Class 2- January 21, 2011

   Today in class we went over the syllabus and did activities with our groups with the syllabus. Dr.Smirnova told the class to take a few minutes to look at the syllabus that was on the screen and write what the course description is in your own word. For example, I wrote that the course description is Science methods is a course in which you will study methods of teaching science through experiments and activities to discovery new knowledge and model appropriate safety practices in the classroom.  Then after the class was done with writing down what the course description is, we went on to pick out words out of the course description from the syllabus that we thought were important. Then we shared the words we picked with our partner and then with our group. Then a spokeswomen from the group said what the words that our group picked as long as the words were not already said by another group. Dr.Smirnova took the yellow highlighter in Microsoft word and underlined the words that each group said.  The words that I choose from the syllabus are: engaging, unifying concepts of science, tools, analyzing, demonstrated, instructional approaches, fieldwork experiences, safety practices, exploration, inquiry, and technology After all the groups in the class said the words that they chose to from the course description in our syllabus.


   The next activity with the syllabus was under the section of Course Objectives. Under the section of course objectives in our groups we were suppose to say whether the following eleven bullet point statements were exciting, comforting, scary, and challenging and explain. I was the spokeswomen for my group and said that the first, fourth,and last or eleventh statements we found these statements to be exciting. For the second and fifth statements my group found these statements to be challenging and scary. For the third, ninth, and tenth statements my group found these statements to be comforting. For the sixth, seventh, and eighth statements my group found these statements to be challenging. The statements that I talked about above will be seen below here:  

Course Objectives

I hope that as a result of this course you will begin to see yourself as scientific and, in fact, to recognize that everyone has a scientific side just waiting to be uncovered. The author of the course text-book, Janice Koch, calls this process “locating your scientific self.”

You will:

1        explore your own natural world and expand your appreciation for nature and natural events,

2    come to understand that learning a science concept is a complex process of fitting new ideas with prior existing knowledge. This relates to the learning theory of constructivism,

3    see yourself as a science learner even as you are preparing to implement the best strategies for science teaching,

4     recognize that students know and live in their own natural worlds and that they have their own ideas and their own questions,

5     feel comfortable handling scientific materials and learning from your own investigations,

6    be able to engage elementary school students in their own learning by providing meaningful science experiences for them, facilitating their explorations in the classroom, and helping them seek answers to their own questions,

7        learn how to plan for meaningful science experiences that are aligned with the guidelines in the National Science Education Standards (NSES), the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), including the New York State K-4 and 5-6 Science Core Curriculums,

8    integrate technology into all facets of the process of becoming a science learner and a good science teacher,

9        come to understand that good science assessments must match the science instruction,

10      come to understand how to connect science learning experiences to your students lived experiences and the community in which they live, and

11      appreciate the importance of understanding and interacting with nature as a way of protecting the planet for years to come.

After each group went and explained their choice for picking the word for each sentences. Then Dr. Smirnova went over the rest of the syllabus and I took notes. Some of the students asked questions. Dr. Smirnova said if you have any questions you can talk to her after class and I wrote my questions for the syllabus a forum in the teacher's lounge. I do thank Clarissa for responding to my questions. 


          It is important  to talk about course objectives, classroom rules, and what is aspected of  the students for the school year in my classroom. It is important to discuss what is aspected for each assignment before hand and what needs to be included in project like what questions the students need to answer. As a teacher, I will give the students a rubric to follow for each project.