FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Department of Physics

Syllabus for Seminar in Physics Education - Fall 2008

Science Educational Theory and Practice

Class Web Site: http://www.fiu.edu/~kramerl/Teaching/3012F08/

Last Update: Friday, August 22, 2008 11:05 AM

Course Description

The course will touch on theoretical issues such as conceptual development, conceptual change, collaborative learning, technology in education, and students’ conceptions of various topics in physics, as well as practical issues encountered in facilitating learning, managing the classroom, formative and summative assessment, and differentiating instruction in a collaborative environment.  This is a seminar course where students are responsible for weekly readings (in lieu of a course textbook), in-class discussions, reflection papers and project presentations all based on the Learning Assistant placements. 

COURSE ORGANIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS

Course Description

This course is a seminar, and its success will depend on the active participation of all members in helping to shape its ultimate content and relevance. Our primary activity will be in-depth discussions of course topics and readings. Requirements include the following:

1. Class discussion/participation/Journals. Class members are expected to contribute to class discussions. The purpose of these discussions is to help us as individuals, and as a group, develop meaningful interpretations of the ideas conveyed by the readings and to make connections to the Learning Assistant teaching experience. To help prepare for discussion, we encourage you to form study groups to talk about questions or issues you have about the readings. Additionally, at the end of each class period you are expected to write a paragraph or two just to reflect on the discussions that took place that day. You will be given 5-10 minutes at the end of each class period to jot down your thinking. Turn them in before you leave class.
2. Short Article and Teaching Reflection Papers. For two class sessions during the semester, you are required to turn in a (two-page, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, reasonably margined) reflective paper on the readings for the week that includes the following:
1. A summary of the central issue(s) or argument(s) contained in the readings. (If there are several readings by different authors, it is not necessary to analyze each individual reading separately. It is more appropriate to write a narrative that weaves together the central issues or arguments. Take the information from one article and compare/contrast it with the information from the others if possible.)
2. Analyses of how these issues are connected to each other and to other readings.
3.  A discussion of the relationship of the issues/topics and your teaching experiences as a Learning Assistant.
3. One reflection is due by Oct 17, the second due by Nov 26 .
   Although you are expected to turn in only 2 reflections, it may be beneficial to you to
   keep a journal of your article reflections each week.
4. Weekly Teaching and Reflections on LA Teaching Each student is expected to spend approximately 5-10 hours per week working with undergraduate mathematics and science students in collaborative, learner-centered, technology-enhanced environments. Each class member is expected to log a web-based reflection on his or her teaching and on student learning by 5:00 PM each Monday. You can find the online reflection forms at http://physics.fiu.edu/SOMETHING. You cannot pass the course if you do not complete your weekly online teaching reflections.
5. Weekly meetings with Lead Faculty in Mathematics and Science to Plan Each week you are responsible for meeting with your lead faculty member and the other Learning Assistants in your department (sometimes including the graduate TAs) to plan and reflect on instruction and to discuss student achievement. You cannot pass the course if you fail to meet with your lead instructor each week (with allowances for necessary absences).
6. Final Project: The purpose of this project is for you to apply and synthesize what you have learned related to teaching, learning, mathematics, technology, science, and students. You will develop a poster presentation that describes your current beliefs about student learning and the appropriate teaching that facilitates that learning. The aspects of teaching and learning you identify should reference sources in the literature and your experiences as a Learning Assistant. Since each presentation will address different FDE Performance-Based Standards for teachers, we anticipate that we will get a full review of the course content, your experiences, and connections as you visit and discuss the posters of your peers.

Email List: A class mailing list has been established. You are required to maintain contact with the list as important announcements will be made through the list. You are encouraged to post questions, answers, jokes, etc to the list. we will monitor the list and provide guidance when appropriate. You have been subscribed to the list through your FIU email account. You should have received an email with details including the location of the list archive. You may add or change the email account by contacting your instructor. You may also forward email from your FIU account to any other account. Note that the list is a closed list; therefore, all messages must come from a currently subscribed address.

Grading:

The grading breakdown is:

 Course Outline / Reading List*

Grading

In order to foster cooperation and collaboration among as many of you as possible, grades will based on an absolute scale. This means that helping others will not jeopardize your grades, it will, most likely, improve your grade as explaining concepts to other develops understanding for yourself. The grading scale for both lecture and lab sections is:

*subject to change

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