Trends in Science Education

820:290

Fall 2008

Course Syllabus

Updated Nov. 18, 2008, 2:30 a.m.

Date

Topic

Assignment

August 26

• Introductions & Review of Course Syllabus & Objectives
• Exploring what you know about the history of science education

• Distribute copies of the course syllabus & review course requirements & assignments. Off-site students click above to access the syllabus. Print a copy and bring to class.
• Read for next Tuesday - DeBoer: Intro. and Chap. 1 (This will take a while)
• Remember to check web page. May want to print the powerpoint outline to make notes on. Print the handout version with 6 slides per page to save paper.
• Grading rubric for Assignment #1 (due Sept. 23)
• Assign Assignment #4: The History of Science Education Big Ideas, Criticisms, Reports and Accomplishments (Due Dec. 2)
• Introduce Presentation Topics and Grading Rubric (Assignment #5)

Sept. 2

• Science education in the early to mid 1800s:
  • Characteristics & reasons for change?
  • How does it tie to science education and education in general today?

• Powerpoint 1: Science Education in the early to mid 1800s.  
• Finalize presentation topics & dates
• Read for next Tuesday, Chapters 2 & 3 of DeBoer

Sept. 9

• Check presentation topics and assigned nights.
• Science education in the late 1800s through the Progressive Era

• APA Documents
• Powerpoint 2: Science Education in the Late 1800s Powerpoint
• Review Assignment #1. It is due Sept. 23. Remember to look at the rubric.
• Be ready to compare, contrast and discuss the goals of education in the 1800s and 1900s with goals of education in the present. Review the goals listed in these 2 documents:
  • Goals 2000: The National Education Goals, Goals 2000: Educate America Act (go to the National Education Goals page) March 31, 1994.
  • Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS), http://www.academicinnovations.com/report.html, US Department of Labor, 1991

Sept. 16

• Discuss the impact of The Committee of Ten and The Committee on College Entrance Requirements on Education then and now.
• Comparison of Goals of Education in 1800s & 1900s to present.

• Complete Science Education in the Late 1800s Powerpoint
• Assignment for Sept. 23: Read for next Tuesday: Chapters 4 & 5 of DeBoer
• (time permitting) Early 1900's Powerpoint (The Progressive Age)
• Discussion of comparison of Goals of Education: Then and Now.

Sept. 23

• Sputnik Instills Change in Science Education
• Curriculum reform in science education as a result of Sputnik
• Curriculum Projects on the 1960s

• History of Science Education timeline (interesting perspective - print on a legal size piece of paper.)
• Sputnik Powerpoint
• Share examples of ESS, SCIS, SAPA.
• email assignment #1 to Stone@uni.edu
• Presentation 1: What Research Says to the Science Teacher, Volume 1, 1978, Mary Budd Rowe, Editor. (Nicole & Danielle)

Sept. 30

• Begin discussion of the Sputnik inspired reforms.

• Graduate program question & answer session with Cherin.
• Presentation 4: Focus on Excellence - Science as Inquiry (Rochelle & Cathy)
• For Oct. 7 class, read Chapter 8 of DeBoer.

Oct. 7

• Major Reports and their Impact on Science Education
• Tieing reform efforts to successful reform in Iowa schools

• Presentation 6: Scientists and Science Education Reform: Myths, Methods, and Madness (Stephanie & Theresa T.)
• Success of Sputnik Curr. Materials Powerpoint
• Project Synthesis Powerpoint
• Good references for papers/final/comps: http://www.nas.edu/sputnik/bybee2.htm Bybee on whether curriculum reform of Sputnik era was a failure.

  http://www.nas.edu/rise/backg3a.htm Another Bybee article offering good background information on educational reform

  Read April Foolishness: The 20th Anniversary of a Nation at Risk (for next class) Be ready to discuss how we determine/set high expectations for students & how we communicate those expectations to students.

Oct. 14

• Project Synthesis
• Science, Technology, Society (STS) Movement

• Presentation 8: TIMMS Report on US Math and Science Education (Mike & Kristi)
• Project Synthesis Powerpoint
• The STS Movement
• Assignment #2: History Lessons on Reform & Grading Rubric due Nov. 4 Assignment 2 & rubric.08.doc

Oct. 21

• A Nation at Risk
• April Foolishness: the 20th Anniversary of a Nation at Risk

• Complete Discussion of TIMMS report
• Presentation 11: Assessment : What research says about assessment (Travis & Josh)
• Summary of A Nation at Risk - Powerpoint
• Discussion of A Nation at Risk, including these articles:
  • April Foolishness; Twenty years after A Nation at Risk
  • Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, and Oakland Sites: A Nation Still at Risk by Bennett, Fair, etc. http://www.hoover.org/publications/policyreview/3563967.html
  • Dubuque, Montezuma, Muscatine, Des Moines, & Spencer Sites: Twenty-five Years Later: A Nation Still at Risk by Chester E. Finn http://www.hoover.org/pubaffairs/dailyreport/archive/18328209.html
• Work on Assignment 2: Significant Influences on Science Education (Due Nov. 4)

Oct. 28

• Complete discussion of a Nation at Risk
• (time permitting) look at chapters 9 and 10 of DeBoer

• Presentation 13: What research says about parent involvement in education (Sara & Ben)
• Chapters 9-10 of DeBoer - Jody will present a summary of DeBoer's ideas on how students learn best
  • Scientific Literacy (the 1970s)
  • Process & Product in Science Education (the 1980s)

Nov. 4

• Movement toward research based teaching
• What Research Says About Instruction: Process Skills and

• Assignment #2 due (email it to Stone@uni.edu)
• Presentation 10: High School Reform (Holly)
• Presentation 18: Adopt and Adapt: Shaping Technology for the Classroom: Twenty-first-century schools need twenty-first-century technology. (Kevin)
• More Education Reforms of the 1980s and 1990s

Nov. 11

• Science for All Americans: Project 2061
• Impact of NCLB on Science Education

• Project 2061: Science Education in the 1990s.
• Presentation 12: Educating the Whole Child ( Melissa & Kyle)
• Presentation 7: Pros & Cons of NCLB (Nicole & Molly)

Nov. 18

• Educational Standards
• Systemic Reform in Science Education

• Discuss assignment #4 in small groups and share ideas
• Complete Project 2061 powerpoint
• Presentation 17: Iowa Core Curriculum (Matt & Kate)
• Powerpoint: Systemic Reform

Dec. 2

• Continue discussion of Systemic Change, the Iowa Core Curriculum and ELI

• Presentation 16: Project Based Learning (Reagan & Keith)
• Presentation 15: Predictors of College Success (Theresa B & Steve)
• Assign final exam (due Dec. 17)
• Assignment 4 DUE Today: The History of Science Education Big Ideas, Criticisms, Reports and Accomplishments. Share ideas in class.

Dec. 9

Last day of class

• Systematic Reform in Science Education - Assessment
• National Science Education Assessment Standards
• Final exam (take home)

• Presentation 20: 21st Century Schools (Michelle & Hannah)
• Discuss ELI & its incorporation into the FINAL exam
• Final Exam due Dec. 16

Dec. 16

Complete take-home final

•  Take home test due by Wed. Dec. 17