A Comprehensive Cognitive
Approach to Science Teacher
Training
Physics and Chemistry
Cyrill Slezak
Hillsdale College
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T
A
D
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Content
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Pedagogy
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Curriculum
Planning
Strategy
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Environment
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Leadership
Doing
Reflecting
Cognitive
foundation
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T
D A
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Statistics & Analysis
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Reflection
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ACollaboration
Job Satisfaction
1st Summer:
Meta-cognitive
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2nd Summer:
Cognitive Resources
Content Development
Curriculum Implementation
Collaboration
Attitudinal Change
→ Inquiry Curriculum
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Classroom Management
Resource Development
Curriculum Development
Attitudinal Change
→ Modeling Framework
3rd Summer: Thesis Project
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Data and Analysis
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Attitudinal Change
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Physics By inquiry
A well-established path to content
development and positive attitude change
 Tutorials in Introductory Physics
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Provides the framework for a practicum
in which teachers can develop active
engagement techniques in a coached
classroom environment.
Seminar in Science Education and Research
Introduction to the science education literature and
research methods.
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Chemistry Modeling:
The main aim is the modeling of
best practices in identifying
cognitive student resources and
how to best develop them.
Seminar in Science Education and Research
Further development of science education
research methods and sample project.
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Concept Inventory Tests
Force Concept Inventory (FCI) and Electric
Circuits Concept Evaluation (ECCE)
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Content Exams
PbI section pre-tests and final evaluation of PbI
units
Attitude Surveys
Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey
(CLASS), smile-sheets
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13 Teachers
Both Middle- and High-school
science teachers.
Only 4 participants with
background in teaching
physics and/or chemistry
Large variations in content
knowledge pre-test scores:
FCI: Avg. 42%
ECCE: Avg. 35%
ABCCEM: Avg. 59%
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FCI: NG=28% ± 8%
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ECCE(32): NG=33% ± 7%
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Improved attitudes towards
active engagement instruction
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Instructional Resource Development
Retain and train future program instructors
Long-term Content Retention
Set of concept inventory tests.
Persistent Attitude Change
Attitude surveys and smile-sheets
Modification of Classroom Practice
Classroom observations RTOP (self-assessment,
Drew Isola, 2008)