St. Norbert College Science Teacher Preparation:

Integrated Science Content and Methods for Elementary Majors

Course syllabi

• St. Norbert College STEM Methods and Science Content for Elementary Majors course syllabus (Microsoft Word 42kB Apr6 16)
• St. Norbert College STEM Methods Introduction to Geology course syllabus (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 25kB Apr6 16)

Unit/Learning Segment Planning Guide

As a final project, students in the integrated geology and science methods course sequence developed lesson plans for K-8 students. Their lesson plans are based on a unit/learning segment planning guide.

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Step 1: What is the big idea you want your students to investigate?

Step 2: What will the students know, understand and be able to do? (You may use the standards as a guide for this.)

Step 3: What questions will they be able to deeply answer after investigating this big idea?

Step 4: What can you identify as the specific content (or performance standards) that align to the knowledge and skills derived from successfully completing the unit?

Step 5: What specific performance tasks are you going to expect your students to be able to do at the end of this unit?

Step 6: What summative assessment(s) will the students complete to show they can answer the essential questions?

Step 7: What will the evaluation tools (checklist, rating scale, or rubrics) look like that will be used to determine the level of performance on assessments?

Step 8: What preassessments will you employ to determine the students' prior knowledge about this unit?

Step 9: What individual steps will students need to accomplish to be proficient on the summative assessment?

Step 10: What are the formative assessments that will be used to assess these individual steps?

Step 11: What self-assessments will the students use to determine if they are learning the content of the unit?

Step 12: What are the lessons that you will use to effectively facilitate these individual steps to develop understanding of this unit?

Download the Unit/learning segment planning guide (Microsoft Word 25kB Apr6 16).

Surveys

Tim and Scott used a science attitude survey and focus groups to assess the efficacy of their integrated science content and methods courses.

• Flood and Kirst's science attitude survey (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 65kB Apr11 16)
• Focus group questions (asked after the year-long course):
1. After these experiences, what do you believe the nature of science is? What defines it as worthy of study?
2. What do you see as cross-cutting concepts or themes that connect the sciences together?
3. How have you grown as a scientist after these experiences?
4. How have you grown as a science teacher after these experiences?