EDUC 4300

Week 8 – 10/17 and 10/29

Review :   Chapter 4:  Constructivism in Elementary Science Education

Basic Goals:

1.       To construct one’s own personal conceptualization of the constructivist approach to teaching and learning

2.       To apply constructivism to the teaching of science

3.       To investigate the application of principles of cognitive development to elementary science education

Discuss assignments: 

1.       Pitch of sound:  watch the video clip on the companion CD and develop an activity using this principle

2.       Using one of the activities you have created and explain how you are using the constructivist’s approach to teach science.

Chapter 5:  Inquiry

Basic Goals for Chapter 5

1.       To contrast the expository, guided inquiry, and free discovery teaching methodologies

2.       To explore and construct personal understanding of the process-oriented inquiry methodology of elementary science teaching

3.       To develop and present short process-oriented guided inquiry lessons using the microteaching approach

4.       To explore advanced models of inquiry

3 Activities: what , how, why

1.       Expository

2.       Guided inquiry

3.       Free discovery

Group work:  each group creates an example of each teaching method

Inquiry Checklist

Use as reference for your science units/lesson plans and activities

1.        Selects and applies processes appropriately

2.        Asks appropriate questions about phenomena under investigation

3.        Initiates own ideas for investigation

4.        Investigates own questions and ideas

5.        Utilizes a variety of information sources, including printed material, multimedia, and people

6.        Relates investigations to prior experiences

7.        Suggests causes for what is observed

8.        Explains thinking process in a rational and logical way

9.        Presents ideas and conceptualizations to others for their input

10.    Discusses and challenges the ideas and conceptualizations of others

11.    Analyzes conclusions and reformulates them in light of new evidence, new experiences, and input from others

12.    Subjects conclusions to tests of explanatory power and predictive power

13.    Seeks opportunities to continue explorations

14.    Exhibits realistic self-appraisal

15.    Relates learning to out-of-school situations