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Fall 2007 Geology 401: The Role of the Earth Science Teacher (1 hr)

Catalog Description: A seminar directed to designing Earth and Sapce Science and Environmental Science instruction to meet state and national standards. Includes special attention to skills that these teachers must possess related to the design and use of instructional methods. Includes a minimum of 50-60 hours of observation in the science classroom. CREQ: GEOL 495, PREQ: GEOL 301

Standards Addressed:  INTASC #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, NSTA #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 ISBE CORE TEACHING #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, ISBE Language Arts Core #1, #2, #3, ISBE TECHNOLOGY CORE #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8

Instructor Information:

Dr Kathy Kitts
Davis Hall 402
Office Phone:  815-753-5990
Office Hours: M 1-2 pm, W 2-3 pm or by appointment
e-mail address:  kkitts@niu.edu

 
Meeting Days/Times/Location:

This is a one-semester course taken after the teacher candidate has completed Geology 301 and at the same time as Geology 495. Approximately one-half the class time will be spent on student-led discussions or presentations. Additional non-class time will be spent preparing lessons for student teaching starting in the Spring semester. A minimum of 50-60 hours of observations is required. The observations will take place in the public science classroom where the teacher candidate has been place for student teaching. The class will meet approximately every other week. Class meetings will be held in Davis 309 unless noted otherwise.  Meeting dates are August 28 (brief organizational meeting) September 4, 18, October 2, 16, 30, November 13, 27 and December 4 (make-up only and final portfolio due date).

 Course Goals:

The goals of this course will be to:

  • Provide students with a chance to discuss the various teaching practices they have observed.
  • Provide students with exposure to some of the specific skills necessary to the science teacher.
  • Provide students with a better understanding of classroom dynamics, instructional patterns and the role of the teacher.
  • Provide students a workshop-like atmosphere to develop and test the lesson plans they intend to use during their student teaching.
  • Provide students a workshop-like atmosphere to develop and test the assessment plans they intend to use during their student teaching.

 Methodology:

Each class period will be student-centered, and will include the following items:

  • Discussion of either observations made during GEOL 401 or the roles of the Earth Science teacher.
  • Faculty lead examination of the various skills necessary to the professional science teacher.
  • Presentation and constructive review of lessons and assessments being prepared for the Spring semester of Student teaching.

 Assessment:

Students will be assessed by both the course instructor and by peers with the use of rubrics for all in-course activities, and will perform regular written self-assessments.

In this course, as in other Secondary Science Teacher Education courses, emphasis will be placed on student assessment-as-learning strategies. That is, assessments of student performance will be used not only to assign grades, but also to improve student performance. Most assignments will be graded on a "satisfactory" versus "unsatisfactory" basis. Unsatisfactory work will be returned to the student for improvement. Appropriate revision and resubmission of "unsatisfactory" course projects can improve a student's grade, so long as all deadlines are met.

Grade breakdown

Presentations 25%

Written Assignments 50%

Observation assignment 25%



Course Objectives:

As a result of this course, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

Objective

Source of Course Objective

(1) lead discussions in a way that reflects reverence for learning and seriousness of personal and professional purpose.

NSTA # 1, #10

(2) demonstrate an awareness of the varying needs of diverse student populations.

INTASC #2, #3, #4, #8, NSTA #5, #6, #9, ISBE #2, #3, #4, #8, #10, ISBE Core Language Arts #1, #3, ISBE Technology Core #3

(3) display an understanding of how to manage a physical science classroom

 NSTA #9; ISBE Professional Teaching #2, #5; ISBE Science Core #1,

(4) display an understanding of how to teach all students

 NSTA #3; ISBE Science Core #15

(5) design strategies for addressing reading in the physical science classroom

ISBE Language Arts #1, #2, #3; ISBE Science Core #19

(6) actively and meaningfully participate  in all class sessions (demonstrating selected science teaching standards), discussions, and other activities by contributing ideas that reflect more than a recitation of material read.

