Introduction to a Science Teacher Hopeful

[1 Teacher + 22 Students]

[DNA + Experiences] _________________________

“Inquiry in the Midst of Chaos!”

Hello Classmates! I’m Jim C. That’s me, in the snapshot above, meditating on the best way to blend a diverse biome of DNA, hormones, and experiences, plus topical content, and chaotic inquiry into an unfinished product worthy of being called a middle school science student.

The next two slides depict concepts that I think I should always keep in mind to be an effective teacher of science:

- How does science progress?

- What are my roles in guiding students towarda path of methodical discovery?

OBSERVATIONS

CURIOSITY, QUESTIONS, HYPOTHESES

WHAT AND HOW TO

MEASURE

ANALYSIS & REFLECTION

TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS

ENSURE A LEARNING-RICH ATMOSPHERE

BUILD A WIDE-RANGING

PERSPECTIVE

ASSIST IN DESIGNING

EXPERIMENTS

MODEL AND COACH

COLLABORATION

IMMERSE STUDENTS IN

INVESTIGATIONS

Anyone have a

snorkel?

The Teacher’s “DNA” & Experiences

• BS Botany, MS Administration

• 20 years in the Air Force, 10 more as a consultant for theDept. of Defense. Now living near Buffalo.

• Scout leader – comfortable working with middle schoolers.

• 4 months as a long-term sub for middle school science andmath – that’s when the biology teaching bug bit.

• Technologically inept! – Flew a $50 million aircraft for a living, but my cell phone is 10 yrs old,

and I don’t know how to text.

– I should get an A just for successfully snapshotting my talking avatar into this PowerPoint thing, even without those elusive green waves!

I once spent a week learning to hang-glide, but not over the shark-infested waters of the Second Life Sea!

Full Disclosure

Overview of Modules and Assignments

The modules and assignments which comprise this course are available in Angel. The page will look like this:

Click here to go to the Overview page in Angel (password required):https://esc.angellearning.com/section/default.asp?id=EMPU-8PDMQ4

Grade Distribution/ Evaluation / Expectations / Deadlines & Penalties

Performance assessment will follow the overall rubric shown on the course’s associated Angel page.

Click here to go to the above page in Angel (password required):https://esc.angellearning.com/section/default.asp?id=EMPU-8PDMQ4

See you ‘round campus!