Graduate Studies Reports Access

Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - SCE5334
Tracking Number - 1626

Edit function not enabled for this course.


Current Status: Approved, Permanent Archive - 2007-11-08
Campus:
Submission Type:
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments:


Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2007-10-18
  2. Department: Secondary Education
  3. College: ED
  4. Budget Account Number: 172400
  5. Contact Person: Elaine Howes
  6. Phone: 9742816
  7. Email: ehowes@coedu.usf.edu
  8. Prefix: SCE
  9. Number: 5334
  10. Full Title: Methods of Middle Grades Science Education
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: C - Class Lecture (Primarily)
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: N
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?:
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Methods Mid Grades Science Ed
  19. Course Online?: -
  20. Percentage Online:
  21. Grading Option: R - Regular
  22. Prerequisites: 18 sem hrs in sci, meeting Fl content standards for mid grades general sci
  23. Corequisites: none
  24. Course Description: Prepare 5-9 sci teachers to tch sci skills, content; interrelationship, applications of sci as a human endeavor; nature of sci; instructional methods; nature scientific inquiry; development of sci process skills; integration of subj areas; & assessment.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: This course is a required course in the sequence of the M.A.T. in the Science Education Program. It fulfills the state requirement for a methods course at the middle school level.
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? The course is part of the required sequence in the major: M.A.T. in Science Education
  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? no
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) Because this course is part of a Masters in Teaching program, anyone teaching the course needs to have a doctorate.
  29. Objectives: Upon completion of this course the students will be able to:

    1) describe relationships between science instruction and students’ learning.

    2) demonstrate skill in performing the processes of science.

    3) integrate science with other content areas.

    4) develop assessment strategies for student learning in science.

  30. Learning Outcomes: Students will demonstrate their understanding of science content and teaching by journal and paper writing, science/teacher related projects, and class participation activities. Specific lists of graded assignments with due dates, while always reflecting the course goals and content outline listed above, may vary on given terms. Therefore, each student will be given a specific, updated list of course assignments and a class calendar for the given term at the first class meeting.

    • On-line Reading/Learning Log. Entries will demonstrate understanding of pedagogical techniques and the basic skills in science content necessary for middle-school science teaching.

    • Integrated Science Unit Plan. Drawing on grade-appropriate science methods, this document will include instructional goals and objectives; detail the instructional process, and include all materials needed to teach. This unit plan will be a group project, and support integrated planning and teaching for middle school.

    • Mini-Teaching. A portion of the Integrated Science Unit Plan will be taught, demonstrating understanding of pedagogical approaches discussed in the course and effective assessment strategies.

    • Final Research and Reflection Paper will evaluate students’ knowledge of all major topics studied.

    • Attendance & Professionalism. Students will be present and on time for all class meetings and will participate in classroom discussions and presentations.

  31. Major Topics: The content of this course includes: the cognitive development of middle/high school students and its relation to science content and skills; the processes of science (e.g., observation, formulating hypotheses, identifying and controlling variables, application of mathematics and language skills); contemporary recommendations for science pedagogy, with focus on pre/early adolescence; description of best practice (e.g., teaming, pods, schools within schools) in United States’ middle schools.
  32. Textbooks: This course utilizes “minds-on” and “hands-on” science teaching, and mainly considers inquiry-based methods of science teaching as recommended by the national (American Association for the Advancement of Science,1990, 1993; National Research Council, 1996) and state (Florida Sunshine State Standards) science education standards. Students will use a variety of texts, journals and Internet sites as sources of information. Recommended sources related to teaching middle school science may include: Girls in the Middle: Study of middle school girls and the strategies used to meet the challenges of
  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases:
  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy:
  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests:
  36. Attendance Policy:
  37. Policy on Make-up Work:
  38. Program This Course Supports:
  39. Course Concurrence Information:


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.