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Course Title: Critical Issues in Science Education
Campus Course Code: SCE 5301
Campus: UT Dallas
Program: MAT-SE
Course Description

Examination of classic issues in science and technology and the relationships developed between them. Topics include population and population growth, food and food sources, energy and energy sources, water needs/solutions, diseases and cures, housing – safe and adequate, environmental issues – personal and political, and security – local and global.

As an educated populous we must see the context of the information that makes up current events. This context comes from not only what happened and was reported on the overnight news, but what happened five, ten, or even 1000 years ago. Critical Issues in Science Education examines classic issues in science and technology and the relationships developed between them. Some of these developments are independent of each other. While others are totally dependent, some intra-dependent, yet still others, inter-dependent. As a science educator, your role is to glean understandings which can be shared within your circles of influence, interwoven into your subject matter, and championed as opportunities for future generations. After all, as teachers you do “touch the future.” What better way than to enlighten students as to the many opportunities that awaits the citizenry and leaders of the 21st century in a world that has grown much smaller, technology literate, and mobile – a world that will be in dire need of wise decisions.

Offered completely online, this course has the same learning objectives as the on-campus section. Meeting or exceeding the UT TeleCampus ‘Principles of Good Practice’, a student-centered approach promotes high expectations for coursework and academic performance. Established on a solid foundation of scientific research and academic excellence, this course specifically supports the MAT-SE Online program goal to develop and support professional awareness and involvement.

If you have any concerns about your readiness for this course, please discuss issues with your advisor.  To participate in this course:

  1. Students must be eligible to take graduate courses at The University of Texas at Dallas.
  2. Students must know how to and be able to send and receive electronic mail messages.
  3. Students must know how to and be able to access and navigate web pages on the Internet.
  4. Students must be fluent in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Objectives

The goal of this course is to synthesize the needs of administration, parents, and community to best serve the students. Toward that end, students will be able to:

  1. Appraise and evaluate perceived solutions related to the various issues in terms of validity/invalidity – economic and political, social and moral, and technologic/scientific accurate.
  2. Judge/formulate/develop plans of action [lessons] for the age-group of their respective responsibilities to address in an appropriate format critical topics related to subject of discussion.
  3. Select/compare/contrast each of the critical issues as related to other areas of interest within the purview of their teaching responsibilities.
  4. Compose valid arguments related to these critical issues, and relate them in varied evaluative formats, e.g., tests, exams, position papers, etc.
Students will produce satisfactory responses on classroom discussions, class quizzes, and on proposed classroom “plans-of-action” which are lessons developed to include discussions with their age-group/grade-level/subjects-matter specific responsibility of varied critical issue topics.
Materials

Visit the Bookstores page for links to campus bookstores that provide information on course materials.
Prerequisites: Graduate in good standing
Credits:3
Level:Graduate
Faculty

Homer  Montgomery
mont@utdallas.edu
972-883-2480