Standards of Effective Practice in EDU 247
Updated: June 5, 2012
The following Minnesota Board of Teaching Standards of Effective Practice are addressed in this course at the levels of Knowledge and Understanding of the standard and Practice in Applying the standard.
Standard 1: Subject Matter.
A teacher must understand the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the disciplines taught and be able to create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students. The teacher must:
| A. understand major concepts, assumptions, debates, processes of inquiry, and ways of knowing that are central to the disciplines taught; |
The focus of EDU 247 is on the central concepts of physical and earth science. Through course readings, lectures, classroom investigations and discussions students come to know the "major concepts, assumptions, debates, processes of inquiry, and ways of knowing that are central to the disciplines." Readings include A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr; Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louve; Geology: A Self Teaching Guide by Barbara Murck, When is a planet not a planet by Elaine Scott (scholastic Publisher) (2007); Book of Astronomy and Space (Usborne Internet-linked Reference) by Lisa Miles and Alastair Smith (K & A). |
| B. understand how students' conceptual frameworks and misconceptions for an area of knowledge can influence the students' learning; |
A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr outline a number of misconceptions about the Nature of Science in the pursuit of understanding of the chemistry of water, water as a natural resource, water in the world, the ethics of water management and the pollution of water. In our reading discussion and student papers teacher candidates analyze how misconceptions about the nature of science are influential in student learning. (K & A) |
| C. connect disciplinary knowledge to other subject areas and to everyday life; | Evidence for the connection of disciplinary knowledge to everyday life is found in our readings, journal reflections, classroom discussions and exams and quizzes for A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr; Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louve; Geology: A Self Teaching Guide by Barbara Murck, When is a planet not a planet by Elaine Scott (Scholastic Publisher) (2007); Book of Astronomy and Space (Usborne Internet-linked Reference) by Lisa Miles and Alastair Smith, especially in the science content of water, space science and our regional natural water history and the nature of science. (K & A) |
| D. understand that subject matter knowledge is not a fixed body of facts but is complex and ever developing; | Evidence for an understanding that science subject matter is not a fixed body of knowledge but is complex and ever developing is found in the reading, journal writing and classroom discussions around A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr. At the heart of this book are the Nature of Science. (K & A) |
| E. use multiple representations and explanations of subject matter concepts to capture key ideas and link them to students' prior understandings; | The evidence for this indicator is found in the student driven experimental design. In order to conduct an experiment, students must have a fundamental understanding of the key ideas (both short and more complex) which build from their own initial understandings. (K & A) |
| F. use varied viewpoints, theories, ways of knowing, and methods of inquiry in teaching subject matter concepts; | A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr outline varied perspectives in the pursuit of understanding of water chemistry, water pollution, water as a natural resource and the management of water resources. (K & A) |
| G. evaluate teaching resources and curriculum materials for comprehensiveness, accuracy, and usefulness for presenting particular ideas and concepts; | In EDU 247 we use AIMS curriculum during our study of space science using the AMS curriculum, Out of this World, and and in the science of water with the AIMS curriculum, the Earth Book. Students will evaluate the "comprehensiveness, accuracy, and usefulness for presenting particular ideas and concepts" via their science notebooks.( K & A) |
| H. engage students in generating knowledge and testing hypotheses according to the methods of inquiry and standards of evidence used in the discipline; | In EDU 247 students complete both short and more comprehensive experimental investigations where they test hypotheses, collect data, analysis their data and use that evidence to make conclusions. (K & A) |