Week
Dates
Theme
Class activity
1
8/23
Scientific process
Black box activity
8/25
Scientific process
Discussion of Monday’s experiment and process skills in science
2
8/30
Scientific process
Discussion of Scientific Method reading and assignment of scientific process project
Reading 1: Scientific method (start reading on the bottom of page 2 at the section titled "scientific method" and read through the end of the chapter on page 11)
Reading 2: Kunzig Science 302, 991 (read the entire article)
9/1
Scientific process
Observation, hypothesis and experiment exercises
Quiz 1
3
9/6
Scientific process
No class
9/8
Scientific process
4
9/13
Scientific process
Project presentations
9/15
Decision making
Project presentations and scientific process summary
Intro to decisions and assignment of decision-making essay
Quiz 2
Portfolio due
5
9/20
Decision making
Discussion of readings on personal decisions and scientific decisions
Reading 1: Decision education foundation: making good decisions
(read the introduction which includes pages on framing, alternatives, information, etc.)
Reading 2: Rushworth "How good people make tough choices" (handed out in class)
9/22
Decision making
Case study I: Natural resource management
6
9/27
Decision making
Case study II: Shared responsibility in science
Reading 1: Ziman
Reading 2: Codes of Ethics
Reading 3: Case studies
Quiz 3
Case study I: Natural resource management
9/29
Decision making
Case study II: Shared responsibility in science
Reading 1: Ziman
Reading 2: Codes of Ethics - choose one and bring it to class
Quiz 3
- decision making frameworks
7
10/4
Decision making
Making decisions in-class exercise
10/6
Decision making
Making decisions in-class exercise continued and decision making summary
8
10/11
Decision making
Overview: introduction to issues in science and society
First draft of final essay due
Portfolio due
10/13
Science and society
A brief history of the scientific method
9
10/18
Science and society
Science and technology and medicine – how do they fit?
Reading 1:The Nature of Technology
Reading 2:The Victorian Revolution in Surgery
10/20
Science and society
Science, politics and society case study: the atomic bomb
Quiz 4
10
10/25
Science and society
10/27
Science and society
Roles of ghosts, astrology and ESP in our society; The use and abuse of skepticism; Summary of science and society
Note: 10/29 is the last day to drop this class
11
11/1
Teaching science
Introduction to teaching science: revisiting process skills in science
11/3
Teaching science
Curiosity and scientific questions
Second draft of final essay due
Quiz 5
12
11/8
Teaching science
Learning standards and critical thinking
Reading 1: Science for all Americans
Reading 2: K-12 benchmarks
Introduction to teaching science: revisiting
process skills in science
And concept maps
11/10
Teaching science
Learning standards and critical thinking
Introduction to teaching science: revisiting process skills in science
And concept maps
+ chemistry and biology day
13
11/15
Teaching science
Learning standards and critical thinking
Chemistry
and Biology day prep
Resources:
National Science Teacher's Association
Multimedia educational resources for learning and online teaching (MERLOT)
11/17
Teaching science
Chemistry and Biology day prep and practice
Portfolio due
Quiz 6
Assignment of learning standards reading
14
11/29
Teaching science
Learning standards and critical thinking
Reading 1: Science for all Americans
Reading 2: K-12 benchmarks
11/31
Teaching science
Learning standards and critical thinking
Reading 1: Science for all Americans
Reading 2: K-12 benchmarks
Third draft of final essay due
15
12/6
Teaching science
Learning standards and critical thinking
Reading 1: Science for all Americans
Reading 2: K-12 benchmarks
12/8
Teaching science
Summary of science skills and teaching science/ review of semester
Portfolio due
Quiz 7
Final