Course Description (to top)
This course is designed to familiarize students with the more productive research traditions in science education and with their historical, philosophical, and methodological foundations. Each offering of the course will focus on a particular tradition, for example, problem solving research or conceptual change research.
Course Goals
- Students will become familiar with the philosophical and methodological characteristics of research in the field of earth science education.
- Students will become familiar with current areas of active research in the earth sciences.
- Students will gain experience critically analyzing published research papers in the area of earth science education.
- Students will apply their knowledge of earth science education research traditions and critical analysis to prepare a proposal to conduct original research in this field, and to peer-review proposals created by classmates.
Instructor Information (to top)
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Heather Petcovic
E-MAIL: heather.petcovic@wmich.edu
OFFICE: 3138 Wood Hall
PHONE: 269-387-5380
OFFICE HOURS: Email, call, or just stop by if the door is open
Syllabus (to top)
View or download the current course syllabus.
Link to WMU HSIRB. Link to HSIRB Project Application.
Handout on reading scholarly articles, with the worksheet included.
Daily Schedule (to top)
5:30-5:40 |
Class business |
| 5:40-6:15 |
Think/write responses to discussion questions |
| 6:15-7:20 |
1st discussion period |
| 7:20-7:30 |
Break
|
| 7:30-8:30 |
2nd discussion period |
Course Schedule (to top)
Week |
Date |
Leader |
1st Discussion Period |
2nd Discussion Period |
1 |
9/5/07 |
HP |
Introduction, syllabus, and expectations |
|
2 |
9/12/07 |
HP |
Intro:
Orion and Ault, 2007
|
Intro:
Frodeman, 1995
|
3 |
9/19/07 |
1. HP
2. ML |
Conceptions:
Vosniadou and Brewer, 1992
|
Conceptions:
Gobert and Clement, 1999
|
4 |
9/26/07 |
1. DD
2. JL |
Conceptions:
Dodick and Orion, 2003
|
Conceptions:
Libarkin et al., 2005;
Libarkin and Anderson, 2005
|
5 |
10/3/07 |
1. HP
2. JB
|
Spatial/Visual:
NRC, 2006
|
Spatial/Visual:
Linn and Petersen, 1985
|
6 |
10/10/07 |
1. KC
2. CP |
Spatial/Visual:
Kastens and Liben, 2007
|
Spatial/Visual:
Black, 2005
|
7 |
10/17/07 |
1. KB
2. HP |
Field learning:
Orion and Hofstein, 1994
|
Field learning:
Elkins and Elkins, 2007
|
8 |
10/24/07 |
1. PP
2. HP |
Cultural issues:
Riggs, 2003;
Paper: Lit review sect |
Cultural issues:
Padgett, 2001
|
9 |
10/31/07 |
|
No class (GSA)
|
|
10 |
11/7/07 |
1.
2. |
Student-led
Paper: Research sect |
Student-led
|
11 |
11/14/07 |
1.
2. |
Student-led |
Student-led |
12 |
11/21/07 |
|
No class (Thanksgiving)
|
|
13 |
11/28/07 |
1.
2. |
Student-led
Full draft paper due |
Student-led
|
14 |
12/5/07 |
1.
|
Student-led
|
Peer-review of term papers
|
15 |
12/12/07 |
|
Final Paper due, 5 pm |
|
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