (Excellence), (Ethics)
8)   Design and teach a variety of science lessons that incorporate (inquiry, the learning cycle, cooperative learning, laboratories, demonstrations, analogies, models, recitation, guided discussion, questioning, inquiry, simulations, technology, etc.) that demonstrate a knowledge of learner differences, abilities, students’ prior knowledge, and misconceptions. (Excellence)
9)   Identify the legal, ethical and safety responsibilities of the teacher in the science classroom (Excellence), (Ethics)
10) Know how to identify and implement safety procedures in the science classroom and laboratory.  (Excellence)
11) Be able to adapt a science lesson in order to meet the needs of one of the following examples of student special needs: visually impaired, hear impaired, LEP or ESL students, learning disabled, behavior problem, gifted.  (Excellence), (Ethics)
12) Demonstrate reflective teaching, including:
a.   Reflecting upon the reason for a specific lesson and for the choice of methodology  (Excellence)
b.   Reflecting upon the effectiveness of various teaching strategies in order to develop a sense of their appropriateness relative to the situation  (Excellence)
13) Developing a sense of what science is and a philosophy regarding why it should be taught (Excellence), (Ethics)
14) Construct clear and appropriate assessment tools (both traditional and alternative assessment) specific to the science lesson and linked to state and national standards and lesson objectives.  (Excellence)
15) Design and teach a laboratory activity.  This includes:
a.   Managing a laboratory activity in a secondary school environment that is safe and efficient  (Excellence)
b.   Creating a laboratory activity that incorporates technology (Excellence)
c.    Setting up clear directions and goals  (Excellence)
d.    Carry out an inquiry-based lesson.  (Excellence)
16) Identify supporting materials used in science teaching, including the most popular student texts being used, and the cost and availability of science equipment in different school districts.  This includes recognizing the need for alternative resources for schools that do not have good equipment or funding.  (Equity), (Excellence)
17) Be able to determine the reading level of a science textbook. (Excellence)
18) Be able to evaluate textbooks and software for bias, and educational value.  (Equity), (Excellence)
19) Be able to use technology effectively and appropriately in a science lesson.  (Excellence)
20) Be familiar with important teaching techniques in your area of science. (Excellence)

NSTA Standards for Science Teacher Preparation


Standard 1:  Content

To show that they are prepared in content, teachers of science must demonstrate that they: Secondary teachers are generally prepared with more depth in the content of a given field than are teachers of younger students.  The major divisions of the natural sciences are biology, chemistry, the Earth and space sciences, and physics.  All teachers licensed in a given discipline should know, understand, and teach with the breadth of understanding reflected in the core competencies for that discipline.  Specialists in a discipline should also have achieved the advanced competencies for that discipline.  All secondary teachers should also be prepared to lead students to understand the unifying concepts of science including: Standard 2: Nature of Science
Teachers of science engage students effectively in studies of the history, philosophy, and practice of science.  They enable students to distinguish science from nonscience, understand the evolution and practice of science as a human endeavor, and critically analyze assertions made in the name of science.  To show they are prepared to teach the nature of science, teachers of science must demonstrate that they:
  1. Understand the historical and cultural development of science and the evolution of knowledge in their discipline.
  2. Understand the philosophical tenets, assumptions, goals, and values that distinguish science from technology and from other ways of knowing the world.
  3. Engage students successfully in studies of the nature of science including, when possible, the critical analysis of false or doubtful assertions made in the name of science.
Standard 3:  Inquiry
Teachers of science engage students both in studies of various methods of scientific inquiry and in active learning through scientific inquiry.  They encourage students, individually and collaboratively, to observe, ask questions, design inquiries, and collect and interpret data in order to develop concepts and relationships from empirical experiences.  To show that they are prepared to teach through inquiry, teachers of science must demonstrate that they:
  1. Understand the processes, tenets, and assumptions of multiple methods of inquiry leading to scientific knowledge.
  2. Engage students successfully in developmentally appropriate inquiries that require them to develop concepts and relationships from their observations, data, and inferences in a scientific manner.
Standard 4: Issues
Teachers of science recognize that informed citizens must be prepared to make decisions and take action on contemporary science- and technology-related issues of interest to the general society.  They require students to conduct inquiries into the factual basis of such issues and to assess possible actions and outcomes based upon their goals and values. To show that they are prepared to engage students in studies of issues related to science, teachers of science must demonstrate that they:
  1. Understand socially important issues related to science and technology in their field of licensure, as well as processes used to analyze and make decisions on such issues.
  2. Engage students successfully in the analysis of problems, including considerations of risks, costs, and benefits of alternative solutions; relating these to the knowledge, goals and values of the students.
Standard 5: General Skills of Teaching
Teachers of science create a community of diverse learners who construct meaning from their science experiences and possess a disposition for further exploration and learning.  They use, and can justify, a variety of classroom arrangements, groupings, actions, strategies, and methodologies. To show that they are prepared to create a community of diverse learners, teachers of science must demonstrate that they:
  1. Vary their teaching actions, strategies, and methods to promote the development of multiple student skills and levels of understanding.
  2. Successfully promote the learning of science by students with different abilities, needs, interests, and backgrounds.
  3. Successfully organize and engage students in collaborative learning using different student group learning strategies.
  4. Successfully use technological tools, including but not limited to computer technology, to access resources, collect and process data, and facilitate the learning of science.
  5. Understand and build effectively upon the prior beliefs, knowledge, experiences, and interests of students.
  6. Create and maintain a psychologically and socially safe and supportive learning environment. 
Standard 6: Curriculum

