Shifts and Ideas Developed This Semester (Methods I)
Built Community
Got to know fellow students
Greater Self Awareness
Working as a team, not just a group
Created a support group with a common interest and vision
Learned to code interactions and reveal teaching habits
Learned about target students we may have and depend on
We learned that those who do the doing, do the learning
The concept of wait time and its importance
Karplus’ Learning Cycle plus the need to add pre-concepts and implications
How enthusiasm is contagious
Teachable moments
The importance of effective communication
The risks involved with Inquiry Learning, "without a net"
Focus on the concept to be taught and use topics to reach this goal
Not all facts are worth knowing. It’s what you do with them that counts
Pattern recognition is a powerful concept
Learning how to get information may be more important than the information itself
Plan ahead and always bring extra (when running an activity)
Re-examine gender & special needs differences in your teaching and learning approaches
Networking is so very important
What is science and what is not
The nature of science is fundamental to our teaching
Taking risks can be both good and bad, but must be considered
Change is not always wanted
Preconceptions really color learning, ours and our students
Hiding behind vocabulary is a poor excuse for ineffective teaching
How important reflection is as an activity
You need to know where the students are before you can take them to where you want them.
Experienced Paradigm Shifts (especially personal shifts about teaching and the role of the teacher and students)
Became familiar with major professional Journals and their value
Identified resources in the community
Started to see science everywhere
Value of constructing concept maps
Never remove hope from anyone, you have no right to do this.
We got a good start learning the value of lesson plans and are ready to learn more.
Methods II Learning Outcomes
Legal Obligations as a teacher
Pros and Cons of Unions
Lab Safety and Legal Implications
Classroom Management
Curriculum Development
Lesson Planning (daily, unit, integrated, thematic semester long)
Designing for Special needs, ie. ESL, gifted, etc.
Including history and nature of science in lessons
Science/Technology/Society inclusion
Learning to use Curriculum planning tools
Assessing self and students
Preparing exams
Assessing open-ended work
Grading student work, rubrics, portfolios, criterion-referenced & norm- Referenced Grading, Assigning the final grades, meaning of grades, grading lab work
Electronic Grade Books (keeping records of performance)
Integrating technology as curriculum tools (data collection & CBI)
Dealing with parents, administration, other teachers
How to be a team player
What does a Professional Portfolio Look Like and building a resume
How to get along with supervising teacher (their role, my role, etc.)
What student teaching entails.
Lab Skills needed for each endorsement area
More work on: Teaching strategies, such as demonstrations, lecturing, cooperative learning