Required texts/materials
- Learn About Trees by Peter Mellett
- Wildflowers of Minnesota
by Stan Tekiela
- Minnesota Trees by David
M. Ratke
- Critters of Minnesota, by Ann
E. McCarthy
- Stuff: The Secret Lives of Everyday Things
by John C. Ryan and Alan Thein Durning
- Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman
- Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louve
- Monarchs in the Classroom Curriculum (Middle School) by Karen Oberhauser
- Colored pencils (either a pack of 12 or 24)
- EDU 246 Course Packet
- Composition Book: 80 sheets, (ruled lines, not
graphing grid) 10 x 7 7/8
- Scissors (optional, but handy).
Select one of the following two science literature books:
Barbara Kingsolver: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Michael Pollan: Omnivore's Dilemma
EDU 246 Course Description
Gustavus Adolphus College Catalog:
This course is designed for future K-6 classroom teachers. The focus is on the nature of science, fundamental concepts and principles of physical and life science, and safe environmental standards required for teacher licensure in Minnesota. Lab work, field excursions and small group projects are regular parts of this course. This course leads directly to the subsequent course, EDU-247.
EDU 246 Course Overview:
EDU 246 is a course in conceptually based science for students who are future elementary educators. The science content of the course will include in life science plants, trees, insects and in physical science chemistry of water and hydrocarbons, energy, heat transfer and force and motion. Application of the science content will be explored through regional natural history, threats to natural biomes and environments, including global climate change and the dynamics of energy.
This course requires a high level of participation of all students within a collaborative and cooperative learning context. Active learning of science will include individual and group processing of science content, activities, presentations, investigations, experimentation, field work, laboratory work, field excursions, and individual and group projects.
EDU 246 Course Goals
- To build fundamental general life and physical science concepts that will be applicable and appropriate for the elementary educator and envisioned by the National Research Council, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Standards for the Preparation of Teachers of Science.
- To apply and come to appreciate the diversity of life and nature that is found in our own regional natural history.
- To come to understand the nature that is at the heart of doing science.
- To understand the complexity and delicacy of the interconnections between living and non-living systems.
- To understand and apply in our daily lives the concepts of environmental stewardship.
- To understand the process of inquiry including asking oneself questions and seeking answers to wonderings.
- To build an awareness of issues in science related to social justice and equity.
- To learn science within a context that is inviting, collaborative, cooperative and respectful.
- To become comfortable with some ambiguity.
In addition to the above stated goals, this course will invite growth and rumination of four distinct skill sets and attitudes that are important for future teachers and as human beings and articulated by Thomas Friedman (2005): an ability to "learn how to learn," cultivating your own passion and curiosity, building respect between your peers and the instructor as someone who "plays well with others," and finally nuturing more of your right brain.
Course Requirements
Attendance
It is expected and necessary for you to attend class. Attendance and punctuality is important in the education profession. Now is a good time to be sure that this habit becomes ingrained. Absence in class disrupts the collaborative nature that is vital to the format of our group. We miss not only the opportunity for your participation, questions, and processing of the content, but, you miss the opportunity to experience and be part of the collaborative efforts of your peers.
Food and drink:
This class will model safe environmental classroom habits. Each class session involves science materials, equipment, and or solutions, therefore please do not bring food into either the classroom or the laboratory. There will be at least one 10-12 minute break on Tuesday afternoon/evenings where you will be able to have a snack outside of the classroom. Refillable, covered beverage containers are fine in both the lab and Tuesday evening's class.
Email:
It is a requirement for this course that you are able to use basic email features. I will be using electronic mail to send you assignments, feedback, and other important documents. Knowledge and application of sending, receiving, and attaching documents to email is assumed for all students in this course. If you are not familiar with these e-mail functions, please see me as soon as possible.
Honesty Policy:
This course will abide by the Gustavus Adolphus Honor Code. Ethical behavior is a must for teachers. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please review this web site for an overview of plagiarism.
Assessment and Evaluation
The emphasis of this course is on the understanding
and learning of basic science concepts of life and physical science.
Expectations are high for all students in terms of the quality, integrity
and consistency in completion of assignments and participation. The
evaluation for a grade will de-emphasize the rote learning of science
facts and terminology. Your grade will be a reflection of your efforts
to understand, process, and investigate the science content. All assignments
and written reflections are expected to be thoughtful, purposeful,
and developed with integrity that is required in our education profession.
Your grade will reflect your understanding of the content, your efforts,
and your ability to work with integrity in a cooperative learning
environment.