Teachers of science plan and implement an active, coherent, and effective curriculum that is consistent with the goals and recommendations of the National Science Education Standards.  They begin with the end in mind and effectively incorporate contemporary practices and resources into their planning and teaching. To show that they are prepared to plan and implement an effective science curriculum, teachers of science must demonstrate that they:
  1. Understand the curricular recommendations of the National Science Education Standards, and can identify, access, and/or create resources and activities for science education that are consistent with the standards.
  2. Plan and implement internally consistent units of study that address the diverse goals of the National Science Education Standards and the needs and abilities of students.
Standard 7:  Science in the Community

Teachers of science relate their discipline to their local and regional communities, involving stakeholders and using the individual, institutional, and natural resources of the community in their teaching.  They actively engage students in science-related studies or activities related to locally important issues.  To show that they are prepared to relate science to the community, teachers of science must demonstrate that they:
  1. Identify ways to relate science to the community, involve stakeholders, and use community resources to promote the learning of science.
  2. Involve students successfully in activities that relate science to resources and stakeholders in the community or to the resolution of issues important to the community.
Standard 8:  Assessment

Teachers of science construct and use effective assessment strategies to determine the backgrounds and achievements of learners and facilitate their intellectual, social, and personal development.  They assess students fairly and equitably, and require that students engage in ongoing self-assessment.  To show that they are prepared to use assessment effectively, teachers of science must demonstrate that they:
  1. Use multiple assessment tools and strategies to achieve important goals for instruction that are aligned with methods of instruction and the needs of students.
  2. Use the results of multiple assessments to guide and modify instruction, the classroom environment, or the assessment process.
  3. Use the results of assessments as vehicles for students to analyze their own learning, engaging students in reflective self-analysis of their own work. 
Standard 9:  Safety and Welfare

