Advanced Study and Application of Science Methods

AELE 615

Instructor: Dr. Gary J. Senn, USC Aiken
Class email - SennClass@usca.edu
Non class email - SennG@sc.edu

Optional introductory meeting: Thursday, 8/21, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Class meeting dates: Mondays: 9/15, 9/29, 10/6, 10/20, 11/3, 11/24. Final Exam 12/8.
Time: 4:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: RPSEC 320
Office Hours: Tuesday / Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Goals

• Stimulate thinking about the relative importance of process vs. scientific content.
• Explore the nature of science.
• Contrast facts, concepts, theories and laws of science.
• Contrast expository, guided inquiry and free discovery teaching methodologies.
• Construct a philosophy of science education.
• Investigate ways in which children can develop process skills.
• Understand the constructivist approach to science education.
• Explore authentic methods of assessment.
• Explore models of interdisciplinary approaches to elementary science education.
• Become familiar with technology available to support education.

Objectives

• exhibit a more positive attitude toward science and science teaching.
• demonstrate the basic and integrated process skills of science.
• demonstrate an understanding of the nature of science.
• describe the basic characteristics of teaching science from a constructivist perspective.
• compare and contrast various models for teaching science.
• design and present activity-based science lessons and experiments for children from diverse backgrounds or with various exceptionalities using the learning cycle.
• design and implement performance-based assessments of science instructional objectives.
• utilize given criteria for the selection of elementary science textbooks, children’s trade books, programs, and other instructional materials which support a constructivist approach to teaching.
• identify implications of cognitive development for science teaching based on information elicited through interviewing.
• identify children’s alternative conceptions of science through interviewing and describe implications of these ideas for science teaching.
• self-critique science lessons and assessment procedures from a constructivist perspective.
• demonstrate familiarity with practitioner-oriented and research journals in science education.

More information can be found on the course Blackboard site.

URL = http://www.usca.edu/academics/education/courses/aele615/ (August 2008)