College of Charleston

SMFT 697, Science Teaching Seminar for Scientists—Building for Lasting Change

Fall, 2004

3 Credit Hours (total of 45 contact hours)

Meeting Time and Place:

Thurs. 5-8pm

Location: Maybank Rm. 303

Instructors’ Names:	Meta Van Sickle, George Tempel
Office Hours:	W 5:00-8:00pm
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 practicing teachers working in a partnership with scientists. The course will focus on the study of creating lasting change in the public schools based on best practices in science and science education. The participants in this course will also develop research protocols examining the impact of inquiry teaching and pedagogical tact.
Course Text/Materials:	Science for All Children, National Academy of Sciences, and Designing Professional Development for Teachers of Science and Mathematics, Loucks-Horsley, Hewson, Love & Stiles

Course Objectives:

As an NSF fellow or teacher you will:

Engage in the ongoing assessment of your own teaching and of the students’ learning-

use multiple methods to systematically gather data about student understanding and ability
analyze assessment data to guide subsequent teaching
guide students in self-assessment
use student data, observations of teaching, and peer interactions to reflect on and improve teaching practices
use student data, observations of teaching, and interactions with colleagues to report student achievement
review the naïve theories and misconceptions most children have about scientific and technological phenomena and help children build understanding

Develop plans to improve science education in the CCSD

A. Create plans for the professional development for teachers of science that include:

1) Content to extend the kits

2) Teach depth of content to extend the kits

3) Design action research plans to improve the quality of science teaching in the CCSD

Course Requirements: Description of Projects/Assignments:

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

§ Design a Professional Development Opportunity for the Science Teachers at Your School

You will create a plan for professional develop in science at your assigned school. The plan must include: principal and district approval and date/schedule. Then your plan continues with materials: 1) Content to extend the kits, 2) Teach depth of content.

Design an Action Research Plan

This plan is to be used to assess the effect of the professional development project on the participants at your school. (SOE Std V)

Recording of a Lesson and Mini Unit

You will video-tape a minimum of two of the lessons that you and your teacher-partner co-taught from the lesson plans (mini unit) that you created. These tapes will be used to research pedagogical tact. (SOE Std1, II, III, IV)

Questions about the reading and class leadership on sections of the book

Participants will bring at least two questions about each chapter of the book for the class sessions. These questions should be at the application, analysis, synthesis or evaluation levels of higher order thinking. Teams will lead the discussion on chapters from the book. (SOE Std V)

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. Your attendance and participation will be recorded for 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 Plans 20%

Professional Development Opportunity 20%

Recording of a Lesson and Mini Unit 20%

Questions about the book and leadership on sections of the book 20%

Class Attendance and Participation 20%

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 instructors’ 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
Week 1	Science for All Children	Part 1, Chapt. 1-4
Week 2	Library Searches	Find one article on educational research that has a tactic you want to explore. This exploration will assist with writing your ultimate research plan.
Week 3	Science for All Children	Part 2, Chapt. 5-9
Week 4	Library Searches	Find one article on educational research that has a tactic you want to explore. This exploration will assist with writing your research plan.
Week 5	Science for All Children	Part 2, Chapt. 5-9
Week 6	Library Searches	Find one article on educational research that has a tactic you want to explore. This exploration will assist with writing your research plan.
Week 7	Professional Development	Chapt. 2-3
Week 8	Library Searches	Find one article on educational research that has a PD tactic you want to explore. This exploration will assist with writing your PD plan.
Week 9	Professional Development	Chapt. 4-6
Week 10	Library Searches	Find one article on educational research that has a PD tactic you want to explore. This exploration will assist with writing your PD plan.
Week 11	Develop PD plan	Discuss article, Use previous weeks’ discussions of pedagogical tact to assist in development of research plans
Week 12	Library Searches	Find one article on educational research that has a PD tactic you want to explore. This exploration will assist with writing your PD plan.
Week 13	Develop research plan	Discuss article, pilot test research plan and tools of collected video tapes.
Week 14	Library Searches	Write your plans.
Week 15	Finalizing all projects.	Describe research project and post it to the NSF Website

SMFT 697, Science Teaching Seminar for Scientists—Building for Lasting Change

Meta Van Sickle,

W 5:00-8:00pm