Teachers of science organize safe and effective learning environments that promote the success of students and the welfare of all living things.  They require and promote knowledge and respect for safety, and oversee the welfare of all living things used in the classroom or found in the field.  To show that they are prepared, teachers of science must demonstrate that they:
  1. Understand the legal and ethical responsibilities of science teachers for the welfare of their students, the proper treatment of animals, and the maintenance and disposal of materials.
  2. Know and practice safe and proper techniques for the preparation, storage, dispensing, supervision, and disposal of all materials used in science instruction.
  3. Know and follow emergency procedures, maintain safety equipment, and ensure safety procedures appropriate for the activities and the abilities of students.
  4. Treat all living organisms used in the classroom or found in the field in a safe, humane, and ethical manner and respect legal restrictions on their collection, keeping, and use.
Standard 10:  Professional Growth
 Teachers of science strive continuously to grow and change, personally and professionally, to meet the diverse needs of their students, school, community, and profession.  They have a desire and disposition for growth and betterment.  To show their disposition for growth, teachers of science must demonstrate that they:
  1. Engage actively and continuously in opportunities for professional learning and leadership that reach beyond minimum job requirements.
  2. Reflect constantly upon their teaching and identify ways and means through which they may grow professionally.
  3. Use information from students, supervisors, colleagues and others to improve their teaching and facilitate their professional growth.
  4. Interact effectively with colleagues, parents, and students; mentor new colleagues; and foster positive relationships with the community.
C. REQUIRED PURCHASES: TEXTBOOK(S) AND SUPPLIES
     1.  Textbook (required):       2.  Textbook (recommended) (Copies of these should all be in the QC library):       3.  Supplies and/or tools: None

D.  WEEKLY TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

We will visit the American Museum of Natural History on May 3rd from 10 am to Noon to view the following special exhibit:
The Power of Poison
or
Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs


Week 1 – 1/29/2014 -  Overview of course, goals, requirements, field experience and field experience journal
Activities:

Play the famous scientist game

Useful web sites:
Assigned readings:
  1. Read the National Academies of Science release and report: America's Lab Report: Investigations in High School Science (2005) 
    http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11311#toc
Week 2 – 2/5/2014 – Gender, Ethnicity, Racism and Science Teaching and Learning/The Nature of Science

Science news:

Discussion:
  • What is the ugliest animal?  Nominations please. 
  • Activities and discussion related to gender, ethnicity, and racism and how they affect science teaching and learning.
  • Diversity, multiculturalism and science teaching and learning
Activities:
  • "Are Women Stronger Than Men?"  (Liem, 1992, p. 326)
  • Women in Science - Gender and the Science Classroom Quiz (discuss in small groups) f
  • List as many female scientists as you can along with their contributions., 
  • Racism in science activity
    • Define racism.
    • Describe several examples of racism in science, preferably in your science content area?
    • Is racism a problem in science education?  Why or why not?
    • Describe some techniques to promote anti-racist science.
  • Multicultural science
    • Define multicultural science.
    • How can culture be integrated into your science content area?
    • List as many scientists as you can from different cultures, along with their contributions.
  • Disabilities and science
    • List the different disabilities that students might have. 
    • Describe how you could adapt hands-on inquiry science activities in your area of science for different disabilities. 
Useful websites:
Gender and Science
Diversity, Multicultural Science
Disabilities and Science Teaching and Learning
Nature of Science
Assigned reading and viewing:

Week 3 – 2/12/2014 –  NO CLASS

Week 4 – 2/19/2014 –  Planning of science lessons and units Introduction to Planning - Units of Instruction and Library visit

The Science Education Megalist - http://tinyurl.com/sciedmegalist

Science news:
      1. Review: Science Content standards: elementary generalist, elementary/middle, all secondary, secondary biology, secondary chemistry, secondary earth/space, secondary physics
      2. Review: Science Teacher Preparation Standards
      3. Review: (NY State standards in pdf format)
      4. Review: National Science Education Standards
      5. Bloom's Taxonomy
      6. Bloom's digital taxonomy
      7. How to prepare a lesson plan
      8. the edTPA lesson plan format
      9. Designing a Unit Plan
      10. Other tools for planning lessons:  uBd, The 5E learning cycle model
      11. Differentiated instruction in Science
Class Activities:  Useful websites:
Assigned reading and viewing:
Week 5 – 2/26/2014 – Assignment #2 - Minilesson 1 - Group microteaching (2 to 4 students teach a ten minute lesson to the class),

  • SingularityHub
  • Science news:
    Today's activities:
    Assigned reading and viewing: Assignment 1 due - Assignment #1 - Review of a science education research article from the Journal of Research in Science Teaching

    Assignment 2 due - Minilesson 1 - Group microteaching


    Week 6 – 3/5/2014 - Complete Assignment #2 - Minilesson 1 - Group microteaching (2 to 4 students teach a ten minute lesson to the class)

    Science news:

    Today's activities:

    Week 7 – 3/12/2014 – How do students learn science?

