NSCT 381 Intro Handout

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Instructor: Dr. David Kagan

Office: PhSc 106A Physics Department Office: PhSc 106A

Phone: (530)898-6259 Physics Department Phone: (530)898-6259

E-mail: dkagan@csuchico.edu

Home Page: http://physweb.csuchico.edu/kagan/ [username: CSUC password: Chico!]

Office Hours: TBA and others times by appointment.

Prerequisites: Computer skills including facility with the internet and email.

Materials:

The National Science Education Standards

The State of California Science Content Standards

Your School or District Science Curriculum

A computer with at least a 28.8k modem

An internet service provider with access to the World Wide Web and email

Suggested texts and other resources are listed on the website.

Objectives of the Course:

Develop the skills needed to become a science resource person in your school district.

These skills include becoming familiar with curricular issues such as the new Science Standards, critiquing district curriculum, becoming more knowledgeable about science education resources, developing leadership and presentation skills.

Develop physical science lesson plans that will work in your classroom.

No course for in-service teachers is worth the trouble if the teacher doesn’t get something that works for them in their classroom. Not only will you produce hands-on, inquiry based lessons for your class, but these will be shared with other teachers at several Saturday workshops.

Increase your physical science knowledge.

In the process of examining science standards and curriculum, you may find gaps in your science content knowledge. We will address these gaps on an individual basis while focusing on the goal of producing useful lessons consistent with the standards.

Responsibilities of the Instructor: It is my intent to act as a facilitator and mentor as opposed to a science content knowledge source. While we work toward the objectives stated above, I will try to provide guidance on an individual basis, mostly through email and internet.

Grading: The grade of C will be earned if all assignments are completed on time. The grade of B will be earned if quality work is presented on all assignments. The grade of A will be earned if outstanding work is presented on all assignments.

Assistance: If you find that you need help from time to time try:

Talking to me! (Email, phone during office hours, make an appointment, etc.)

Use internet science education resources. There are links on the course website.

Contact other class members by email (listed on website).

COURSE SCHEDULE

WEEK	DATE	TOPICS	ASSIGNMENT	DUE
1	Aug 23 to Aug 29	The National Science Education Standards The Science Teaching Standards	Get a copy of the standards. Write a commentary on each Science Teaching Standard.	Sun., Aug 29
2	Aug 30 to Sep 5	The National Science Education Standards The Science Content Standards	Write a commentary on each Science Content Standard for your grade level.	Sun., Sep 5
3	Sep 6 to Sep 12	The State of California Science Content Standards	Get a copy of these standards. Compare and contrast them with the National Standards. Write a commentary for your grade level.	Sun., Sep 12
4	Sep 13 to Sep 19	The Science Standards and Your District’s Curriculum	Get a copy of your district curriculum. Write a comparison between both standards and this curriculum.	Sat., Sep 18
	Sep 18	SATURDAY WORKSHOP #1 10am — 5pm	Hands-on inquiry based methods: Discussion and examples.
5	Sep 20 to Sep 26	Your Current Lessons, the Curriculum, and the Standards	Examine your lessons for consistency with the curriculum and the standards. Write a commentary identifying areas that need work.	Sun., Sep 26
6	Sep 27 to Oct 3	Hands-on Inquiry Based Science and Your Lessons	Modify a current lesson to incorporate more hands-on inquiry based methods. Find three similar lessons from any source.	Sun., Oct 3
7	Oct 4 to Oct 10	Hands-on Inquiry Based Science and Your Lessons	Conduct the lesson with your class. Write an assessment.	Sun., Oct 10
8	Oct 11 to Oct 17	Hands-on Inquiry Based Science and Your Lessons	Prepare your lesson to share at the Saturday Workshop.	Sat., Oct 16
	Oct 16	SATURDAY WORKSHOP #2	Bring your modified hands-on inquiry based lesson to present.
9	Oct 18 to Oct 24	Designing New Lessons to Improve Alignment with Curriculum and Standards.	Identify an area where you need a new lesson. Find three similar lessons from any source.	Sun., Oct 24
10	Oct 25 to Oct 31	Designing New Lessons to Improve Alignment with Curriculum and Standards.	Design a lesson using hands-on inquiry based methods.	Sun., Oct 31
11	Nov 1 to Nov 7	Designing New Lessons to Improve Alignment with Curriculum and Standards.	Conduct the lesson with your class. Write an assessment.	Sun., Nov 7
12	Nov 8 to Nov 14	Designing New Lessons to Improve Alignment with Curriculum and Standards.	Prepare your lesson to share at the Saturday Workshop.	Sat., Nov 13
	Nov 13	SATURDAY WORKSHOP #3	Bring your new hands-on inquiry based lesson to present.
13	Nov 15 to Nov 21	Designing New Lessons to Improve Alignment with Curriculum and Standards.	Identify an area where you need a new lesson. Find three similar lessons from any source.	Sun., Nov 21
	Nov 22 to Nov 28	* THANKSGIVING BREAK *	Design a lesson using hands-on inquiry based methods.
14	Nov 29 to Dec 5	Designing New Lessons to Improve Alignment with Curriculum and Standards.	Conduct the lesson with your class. Write an assessment.	Sun., Dec 5
15	Dec 6 to Dec 12	Designing New Lessons to Improve Alignment with Curriculum and Standards.	Prepare your lesson to share at the Saturday Workshop.	Sat., Dec 11
	Dec 11	SATURDAY WORKSHOP #4	Bring your new hands-on inquiry based lesson to present.
Finals	Dec 13 to Dec 19		Write a critique of this course.	Sun., Dec 19