BED 4311- ECED 4311 Science Methods
Education Syllabus
Teaching Sci. Primary Grades (ECED-4311-003 - 27300) & Teaching Sci. Dual Lang
Clsrm (BED-4311-003 - 27298)
Objective: to prepare teachers to be able to deliver high-quality, student-centered,
active and interesting standards-aligned science lessons to students from a variety of
cultures and backgrounds.
An online collaborative environment, WebCT (available from "My UTEP.EDU" at
http://my.utep.edu or directly from http://webct.utep.edu), will be used to provide
course interactions, and each participant must be able to use their UTEP WebCT
account. You MUST have both a UTEP email address and password to take this
course. This is because the online course environment, WebCT, utilizes your UTEP
email username and password. Because the course is taught in a partial online
"web-enhanced" or "hybrid" style, you cannot effectively participate without access
to the online course environment. The instructor will not accept projects or course
materials that are not submitted through either the UTEP WebCT system (*why
not? because other email systems cannot be adequately associated with a particular
student, and because they have no way to document "down" times that may affect
coursework. We can look up what is happening with UTEP's system, but we have no
way to adjust for the vagaries of AOL, Juno, Earthlink, MSN, or other systems).
You may ACCESS your course environment and email from any internet provider,
but you must PARTICIPATE from within the UTEP course environments: UTEP
email (webmail) and UTEP WebCT. The MY.UTEP.EDU site gives you access to
ALL UTEP online functions: WebcT, Goldmine, and Webmail, among others. For
use of this account you will need your UTEP email login and password. Going to
UTEP's WebCT site directly at http://webct.utep.edu requires a slightly different
combination of login and passwords: the UTEP email login and the older Goldmine
six digit password. Because of this difference, and to avoid confusion, we encourage
you to use the MY.UTEP.EDU method whenever possible. If you have trouble, the
UTEP Information Systems help desk number is (915) 747-5257. You must have
access to UTEP email and WebCT by the beginning of the second day of the course.
If you do not have one yet, you may apply for your UTEP email account, login, and
password from a form available online at: https://newaccount.utep.edu
The daily assignments and activities, as well as the objectives for each day are online in
the "course planner" area of the course website. This list is a flexible framework and it
will adjust during the semester, as we learn together what is the best pace for the course.
Still, it will give you a general idea of what will be covered, and when. As the course
goes on, individual aspects and details of each assignment will be posted on the course
planner page, so it is a key location that you should visit often. The specific URL is:
https://mspace.utep.edu/bhgiza/web/html/scied_sequence_sp2005a.htm.
TEXTBOOK
The REQUIRED textbooks for this course are
1. "The National Science Education Standards", authored by the National Research
Council (National Academy Press, ISBN 0-309-05326-9). This book is available
in both print and online versions. (for your convenience an Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
version is provided to you as part of your course CD). A link to the downloadable
HTML and PDF versions is provided in the Readings area of the course at
https://mspace.utep.edu/bhgiza/web/html/scied_readings_sp2005a.htm
2. "Science with Children", by Nancy Paulu and Margery Martin, published by the
United States Department of Education, 1991. This book is available in PDF
format in both English and Spanish. Both versions are required. The book may be
downloaded from the course website from these links: English and Spanish.
Additional versions or formats are available from this link.
3. There is a link to the EC-4 and 4-8 Texas science standards at the bottom of each
page of the scied website. Additional materials, such as the SBEC standards and
TEXES manuals for various disciplines, and a bilingual set of the Department of
Education's Science Activities for Children are also provided on your course CD.
BLOCK II Common Elements
This course does not exist in isolation. It is part of the Block II suite of courses that are
designed to work together to provide a comprehensive approach to teacher preparation.
There are activities that you are expected to do that are meant to assist you in integrating
into the education community and your other Block II courses. Some of these are:
1. Personal Philosophy of Education Statement. This assignment consists of an
overview of your belief system about the teaching and learning processes.
2. Small group presentations on topics/text chapters. Web-based research on topics
related to Block II topics.
3. Parent-Community Activities. Participation in these collaborative class activities
will usually occur during class sessions. After hours sessions will be discussed
early in the semester.
4. Journal -- As reflective practitioners, Block II class members will participate in
discussion of topics through the use of WebCT. Details will be discussed in class.