  • Science news:
  • Start thinking about ideas for "Science and Spring"

    Learning Theories, Philosophy of Science, Nature of Science
    Discussion of Learning theories and science teaching and learning (Please view the screencasts and read the accompanying notes outside of class)
    In-class activities:
    Activity 1: Problem-Based Learning Activity 2 - Battery and bulb - Hands-on science inquiry activity to be completed in small groups (write up a lesson plan for the activity using the lesson plan template) (Liem, p. 253)

    Activity 3Conservation of volume demonstration

    Activity 4 - How would you teach students how to use a microscope?

    Activity 5:  Discrepant events, misconceptions, inquiry
    The Magic Cup (more info) (Liem, p. 11) The Incredible Can Crusher (Liem, p. 16)
    egg in a bottle (Liem p. 30)

    Activity 6 - Construct a concept map
    (Pick a topic in the curriculum in your area of certification and draw a concept map.  Exchange concept maps with your colleagues and compare.)  

    There are many online tools that can be used to make concept maps.  General purpose tools like sumopaint and flockdraw can be used.  More tools that might be useful are listed below.
    Activity 7 - Login to Science Moodle and complete the learning theory activity

    Set up your Science Moodle account:

    Visit the following link:  

    http://tinyurl.com/qcmoodlespring2014

    If this is your first time to visit Science Moodle, click on the "Create new account" button on the lower right side of the screen.  Follow the instructions to set up your account and then select our course and enroll using the following enrollment key "science" (without the quotes, all lower case).

    After you have created your account you can login and complete the learning theory activity.


    Moodle is a free, open source, Learning Management System that we will use for some online activities.  We will be using Science Moodle and it is located here:

    (Please complete activities 8 through 11 outside of class.  We will discuss them next week.)
    Activity 8 - Learning Modalities instrument
    Activity 9 - Student learning strengths inventory
    Activity 10 - Watch The Learning Classroom: Theory Into Practice
    Activity 11 - View the Private Universe video and The Private Universe Project in Science
    Useful Websites:
     Learning theories  (Ausubel , Bruner , Piaget , Gagne , Vygotsky , Bandura ) GuildfordConcept mapping , advance organizers Wait time , questioning techniques
    Assigned reading and viewing:

    Week 8 – 3/19/2014 –  Traditional and Alternative Assessment in Science

    1) Science news, reminders, questions and answers

    Next Generation: 5 Ways Science Classes Will Change

    http://www.livescience.com/40283-ngss-science-standards-change-education.html

    2) View the screencasts
    3) View the slide presentation

    4) Skim the following:
    5) Complete Traditional Assessment in Science activities - Click here for Instructions for Tonight's Activity on Assessment in Science

    Useful websites:

    Assigned reading/viewing:

    Assessment in Math and Science: What's the point?

    Read Chapter 9 Assessment of Student Learning

    6) PART 2 - Alternative Assessment - (You probably will not have time to finish this in class, so please complete it outside of class by next week and post your results on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard).

    Pick a topic  from the Regents Science curriculum in the area you will be teaching.  You could use the same topic that you used last week when constructing a traditional objective test.  Make sure that you pick a topic that you might be teaching next semester.  You could also include this assessment in your unit plan if it is related to your unit plan topic.  
    Come up with an idea for an alternative assessment for your topic and post it on the discussion board in BlackBoard.  Make sure to include scoring guidelines or a rubric. 

