Course Description
Exploration of perspectives on learning and knowing, with an emphasis on the literature in science education. The goal of the course is to introduce students to various perspectives that researchers use to inform their work and how these perspectives provide insight into what it means to learn and know science.
Athena Title
Learning and Knowing Science
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
At the end of this course students will be able to: • Ask important questions related to learning and knowing science. • Identify theoretical frameworks and empirical foundations of the research literature related to learning and knowing in science education and identify key scholars in these areas. • Identify and compare various research methods for the study of these topics. • Discuss major findings in the area of learning and knowing science. • Understand the historical basis of current research on learning and knowing science. • Produce several work products that show an understanding of how learning theory is used in science education.
Topical Outline
I. Review of classical theories on knowledge acquisition II. Review of contributions to learning theory from science education • Conceptual Change I • Conceptual Change II • Transfer • Model-based reasoning • Informal science learning environments • Interest and motivation in science learning • Metacognition III. Exploration of how researchers in science education employ learning theory in their work
Syllabus
Public CV