Topics for reflection each week will include discussion of what you have learned
and/or questions you have based on classroom discussion, assigned readings, and
field experience. Examples of these bi-weekly entries include questions such as:
What relevance does field experience have to my career as a future teacher? How
do my internship experiences enhance (or detract from) my understanding of the
material we read/discussed in class? What are some of the new questions that I
have about schools and their relationships to communities?
5. Portfolio - Students will be required to submit an electronic portfolio (in
PowerPoint format) as a final product. The portfolio is a student-centered
assessment tool that allows students the opportunity to show what has been
learned during the semester. In the case of ECED 4331, the portfolio will be
designed around the concept of a "RESOURCE BOOK FOR ELEMENTARY
SCIENCE TEACHING" They will be due the last week of class. Details and
guidelines will be provided in class.
6. Science and Social Studies for the 21st century - Create lesson plans to teach in
the school to which you are assigned. Students will be expected to team teach
lessons at least twice during this semester. Each of these micro-lessons will be
critiqued by peers, mentor teacher, and UTEP instructor.
7. Final (take-home) Exam. This assignment will be handed out during the final
week of class. The take-home exams will be due during the assigned class final
exam date/time.
Individual and collaborative student projects are an important part of the student's grade.
You will be required to research and present back to the class both individually and in
instructor-assigned groups. There are daily classroom activities, and there is no make-up
for work missed due to unexcused absences. All work is due at the assigned time.
Missing work will result in a significant impact on the student grade. BECAUSE IT IS
IMPORTANT TO STAY ON TASK, STUDENTS WHO FALL BEHIND ON THEIR
ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE CONTACTED, AND IF THE BEHAVIOR CONTINUES,
THEY WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE COURSE (no more than two absences, a drop
on the third absence). Attendance is especially important in an activity-intensive course.
There is a great amount of reading and collaboration. In addition, expect a short
assignment at the beginning of each class. Of course, there is no make up for this
assignment should you miss it due to tardiness. You will need an Internet connection to
perform the work required (the internet is available from the UTEP campus). You will
also need access to a relatively modern computer (running Windows 98 or above, or Mac
OS 9 or above). You must use one of the recent JavaScript-capable browsers: Netscape 4
or above, and /or Internet Explorer 4 or above in order to interact with the course WebCT
online environment. Microsoft Office (available on UTEP campus computers) is the
recommended tool for many assignments, especially for PowerPoint presentations.
Because collaboration among participants is important to this course, and in order to
ensure that all participants can read each other's files, course assignments must be turned
in in one of the following formats: Plain text (.txt), RTF text (.rtf), PowerPoint (.ppt), MS
Word (.doc) format, or HTML format. For the same reason, the following products are
strongly discouraged: "Works" packages (in other words, please do not use Appleworks,
Clarisworks, or Microsoft Works). These "works" packages usually produce proprietary
files that cannot be read by other users who are using more standard productivity
packages. For this reason, students are encouraged to obtain and use a real office
productivity suite: Microsoft Office, or OpenOffice are highly recommended
(OpenOffice is free at www.openoffice.org). Other formats may be required for a specific
assignment as part of a learning activity (for example, jpg format images). The preferred
apporach for including materials in a WebCT post is to copy and paste text into the body
of a message (avoiding attached documents). This ensures that everyone can read the
message. Email assignments or posts that are due in WebCT MAY NOT BE TURNED
IN THROUGH THE INSTRUCTOR'S UTEP EMAIL, and MUST be turned in via
WebCT. You may alert the instructor through UTEP email if there is a problem, but all
online assignments can only be accepted through WebCT.
Typically there will be assigned readings every day, along with a list of key points, and
an assignment. There is a great deal of reading and writing in this course, and it is
difficult to catch up if you fall behind. Please let me know if you are unavailable, or
unable to complete an assignment due to some conflict, or if there is a network or access
problem. There are alternatives available for that, but I must know in time to work with
you. Among other things, this course is meant to help you use technology effectively, and
your contribution in the design of technology-enriched classroom lessons is a critical
component of the course. We shall work to help you feel comfortable with a few key
tools and approaches that will be useful in both the classroom and in life. My bottom line
is making sure that you understand these concepts and that you come away with a useful
experience. I love teaching, and I hope that you will get a feeling for why I feel that way
while we participate together in this course. Please contact me if you run into barriers or
problems, and we'll work to overcome them together.