    Here is an excellent link on with some creative ideas for assessment in science:  http://sydney.edu.au/science/uniserve_science/school/support/strategy.html


    Sample Presentation rubric - http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/rub.pres.html

    Sample PowerPoint Rubric:
    Tools to create rubrics:

    http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=NewRubric

    Rubric makers - http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/sciences/

    Make a rubric in less than 5 minutes - http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/5minuterubric.html


    Visit the "Creating Portfolios with Web 2.0 Tools" web site
    Browse through the various tools available.  
    After looking at sample electronic portfolios, create an account and start a portolio by adding the assignments you have completed so far in this course.   I strongly recommend that you use Google sites, http://sites.google.com  to develop your ePortfolio. 
    alternative assessment, e.g. developing porfolios
    electronic portfolios
    Creating meaningful performance assessment

    Week 9 – 3/26/2014 –   Safety in the Science lab, ethical and legal issues in science education, care of organisms

    Activities:  

    Discuss Science news
    Review main points of traditional assessment
    Discuss alternative assessment
    Cooperative learning activity:  The Thingamajig

    View and discuss the following safety video

    What not to do in the lab ...

    Activity 1 - Share science safety stories.  Post on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard.
    Activity 2 - View Flinn Safety video - Brief discussion of safety Activity 3 - Introduction to Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) sheets
    (PLEASE NOTE:  MSDS IS BEING CHANGED TO SDS , A SAFETY DATA SHEET, TO CONFORM WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.)
    Activity 4 - (Individual activity) - Visit the Flinn Lab Safety website and sign up for either the High School or Middle School Safety course.  This course needs to be completed for Assignment 5b.
    Begin working on the Assignment 5a during class
    Activity 5 - Ethical and legal obligations of science teachers - Read the following:
    Activity 6 - (Small group activity) Safety and care of animals - Pick an organism that you might use in a Living Environment class.  Describe any safety precautions, and how you would care for the animal in a humane way.
     

    Activity 7 - (Small group activity) Imagine that you have been asked by the Chair of the Science department to design and implement a school science safety plan.  Describe your strategy and give some examples of what you would include in such a plan.  
    Useful Links:
    Safety and liability
    School chemistry laboratory safety guide
    Lab safety institute
    Other useful safety resources:

    Assigned reading and viewing:



    Brainstorm ideas for science and Spring activities and post on the discussion board in BlackBoard. 

    Reminder:  We will attend the SCONYC conference Saturday 3/29/2014.


    Week 10 – 4/2/2014 –  Unifying concepts, ways of knowing, methods of inquiry, and important Science, Technology, Society issues. examples from the different science disciplines
    1. Unifying or cross cutting concepts - (info from the NGSS)
      • Definition?
      • Provide examples
    2. Ways of knowing (Nature of science from the NGSS)
    3. Methods of inquiry (Science and engineering practices from the NGSS)
    4. List at least three science, technology society issues related to your own content area.  

      Describe possible activities you could do related to these issues.
    Begin work on the Assignment 10 (Contextual Content Mini-Portfolio)

    Week 11 – 4/9/2014 – Minilesson 2 - Individual microteaching begins

    We will do these in class as we have time.

    Today's activities



    Week 12 – 4/16/2014 - NO CLASS - Spring Recess


    Go over technology and science teaching, Minilesson 2 - Individual Microteaching begins

    Science news:
    Activities:

    1)  Safety review:  Here is an MSDS sheet for a chemical that can be very dangerous. 

    Click here to see the MSDS for dihydrogen monoxide

    Describe the precautions you would take when using it. 

    2)  Spring science

    3)  Browse the following wikis.  Pick one tool from each and describe how you might use it to teach science in your content area. 

    4)  Discussion of technology and science education


    Assignment #4 due

    Assignment #5a due

    Assignment 6 due:  Lesson plan for Individual Minilesson 2 due (for those teaching tonight)

    Assignment 8 due

    Week 13 – 4/23/2014 - Minilesson 2 -  individual microteaching

    Science news:

    Education news:


    Week 14 – 4/30/2014 - Finish Minilesson 2 -  individual microteaching

    May 3rd:  Museum visit - Saturday 10am to Noon or Sunday  from 10am to Noon

    Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs
    or
    The Power of Poison

    We will meet at 10am at the main entrance,  (79th St. at Central Park West) and then view the Power of Poison exhibit. 