Note about electronic grading:
The majority of your assignments will be turned in electronically through e-mail. It is your responsibility to keep complete copies of all electronic assignments until your final grade is posted at the end of the semester.
Exams and quizzes (35% of your grade):
There will be two exams and two quizzes (wildflower, plants and tree ID) during the course. Each exam will include essay questions and may be solely based on essay.
Exam 1: November 5, 2009 (10 points)
Lab Quiz 1: September 24 (5 points)
Lab Quiz 2: October 15 (5 points)
Exam 2: December 19, 2009: 10:30am-12:30 pm (Nobel Hall 222) (15 points)
Written Assignments (30%)
Literature Synthesis Paper, (15 points or 15%) due December 8, 2009. See assignment description for greater detail.
Science notebook (from lecture, lab, field, Nobel (October 2 and 6 & 7) and individual work) (15%). Two science notebook checks: (October 20 and December 10, 2009). See assignment description for greater detail.
Laboratory and Field Credit (30% or 30 points)
Weekly Laboratory Investigations including rearing arthropods, teaching a lab with FOSS following national and state safety guidelines in the use of chemicals, organisms, equipment, individual and home energy assessment/audit, alternative energy forms, and calculation of ecological/carbon footprint. We will spend time as a class (lab) maintaining the wildflower gardens around Mattson Hall. Field experience includes possible trips to Kasota Prairie and RDF plant. Most of the accountability for lab will be part of your science notebook.
Botanical/Field notebook for wildflowers (5 points). See assignment description for greater detail.
Botanical/Field notebook for trees (5 points). See assignment description for greater detail.
Experimental Design (15% or 15 points): Due Thursday, October 29, 2009
This project will allow students in EDU 246 an opportunity to design experiments with arthropods where they will follow the experimental design process of observation, coming up with a question, developing hypotheses, collecting data and interpretation and presentation of results. Students will plot their raw data into a bar, histogram or pie graph (using Excel) and will identify descriptive statistics including mean, medium and mode. They will also discuss: the role of randomness and sampling, replication, controlling variables and determining constant procedures. Students will use census and sampling techniques to assure the random selection of their study population. See assignment description for greater detail.
Community outreach and service learning with Water: Unknown Resource: Linking together teachers and students in science and engineering on Friday, October 2, 2009 (from about 1:00 to 2:30pm). Local elementary students in grades 4, 5, & 6 will participate in grade level specific investigations and experiments by Gustavus students in content and literacy around water. More details to come: 5 points or 5%.
Affect, Integrity and Presence (Self and instructor rated) (5% or 5 points)
How are these points earned?
Through your consistent and punctual attendance, demonstration of personal and professional behaviors as designated in the Department of Education's Statement of Professionalism. This means that you appear interested and engaged in the science course content. Your cell phone is put away, and off, and you refrain from texting during class time. Your attention is focused on the class (side conversations or other disruptions are not part of your class interactions). Your participation in small and large group contributes to the learning of all (about science).
A note about writing: In addition to all of the above expectations, it is assumed that in this class written assignments will be carefully edited, checked for grammar and spelling and consist of high quality writing that is expected in our teaching profession. APA is the standard for this class. Click here for more information on APA style.
Evaluation and Grading:
Total points for class: 100 points.
A = 94 -100 total points
A- = 90-93.99 points
B+= 87.5-89.99 points
B= 84-87.49 points
B- = 80-83.90 points
C = work less than 79.9 total points
In addition, your grade will be penalized by a deduction of 7. 5 points if you choose not to complete a major assignment. A major assignment is any assignment valued at 5 or more points.
Words of Wisdom from former EDU 246 Students
Stay on top of the notebook. It becomes a lot of work at the end if you fall behind. And if you are ever lost or confused, don’t be afraid to seek Michele’s help and advice. She is willing to help in any way and provides decent solutions and answers your questions. Another big suggestion is to take lost of notes in class; they REALLY help when it comes to the final. Also reread any assignment sheet over before turning in an assignment. You don't want to miss anything. (Rachel Guptill)
Suggest devoting 1/2 hour to 45 minutes every night to doing something for this course. Then reward yourself with something you pick (time with friends), TV, ice cream, Facebook, a walk/run-Anything! (Kristine Carr)
Study with a friend (only one) so you are less likely to get off track. (Holly Bohlen).
Keep everything organized and up to date (Cassandra Brady).
Study technique: Read through science notebook before the test. Especially the literature secretion, because some questions on the test are for this section (Anna Finley).
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