Grading Scale
•
•
•
•
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A = 90 - 100%
B = 80 - 89%
C = 70 - 79%
D = 60 - 69%
F = below 60%
Grade calculations are derived from the following formula: There are daily reading or
laboratory assignments, usually worth 5 to 10 points. Summing up the points received
and dividing this total by the points possible gives a decimal fraction that provides a
running total of the grade. In other words, a student who has a total of 41 points received
out of 55 points possible at a particular point in the course would have a grade of 41/55 or
0.745 (74.5 percent). A sample spreadsheet for keeping grades appears as an image
below.
Academic Policies
Participants are expected to abide by the UTEP policies concerning academic honesty.
Use of another person's product (in whole or in part), or your own product from another
class, without permission is a violation of this policy.
As per Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, if a student needs an accommodation, contact your
professor and we will help you with the appropriate modification, within the procedures
established by the University.
BED 4311 & ECED 4311 Course
Sequence
This course meets in hybrid fashion. The class meets at Serna School on Wednesday
mornings, but you must also interact online. There are class assignments each week
in the online course environment at http://webct.utep.edu. Important dates for
Spring Semester 2005 are online at: https://www.goldmine.utep.edu/idspring05.htm.
This course planner is meant as a rough and flexible guide and will be adjusted as
course circumstances warrant.
Class
Date
Class Content
Assignments
All
Microteaching
dates subject
to change
1
Jan 12
Creating the "Science Teacher's Resource
Guide" notebook. Alignment: TEKS
TAKS, NSES, and New Teacher Standards;
An offline tour and demonstration of the
WebCT environment, Intros and
Requirements; Syllabus; Grading
guidelines; Journal format; Create class email list; take pictures; Required text &
suggested readings. Modes of Inquiry
Autobiographical
"Hello
PowerPoint".
Resource Binder
Template
2
Jan 19
Introduction to WebCT; MarcoPolo part 1
(http://www.marcopolo-education.org)
MarcoPolo
research
assignment;
Selection of
Lesson
Activities;
Students must
acquire lesson
tools (see lesson
tools list)
and also Science
Lesson TEKS
Alignment
Assignment 1
Students must
respond to
WebCT email
exercise 1
3
Jan 26
Science Lesson Demonstrations. Discovery
Science Fair Website at:
http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/.
Dept. of Ed Parents' guide to science at:
Science Fair and
Parent's Night
Projects Planner
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Science/title.html
Science KITS
Assignment 1
due in WebCT.
4
Feb 2
Three Modes of Inquiry Exercise (Note, the
"Three modes of Inquiry" exercise is very
messy! bring some newspaper and wear old
clothes!)
Science
Presentations
LABS Activity
Planner. Check
in WebCT email
for a message
from your
professor with
the LABS
assignment
details. Reply to
the message with
your planning
choices before
Wed. Feb 9 at 5
PM.
5
Feb 9
Planning for the Parent night; online
lessons; The Exploratorium;
Students create
lesson support
materials
(displays and
media). This link
also contains the
list of assigned
groups for the
LABS exercise.
7
Feb 16
Foam Inquiry Demonstration; Descriptions
of the La llorona Activity; Masa Maps
Activity; Texas in a Tortilla Activity,
Cookie Geology Activity. (see the link in
Check for a
WebcT message
in email during
this eweek, as
the assignments column for the LABS
exercise that was described in class Feb 2).
well as a posted
update to this
page with
instructions for
this week's
activities.
Feb 23
Practice Parent Conference Presentations
Student TEKS
and Standards
Alignment
Assignment
Mar 1
Disposable Camera Microscopes.
Reflection and
Critique
Assignment;
Design the
Textbook
Assignment part
1
Mar 9
Microteaching and alignment exercises
Microteaching
Critiques,
alignment
assignment 1
Mar 16
Microteaching and alignment exercises.
Microteaching
Critiques,
alignment
assignment 2;
Cooperative
learning
questions Quiz
Mar 30
Microteaching and alignment exercises
Microteaching
Critiques,
alignment
assignment 3
April 6
Microteaching and alignment exercises
Microteaching
Critiques,
alignment
assignment 4
8
9
10
11
Mar 21-26
Spring Break
12
13
April 13
New TeacherTechnology Standards
14
Standards self
assesment
Microteaching
Assessment and
Instructions
Apr 20
15
Workbook and Portfolio development;
Final Exam lesson critiques link is:
https://mspace.utep.edu/bhgiza/web/modules/scifinal
16
Apr 27
Final presentations: Portfolios and Critiques
*
May 4
Final Exam: Time TBA
Critiques