    Please make sure to do the following:
    1. Look at the resources for educators for the exhibit you will visit
    2. Please post your responses on the in-class activities thread on the discussion board in Blackboard. 

      1. What pre-visit preparations would you need to make?
      2. Think about a pre-visit activity you could do related to your science content area.
      3. What learning activities could you have your students do during the visit?
      4. What learning activities could you have your students do after the visit?
      5. List three ideas for how you could use the exhibit in your own science content area.
      6. List at least three interesting things you learned from the exhibit.
      7. Any advice for other science teachers on how to use this exhibit in science lessons. 
    Science News:
    Education News:

    Technology news:



    Week 15 – 5/7/2014Use of Technology in Science Teaching and Learning (Class is ONLINE this week.  We will not meet face to face on campus this week.  Please complete the tasks below at your own time and convenience.)

    Activity 1 - Please answer the following questions on the discussion board:
    Activity 2
    Activity 3 - Read the following NSTA position statements:
    Activity 4 - Sign up for a free account at merlot.org
    Activity 5 - Complete "Today's technology tasks
    Activity 6 - Discussion of how to teach science online. 

    Links to explore:

    How NOT to learn how to use technology


    Assignment #4 due


    Finish Minilesson 2 - Microteaching


    Science news:
    • List the behavior problems you have observed during ICE and your fieldwork.  For each problem answer the following:
      • Describe the problem
      • What did the teacher do?
      • What was the reaction of the student/s?
      • Would you have done something different?  Why or why not?
    • Read the following on classroom management for science teachers
    Useful websites:
    Activities:
    Useful Links:

    Professional organizations and journals, Science Education Organizations on the Internet
    Science fairs

    Activities:

    Assignment 7 due

    Week 16 - 5/14/2014 - WE WILL NOT MEET TONIGHT - CLASS IS ONLINE - PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE DURING THIS WEEK AND DO ACTIVITIES AND POST IN DISCUSSION AREA IN BLACKBOARD

    Controversial issues in science education-
    Discuss Controversial Issues in Science and Science Education

    Activities to be completed online.  Please post your responses on the discussion board in Blackboard.:

    Small group activity: List and discuss some important controversies in both science and science education. How would you handle these topics in the classroom?

    A great video on the topic of Creationism, Intelligent Design, and Evolution is called "Flock of Dodos".


    Big Bang activities (free graph paper! Printable paper rulers)

    http://www.ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/sci/cecsci/cecsci020.html

    Evolution related activities

    Useful websites:

    Week 17 – 5/21/2014 IMPORTANT:  We will NOT meet during Finals Week - Please visit the course website and Blackboard for instructions for this week's activities - Making science learning fun.

    Science News:

    Activities: 

    1) Classroom management during science lessons/Reading in science

    • List the behavior problems you have observed during ICE and your fieldwork.  For each problem answer the following:
      • Describe the problem
      • What did the teacher do?
      • What was the reaction of the student/s?
      • Would you have done something different?  Why or why not?
    • Read the following on classroom management for science teachers
    Useful websites:

    2)  Ways to make science fun

    3)  Assess the reading level of a science textbook (You should do this on your own next semester with your textbook)
    Useful Links:

    4)  Browse the following links:

    Please complete the course evaluation before the last week

    Commencement is on May 29th.


