Course Title: Integrated Physical Science for Teachers
Campus Course Code: SCI 5325
Campus: UT Dallas
Program: MAT-SE
Investigation of physical science standards using pedagogical models of best practice applicable to a variety of learners in diverse contexts. Inquiry-based investigations feature Newton’s laws, atoms, chemical and physical reactions, Bernoulli’s law, simple machines, electricity, magnetism, light and heat, and energy – with a hands-on emphasis on the latest scientific research and educational application.
No matter what your primary science degree is in, Integrated Physical Science for Teachers gives you a look at the content from the perspective of an educator dealing with diverse populations. Physical science is the integration of physics and chemistry; however, in this class we will be adding earth and life sciences to the integration. Other topics included in the class milieu are reading and mathematics. Focus is also placed on understanding how the classroom learning environment (including personal relevance, uncertainty of science, critical voice, student negotiation, and shared control) makes a difference in students’ motivation to learn the content.
SCI 5325–P is a required core course for the Master of Arts in Teaching – Science Education (MAT-SE) Online degree program offered by the Science/Mathematics Education Department (SciMathEd) at The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas).
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 promote comprehensive scientific knowledge and understanding.
Objectives
The goal of this course is for students to use knowledge of content and pedagogy to help learners gain proficiency in physical science. Toward that end, students will be able to demonstrate:
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content knowledge by using models and making connections to other subjects;
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pedagogical expertise by designing multi-modal lessons; and,
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techniques for enhancing learning environments through reflective practice.
Students will produce a scientific journal, an electronic archive of a personally-moderated discussion forum per content topic; and a collaborative analysis of a teaching strategy presented as an inquiry-based scenario.
Materials
To see a complete list of materials needed for this course, as well as any important notes and instructions provided by the instructor, visit the UTTC Book Lists.
Prerequisites: Graduate in good standing; successful completion of at least 24 undergraduate hours in the natural sciences; the ability to manipulate simple laboratory equipment and conduct independent experiments
Credits:3
Level:Graduate
Faculty
Cynthia Ledbetter
ledbeter@utdallas.edu
972-883-2496
Rebekah Nix
rnix@utdallas.edu
972-883-2488
http://www.utdallas.edu/~rnix/