INTASC #9, #10, NSTA # 10, ISBE #9, #10, #11

(7) demonstrate the ability to design, carry out and assess performance-based lessons

NSTA #3, #5, #8; ISBE Professional Teaching #4, #6, #8; ISBE Science Core #1, #15, #16

Observation Requirements:


  1. Students will attend parent-teacher conferences if possible.
  2. Students will work on continuing common core assignments.
  3. Students will actively participate in in-class discussions.
  4. Students will complete written reflection papers on their lesson  and assessment plans presented in class.
  5. Students will develop an electronic journal as described here.
  6. Students will continue to develop their electronic portfolios. Materials from this course will be added to the portfolio. At the conclusion of the course, the portfolio will be evaluated by both the student and the Geology Discipline Coordinator.

 

Syllabus:

Date 
Topic Activity Assignment
August 28
 Brief organizational meeting.
  • review placements
  • review procedures
  • review GEOL 401 expectations
  • set-up schedule
  1. Fill out and return the placement information form.
  2. Contact and meet with cooperating teacher and set up a regular visitation schedule.
  3. Fill out the Scope and Sequence information form. NOTE:  this includes obtaining a copy of the textbook from your cooperating teacher and bringing it to the next class.
  4. Get computer access in Davis Hall 401.
Sept. 4
 Introduction
Scope and Sequence
Discussion Techniques
Scope and Sequence info due
 Outline Scope and Sequence for Third quarter
  1. Prepare Discussion Activity for next time. Rubric.
  2. Continue developing your scope and sequence for third quarter. Have your cooperating teacher review it and initial it. Turn in a copy Sept. 18.
  3. Begin your inventory assn. (Also a part of Methods II class.)  Inventory. Due Oct. 16, 2007.
Sept. 18
 Classroom Management/Organization
Inquiry Methodology Review
QMS
Inquiry Worksheet
Unit Assignment
Unit Rubric
 Discussion activities.
Management style profile.


  1. Unit Assignment Due Nov. 27, 2007
  2. Management style self-evaluation. Due Oct. 2, 2007.
Oct. 2
 Teacher-Student Interactions
Assessment PowerPoint Methods I
Review of Bloom's Taxonomy
 Writing test questions.
  1. Interacting with Students Annotated Bibliography
  2. Assessment Exercise #1 and #2
Oct. 16
 Assessment Part 1 due.
Inventory Due
Annotated Student Biblio Due
 		Group assessment activity
Activity outline
  1. Redo assessment #1
  2. Prepare assessment for performance-based activity.
  3. Prepare performance-based activity
Oct. 30
 Teacher as Professional
Redo of Assessment assn due.
 Performance-based activity presentations.
  1. Interacting Professionally annotated bibliography
  2. Start preparing Job Interview Practice Questions
Nov. 13
 Reading
 Reading powerpoint from Methods I
 Reading strategies cheat sheet Methods I
Professional Biblio and Questions Due
 Performance-based activity presentations
  1. Reading Assn.
  2. Performance- based redo
  3. Annotated biblio additions from the reading url list.
  4. Math links for annotated biblio
Nov. 27
 Personal Growth/Professional Development Plan
Reading Assn. Due
Reading Annotated Biblio Due
Math Annotated Biblio Due
Performance-Based redo due.
UNIT assn. due
 		Reading assignments workshop
Performance-based redos
Job Interview Practice Questions
  1. Common Core, Portfolio and electronic journal are due Dec. 4, 2007.
  2. Reminder that you need to have an action research plan for next semester. You should have it cleared by Dr. Kitts to avoid nasty surprises later. Here is a helpful link.
Dec. 4
 Make-up session only and Portfolio DUE DATE
Get a job! Due August 1, 2008.

 

Common Core Requirements:

Each semester students are required to show progress on the following ongoing assignments.
  1. Student Journal
  2. Teacher Scrapbook - Maintain a scrapbook of print materials (magazines, newspaper, etc.) that appear on a chosen topic. Sample topics include Science & Society, Science Education, Teaching as a Profession or Current Discoveries in Science. Once each month the student must write a capsule summary of the article and their reaction to the article for posting on the course webpage.
  3. Resource File - Students will create an electronic record of teaching resources. The resources could be methods, places to visit, demonstrations, etc. The emphasis is on ideas.
  4. Demonstration Box - Students will collect physical objects to be used in teaching. The collection could be of toys, apparatus or "junk" that is used to teach specific ideas. The emphasis is on objects.

11/13/07