    E.     ASSIGNMENTS, DUE DATES, AND GRADING PLAN

    Assignment Description Instructions How to Submit Scoring Guidelines Due
    Date
    Possible Points
    Assignment 1 – Review of a science education research article from the Journal of Research in Science Teaching (JRST)
    Assignment 
    1 instructions
    How to submit
    Assignment 1
    Scoring guidelines
    Week 4
    2/19/2014
    10
    Assignment 2 –  Minilesson 1 - Group Microteaching, lesson plan Assignment 
    2 instructions
    How to submit
    Assignment 2
    Scoring guidelines

    Weeks 5 and 6 2/26/2014
    30
    Assignment 4 –  Exemplary science web resources - "A bit of Merlot" Assignment 
    4 instructions
    How to submit Assignment
    4
    Scoring guidelines
    Week 12
    10

    Assignment 5a -Safety, Ethical and Legal issues, and Care of Living Organisms Module

    Assignment 5a Instructions
    How to submit



    Scoring guidelines


    Week 12



    15
    Assignment 5b  – 

    Complete either the High school or Middle school Flinn Safety course

    Assignment 
    5b instructions
    How to submit Assignment
    5b
    Scoring guidelines
    TBA 20

    Assignment 6 – Minilesson 2 - Individual Microteaching, lesson plan


    Assignment 6  instructions How to submit

    Assignment 6
    Scoring guidelines
    Weeks 12, 14, 15
    30
    Assignment 7 - Unit Plan including assessment Assignment 7  instructions How to submit Assignment 7
    Scoring guidelines

    5/7/2014
    100
    Assignment 8 - New York State Regents exam in the area of science certification
    Assignment 8 Instructiions
    How to submit
    Assignment 8 Scoring guidelines


    4/16/2014



    10

    Assignment 10 Contextual Content Mini-Portfollio

    Assignment 10 Instructions
    How to submit
    Assignment 10 Scoring guidelines


    Week 13
    4/30/2014


    18
    Fieldwork Fieldwork  instructions How to submit Fieldwork
    Scoring guidelines
    Week 15
    5/14/2014
    30
    Participation – Active participation in all class activities.  Participation
    Instructions
    Not applicable
    Entire semester 10


    Please note:  There are no Assignments #3 or #9


    F.  FIELDWORK REQUIREMENTS - 

    Instructions for Fieldwork

      Instructions for Fieldwork

      Locate a school in Queens or Long Island, preferably near Queens College.  You might want to find a school for your fieldwork that you could also use for student teaching.  Print Fieldwork letter, (have tear-off signed and return to instructor),observation logs (to be returned to instructor at end of semester)

      You must observe 30 hours of classroom science teaching at the middle and high school levels.   You should submit three observation reports and reflective journal entries on the characteristics of the lessons you observe or teach, including a critique on how the science content, nature of science and unifying principles are presented

      Due Date - 5/14/2014

      Possible Points - 30

      How to Submit - 

      • Always make sure that your name, the date, the assignment number and course number are at the top of the page on your assignment.  
      • Upload your Word document or equivalent using the Assignments link in BlackBoard.
      • Copy and paste your observation report and related journal entries into a Google document.  Share the document with qcscied@gmail.com
      • Keep a paper copy for your records.  

      Scoring Guidelines -  Each report can receive a maximum score of 10 points for a total of 30 points.

      G.  CUNY POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
      Academic Dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion as provided at: 

            http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/provost/policies/index.html

       H. ADA Statement
      Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should:  (1) register with and provide documentation to the Special Services Office, Kiely 171; (2) bring a letter to the
      instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type.  This should be done
      during the first week of class.  For more information about services available to Queens students contact:  Dr. Mirian Detres-Hickey, Special Services Office; 171 Kiely Hall; 718 997-5870 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).  E-mail address:  mdetres@yahoo.com or to mirian.detreshicky@qc.cuny.edu

      I.   USE OF STUDENT WORK
      All teacher education programs in New York State undergo periodic reviews by accreditation agencies and the state education department.  For these purposes, samples of students’ work  are made available to those professionals conducting the review.  Student anonymity is 
      assured under these circumstances.  If you do not wish to have your work made available for these purposes, please let the professor know before the start of the second class.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

      J.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

      Students are required to request permission from the instructor if they wish to perform experiments or activities that involve potentially dangerous chemicals, materials, electricity, or other procedures. An MSDS sheet should be available for any chemical used in an activity.  A good source of science safety information is the Flinn Scientific web site located at the following web address:  http://www.flinnsci.com/Sections/Safety/safety.asp


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