EE 517 Methods of Teaching Science

Credit, three hours.
This course emphasizes the integration and application of content knowledge, resources, and skills for the teaching of science using central concepts, inquiry tools, structure of content, knowledge of students and community, curricular goals, and the interrelationship of theory and practice. Science will be stressed as one component in students’ developing abilities to solve problems and encourage students’ development of critical thinking and problem solving through active engagement in learning. Students will use knowledge, appropriate learning standards, and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally meaningful and challenging curriculum, all the while upholding ethical standards and professional guidelines. Students will engage in continuous collaborative learning to inform practice using technology, peers, and professional resources including major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to development of children to construct learning opportunities that support individual students’ development, acquisition of knowledge and motivation. Students will know, understand, and use fundamental concepts of physical, life, and earth/space sciences and they will be able to design and implement age-appropriate inquiry lessons to teach science, to build science understanding for personal and social applications, and to convey the nature of science. Professional laboratory experiences in school settings are required. Students will reflect upon, expand, and apply conceptual understanding of science concepts using engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate, intervene and/or accelerate learning to become scientifically literate. Students will use a variety of instructional models such as Five + IA instructional model. Students will be provided with collaborative student-centered clasroom environments to enhance knowledge of scientific concepts. Students will participate in AMSTI teacher-led activities to further enhance instructional strategies and learning targets. Students at the graduate level must complete a research component of an assigned current topic related to teaching science in the elementary classroom. Candidates will be required to design lessons that will engage students in developmentally appropriate learning experiences that integrate the science, health, and physical education content areas of the curriculum. The lessons must reflect an understanding of the interrelated nature of each child’s cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical development. This course requires field experience in approved school settings.