Course Description
Topics following student teaching include development as a reflective practitioner, preparation for being a first year teacher, and professional portfolio development.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to conduct/complete a special project (research, paper, etc.).
Athena Title
Reflection on Science Teaching
Undergraduate Prerequisite
ESCI 3450 and ESCI 4450/6450 and ESCI 4460/6460
Graduate Prerequisite
ESCI 3450 and ESCI 4450/6450 and ESCI 4460/6460
Undergraduate Corequisite
ESCI 5460/7460
Graduate Corequisite
ESCI 5460/7460
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The notion of reflection involves thinking and acting on those aspects of teaching that frustrate, confuse, and perplex. As a reflective teacher, you will: --recall and describe specific experiences in your teaching, while identifying and framing issues of classroom practice. --respond to issues by recognizing both the similarities to other situations and the uniqueness of your particular situation (Ross, 1989). This awareness will hopefully lead you, the beginning teacher, to realize the broader principles and theories that inform your teaching. --experiment with solutions to problems of practice and examine the consequences and implications of various solutions (Ross, 1989). You will be expected to complete the following in the course: --demonstrate an ability to actively contribute to group and class discussions; --reflect active engagement in small group and whole group learning exercises; --show respectful communication with others; --demonstrate professionalism and a learner mentality; --review 2 video episodes of yourself teaching science; --answer questions that are aimed at helping you critically and reflectively examine your teaching; --make a short presentation during our weekly seminars using one of your videotaped teaching episodes; --choose a “burning question” or small component of your teaching that you wish to examine more closely, refine, and/or change and design an inquiry investigation; -construct a professional portfolio during the post-student teaching component of this course.
Topical Outline
--What is reflection? --What is a reflective practioner? --Teacher inquiry and reflective practice --Weekly seminars per students' choices --Demonstrating competency for standards of professional practice
Syllabus