the future of sciencecurriculum
TRANSCRIPT
The Future of Science CurriculumTrends we see today and into the future
David T. Peck
EDL/690
Dr. Klocko/Central Michigan University
March 10, 2013
Preface
• Generation X and preceding generations were exposed to educational curriculum in a very different format than that of the current generation in school today.
• The following slides will discuss trends in science curriculum impacting students in our nation’s classrooms today.
Digital Delivery
• Text books are a thing of the past (California has gone to a free digital textbook initiative called CK12 to teach science and other curriculum.)
• Teaching and student research are done on-line
• Example: Khan Academy (http://www.khanacademy.org/) collection of thousands of You Tube videos that teach a multitude of subjects
• Students can now acquire information for their science projects or attain clarification by watching a video or going to a website
Khan Academy Video
• Below is a video that could be used to reinforce what may be taught in a science classroom. A student can go online to get reinforcement and to elucidate information that may not have understood in class.
• Example: Trends in Human Evolution: http://youtu.be/frE1rjhH77Y
Open Source Movement
• Barseghian (2011) states that the open-source movement has further pushed online content to include educational stakeholders in the content-creating process.
• Example: Students may given a scientific topic and will be assigned to go on Wikipedia and update outdated or misguided information.
• Other sources that encourage such collaboration are MIT Open Courseware, Connexions (www.cnx.org), CK12, Scitable (www.nature.com/scitable), and Hippocampus (www.hippocampus.org).
Implementation of “Best Practices” in the science classroom
• Best practices refer to research based or scientifically based practices that often
become trends, or permanent fixtures, in science curriculum and in curriculum as a
whole.
Examples:
• Differentiation- allows teachers to tailor the pace and content of instruction much
better to students' needs and, thus, improve student achievement.
• Cooperative Learning- students are placed in a group and work through an
assignment until all group members have successfully completed and understand it.
This method fosters a sense of group achievement and collaboration.
• Project based Learning- shifts classroom activity away from teacher-centered
instruction and emphasizes student-centered projects which are prominent in
science. Here, the teacher can build relationships with students by acting as their
coach and co-learner while facilitating learning
Interest Driven Curriculum in Science
• In the future, look for students to have more influence on the content they create and the decision making process in the curriculum.
• This trend is common place in college and is becoming more prominent in the K-12 environment.
• Research shows that if a student’s interests are directly correlated to what they are learning about, then they are more likely to attain a higher level of achievement.
• Example: If a teacher is teaching force and motion ,and a student is passionate about football, then the curriculum can be adjusted to fuse the two together.
21st Century Skills in Science using a New train of thought
• Schools are implementing innovations that students carry outside of the school building.
• Constructivism allows students to construct their own meaning of what they are doing in science to the outside world.
• They should be involved in the process of design and inquiry, and present explanations and solutions to their problems to the concepts of science and technology.
Teaming up in Science
• In light of some of the needs students with disabilities and students who speak English as a second language, team teaching has been a promising trend if used correctly.
• Teachers often bounce ideas off of each other in class to involve the class in the discussion.
• Bolaji (2001) states that the team teaching approach allows for more interaction between teachers and pupil with an emphasis on student growth while affording opportunities to address different study skills and learning techniques
• Additionally, one teacher could be discussing certain concepts while the other is monitoring a lab or project. More man power allows greater opportunity for differentiation in the classroom.
Conclusion• Education continues to evolve , and there is no one way to
adequately meet the needs of all students. • Principals must make sure that their curriculum and teachers
evolve with education using a variety of the trends discussed so that students are prepared to be successful in the classroom and in life. Equally as important, teachers and their students need to be equipped with the tangible and nontangible tools in order to do so.
References
• Barseghain, T. (2011). Three Trend That Will Shape the Face of Curriculum. www.blogs.kqed.org
• Boliji, O. & Adesina, A. (2011). Reforming Basic Science Teaching and Learning in Primary Schools Through Mutual Team Teaching. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Studies, 1(3), 456 – 466.