PHYSICS 590M: Physics Curriculum Development
| A Course for Teachers Summer and Fall, 2004 |
Contact: Julie Conlon jaconlon@physics.purdue.edu |
About the Class
Are you an elementary or middle school science teacher? Maybe you’re not yet a teacher, but think you might be interested in teaching as a career? Or, are you interested in an opportunity that allows you to develop your talent and interest in science? Learn about some ways to develop concept units that infuse concepts from physics. Respect for your needs as a teacher will be honored, so your time will be spent developing curriculum you will use in your own classrooms that meet the Indiana Science Standards. You may also try your hand at presenting a lesson to some other educational setting such as Girl Scouts, or at one of our on-campus Fun-Fests—with support of the Physics Department and Purdue University’s PEARLS program. (PEARLS is an acronym for Physics Educational Activities, Resources, and Learning Strategies. The name of our program was the brainchild of Jennifer Coy, graduate student in the Department of Physics. Thank you, Jennifer!)
This 3-credit course is intended for in-service and pre-service teachers and for other students enthusiastic about science, or who think they might like to try their hand at science teaching. The goal is to give participants an opportunity to share many of the PEARLS Physics on the Road activities taken out to schools. The course is NOT restricted to teachers nor to education majors, but is open to all who value service learning, science, and education.
The course will be offered during the summer AND fall semesters. Summer session will meet for two weeks from June 7-June 18 for 4 hours each day. Sessions will begin at 10 and end at 3, with a one hour lunch break. Fall semester will meet on Monday evenings from 5-7 p.m.
Students taking the course will have opportunity to 1) experience techniques of science inquiry and independent study that can be used in classrooms, including “the 3-ring circus” approach, 2) prepare demos and/or hands-on activities, 3) match their curriculum to Indiana State Science Standards.
