EDU 248 - Syllabus Science Connections - Spring 2012- Michele Koomen
 

Teaching as Principled Practice
EDU 248 : Science Connections
Spring 2012
Michele Hollingsworth Koomen, Ph.D
Education Department, Mattson Hall, Room 121
Telephone: Office: 507.933.6057      Mobile: 612.669.2319
E-mail: mkoomen@gac.edu
Web site: http://www.gac.edu/~mkoomen/

 

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 3:30 to 4:20pm; other times by appointment
This syllabus is electronically interactive. As such it will be updated over the course of the semester
(look for current updates at the bottom of the page). Think about this syllabus as a contract;
you are responsible for the information in it, even if I never bring it up in class.
Reread it regularly over the course of the semester.
Access to Education:
Every student has a right to learn and to participate in this class. I recognize that we all learn differently. If you have learning challenges, please see me about how we can work together to support your learning needs. Bring any documentation and suggestions about how I may assist you. We will work together to make this a great learning experience for you.

 

Text Requirements for EDU 248

A Civil Action by Jonathan Herr
Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Polland
Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
Minnesota Trees by David M. Ratke
MN Weather guide Environment Calendar 2012 edition


Additional supplies:
Composition Book or other small notebook for science notebook.

There will be other readings provided by the instructor on Moodle or available at the library.

 
 

 


Course Objectives

This course will integrate, apply and connect concepts of life, earth, and physical science with discussion of environmental challenges found in our natural world. This course will model and integrate the nature and practice of science.

From The GAC Course Catalog: This course is required for elementary education science concentrations and science secondary teaching majors, this course facilitates science teachers making connections among various genres of science. Spring semester.

 

Course Policy, Evaluation and Requirements for EDU 248

 

  • Attendance at each class session is expected for all. This class will meet a total of 7 times throughout the semester. Since we will meet infrequently, please arrive to class on time. Have your book and science notebook out and ready to go.
  • Readings: Students are expected to have read the assigned materials before coming to class. In some readings, I will provide you with guided reading questions. You will be expected to respond in your science notebook to each book and or reading that we do. Notebooks will be collected at the end of the semester.
  • Participation: An important component of this class is group discussion. Thoughtful participation with evidence of preparation (reading and research) in our class conversations is expected. There are a variety of ways that one can participate in class discussions: including asking questions, contributing information or insight, summarizing the discussion, playing "devils advocate", brainstorming and being a group discussion leader.
  • Partnered resolution and presentation of an inquiry question of research; see assignment for more information.
  • Science notebook with phenological observations. More information on this in class.
  • Final synthesis paper; see assignment for more information.
  • Academic Honesty: The instructor is bound to abide by the Gustavus Adolphus Honor Code and therefore must report all incidences of academic dishonesty to the Dean's Office. Ethical behavior is a must for teachers. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please review this web site for an overview of plagiarism.

Evaluation

Science notebook (15%) of 15 points
Inquiry research (35%) or 35 points
Synthesis paper (35%) or 35 points
Participation and attendance (15%) or 15 points

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. Assignment of letter grades will also take into account the instructor's subjective evaluation of the student's attendance, initiative, integrity, preparation, and evidence of improvement.

 

EDU 248 Class Schedule

 

Date

 

Time

 

Readings and Assignments

 

Topics

Class 1:

Feb. 7

3:50-4:50

Mattson Hall 104
Intro to course
Course hand outs: What is phenology?

Intro to course

Keeping a science notebook

Class 1:

Feb. 14

3:50-5:50

Mattson Hall 104


Nature of Science AAAS
Reading due: Last Child in the Woods
(Parts 1, 2 & 3)

 

Nature and practice of science

Class 2

Feb. 28

3:50-5:50

Mattson Hall 104

Reading due: Second half of Last Child in the Woods (Parts 4, 5, 6 &7)

 

What is behind Nature Deficit Disorder?

Class 3

March 13

3:50-5:50

Mattson Hall 104

 

Reading due: First half of A Civil Action (up to page 196)

AAAS: Nature of Science Chapter


Download Take Back the Tap (PDF from Moodle)

What is the nature of science?

Water as a natural resource and equity

 

Start: Flow

 

Class 4

March 27

3:50-5:50

Mattson Hall 104


Reading due: Second half of A Civil Action

Reading due: Inquiry Within: Chapter 2: What is Inquiry?

Film:  Flow

 



Using inquiry in research

Informational

Research

 

Class 5

April 17

3:50-5:50

Mattson Hall 104

First half of Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Polland

 

Water as a natural resource and equity

Class 6

May 1

3:50-5:50

Mattson Hall 104

Second half of Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Polland

If time: start Food. Inc

Inquiry Research Presentations (PPT)

Identifying trees (ARB)

 

Class 7

May 8

3:50-5:50

 

Mattson Hall 104

(Cabin?)

Food. Inc

 

Identifying trees (part 2) (ARB)

Global Food Crises: Thinking deeper
about manufacture and production of food

Final Paper Due by Tuesday, May 22, 2012 (12:30 pm): Send to mkoomen@gac.edu
 
 

Spring EDU 248 and PEPER II: Form I-D

 

Evidence of Standards in EDU 248
Minnesota Board of Teacher Licensure:
Teachers of Elementary Education
A teacher of children in kindergarten through grade 6 must demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of scientific perspectives, scientific connections, science in personal and social perspectives, the domains of science, and the methods and materials for teaching science and scientific inquiry. The teacher must:

1) understand science as a human endeavor, the nature of scientific knowledge, and the historical perspective of science;

Readings on the nature of science (Internet) and discussion throughout the course.

3) know how to make connections across the domains of science, between science and technology, and between science and other school subjects;

Synthesis paper; discussion of environmental topics; presentation of partnered environmental topic research (EDU 248).

4) use scientific understandings and abilities when making decisions about personal and societal issues;

Synthesis paper; discussion of environmental topics; presentation of partnered environmental topic research (EDU 248).

Updated on February 3, 2012