College of Charleston

SMFT 697, Education Research Writing Seminar

Spring, 2005

2 Credit Hours (total of 30 contact hours)

Meeting Time and Place:

TBA

Location: TBA

 

InstructorsÕ Names:

Meta Van Sickle,

George Tempel

Office Hours:
TBA

Office Location:

106 9 College Way (CofC)

416 Basic Science Building (MUSC)

Office phone/Fax/Email:

843.953.6357

vansicklem@cofc.edu

843.792.2977

tempelge@musc.edu

Course Prerequisites:

SMFT 697 Constructivist Science Teaching or EDEE 670

Course Description:

SMFT 697 is designed for scientists and practicing teachers working in a partnership. The course will focus on the study of research writing.  The participants in this course will write an article, based on their research or teaching practice for submission to a science education journal.

 

Course Text/Materials:

Course handouts

 

Course Objectives:

As an NSF fellow or teacher you will:

 

  1. Perform science as inquiry-
    1. ask questions
    2. plan and conduct investigations
    3. use appropriate tools and techniques to gather data
    4. think critically and logically about relationships between evidence and explanations
    5. construct and analyze alternative explanations
    6. communicate scientific arguments and explanations
    7. understand scientific inquiry as the ability to identify and communicate a problem, and to design, implement and evaluate a solution

 

 

  1. Engage in the ongoing assessment of your own teaching and of the studentsÕ learning-

 

    1. analyze assessment data to guide subsequent teaching
    2. write a research article based on the data you collected during your spring 2004 course for this program

 

Course Requirements: Description of Projects/Assignments:

        

(List all course requirements and give a description of each, and specific descriptions of all assignments.)

 

Research Writing

You will write a research  or practice article that will be used for presentation and publication at regional, national and international science education arena.

 

Class Attendance and Participation

Each student is to attend class regularly and on time.  It is imperative that you participate in large and small group discussion and activities. Because the method(s) of teaching that you will be learning are significantly different from methods that you have learned in other courses your participation is mandatory. I record your attendance and participation after each session. You can lose up to two letter grades by failing to attend and participate. (SOE Std I, II, III, IV,V, VI)

 

 

 

Evaluation Scale:

        

A= 93-100

B+ = 88-92

B = 83-87

C+ = 78-82

C = 74-77

F = 70

 

Evaluation Criteria:

        

(Include all activities that have a direct impact on the final grade)

 

Research Writing                                                                                        75%

Class Attendance and Participation                                                 25%

 

You can lose up to two letter grades by failing to attend and participate.

 

 

Resource Reading List:

           

Benchmarks

NSES

Atlas

 

Research Authors: Bogdan, Biklin and/or Taylor

 

Attendance Policies:

        

Absences are discouraged. If you must miss make sure to gain the instructorsÕ approval. You must view the videotape of the week with your teacher-partner and present your results when you return. Emergencies must be reported as soon as possible. We follow the College of Charleston and the SOE policy manual.

 

Any special consideration/agreements:

           

You will be assigned a teacher-partner to work with for the duration of this course. You are to spend 15 hours a week with the teacher in the development of your materials. You and your teacher-partner must attend the seminar together when it is your week to show your video.

 

 

Honor System:

           

We will follow the College of Charleston policy manual.

 

Performance Data:

        

All course requirements are performance based.

 

Course Calendar: (list the date and specific topic and assignments for each course meeting)

 

           

Date

Topic

Assignment

Meeting One

Writing your article

Bring the work you have produced to this date

Two

Library Searches

Find one article on educational research that has relevance to your paper.

Three

Writing

Analyze your data and create charts, tables and graphs.

Four

Library Searches

Find one article on educational research that has relevance to your paper

Five

Writing

Write the background for your article

Six

Library Searches

Find one article that helps explain your data.

Seven

Writing

Write explanations to go with your charts, tables and graphs.

Remaining Time

Complete your article.

Finish writing your article and your proposal for inclusion in a conference.