Course Description
Science education's historical and theoretical background and its influence on current science teaching practices. Examines contributions by science educators and learning theorists who have influenced classroom practices and curriculum development.
Athena Title
HIST THEORY SCI ED
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
--examine the historical, philosophical, and theoretical background of science education --analyze research studies, philosophical articles, and historical documents in an effort to find the historical and philosophical roots of science education --relate these findings to the current practice and improvement of science education --focus on the question: What are the characteristics of scholarship in science education which make it enduring and useful both today and in the past? --develop an understanding of science education's history and philosophy
Topical Outline
I. What is scholarship? How can we define and/or redefine scholarship in science education? Consider issue about what it means to call a field of endeavor like science education a discipline. II. What is the difference between research and evaluation with regard to their contributions to scholarship? How do schools, learning, and teaching change as a result of research or evaluation? III. How does curriculum serve as scholarship in science education? How are science curricula created? To what degree do curricula become shaped by the research and scholarship in science education? What makes curriculum durable and lasting. IV. How does the type of publication used to disseminate scholarship influence scholarship in science education? V. What makes scholarship in science education useful and enduring? VI. History of Education in the U.S. VII. Overview - History of Science Education - Part I. VIII. Overview - History of Science Education - Part II. IX. In-class reports of the projects on the "enduring characteristics" of science education research. X. Teaching as Scholarship. XI. Final projects.