Teaching and Assessing Practical Skills in Science

Teaching and Assessing Practical Skills in Science
Author: Dave Hayward
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 124
Release: 2003-11-06
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9780521753593

The handbooks provide clear practical and up-to-date adviceon teaching and assessing skills across a range of core subject areas for IGCSE and O Level;they can also be used by teachers delivering local syllabuses in the subject. They offer ideas and strategies for effective classroom practice, the setting of coursework, assessing students' work and the integration of different skills. Readers can 'dip into' the books to read up on a particular topic or approach and the material is relevant to both new and experienced teachers alike. All authors are experienced teachers, teacher trainers and examiners.

Knowing What Students Know

Knowing What Students Know
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 383
Release: 2001-10-27
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0309293227

Education is a hot topic. From the stage of presidential debates to tonight's dinner table, it is an issue that most Americans are deeply concerned about. While there are many strategies for improving the educational process, we need a way to find out what works and what doesn't work as well. Educational assessment seeks to determine just how well students are learning and is an integral part of our quest for improved education. The nation is pinning greater expectations on educational assessment than ever before. We look to these assessment tools when documenting whether students and institutions are truly meeting education goals. But we must stop and ask a crucial question: What kind of assessment is most effective? At a time when traditional testing is subject to increasing criticism, research suggests that new, exciting approaches to assessment may be on the horizon. Advances in the sciences of how people learn and how to measure such learning offer the hope of developing new kinds of assessments-assessments that help students succeed in school by making as clear as possible the nature of their accomplishments and the progress of their learning. Knowing What Students Know essentially explains how expanding knowledge in the scientific fields of human learning and educational measurement can form the foundations of an improved approach to assessment. These advances suggest ways that the targets of assessment-what students know and how well they know it-as well as the methods used to make inferences about student learning can be made more valid and instructionally useful. Principles for designing and using these new kinds of assessments are presented, and examples are used to illustrate the principles. Implications for policy, practice, and research are also explored. With the promise of a productive research-based approach to assessment of student learning, Knowing What Students Know will be important to education administrators, assessment designers, teachers and teacher educators, and education advocates.

Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards

Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 223
Release: 2000-05-03
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0309064767

Humans, especially children, are naturally curious. Yet, people often balk at the thought of learning scienceâ€"the "eyes glazed over" syndrome. Teachers may find teaching science a major challenge in an era when science ranges from the hardly imaginable quark to the distant, blazing quasar. Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards is the book that educators have been waiting forâ€"a practical guide to teaching inquiry and teaching through inquiry, as recommended by the National Science Education Standards. This will be an important resource for educators who must help school boards, parents, and teachers understand "why we can't teach the way we used to." "Inquiry" refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and in which students grasp science knowledge and the methods by which that knowledge is produced. This book explains and illustrates how inquiry helps students learn science content, master how to do science, and understand the nature of science. This book explores the dimensions of teaching and learning science as inquiry for K-12 students across a range of science topics. Detailed examples help clarify when teachers should use the inquiry-based approach and how much structure, guidance, and coaching they should provide. The book dispels myths that may have discouraged educators from the inquiry-based approach and illuminates the subtle interplay between concepts, processes, and science as it is experienced in the classroom. Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards shows how to bring the standards to life, with features such as classroom vignettes exploring different kinds of inquiries for elementary, middle, and high school and Frequently Asked Questions for teachers, responding to common concerns such as obtaining teaching supplies. Turning to assessment, the committee discusses why assessment is important, looks at existing schemes and formats, and addresses how to involve students in assessing their own learning achievements. In addition, this book discusses administrative assistance, communication with parents, appropriate teacher evaluation, and other avenues to promoting and supporting this new teaching paradigm.

Practical Application of Entry-level Health Education Skills

Practical Application of Entry-level Health Education Skills
Author: Michelyn Wilson Bhandari
Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Publishers
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2013
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1449621066

The credentialing process for the health education profession has led to the establishment of seven areas of responsibility and competencies that currently serve as a framework for preparing professional health educators. The primary purpose of Practical Application of Entry-Level Health Education Skills is to act as a tool that professional preparation program faculty can utilize to introduce their students to the numerous competencies and sub-competencies of the 7 areas of responsibility recommended by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). It provides hands-on activities for individual student practice of the current 162 skill-based sub-competencies built on the 34 competencies and 7 responsibilities for entry-level health educators. The text:*Addresses findings of The National Health Educator Job Analysis study (HEJA 2010)*Distinguishes between activities most appropriate for infusing into major courses and those that fit best during field experiences, such as service learning, student teaching, internships professional practice*Provides a practical method of documentation of student demonstrated skills for professional preparation programs in meeting criteria for program assessment and accreditation* Assists faculty to methodically introduce and teach all skills to undergraduate students that have been identified as requisite to entering the health education profession as entry level health educators.

Systems for State Science Assessment

Systems for State Science Assessment
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2005-12-28
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0309165091

In response to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), Systems for State Science Assessment explores the ideas and tools that are needed to assess science learning at the state level. This book provides a detailed examination of K-12 science assessment: looking specifically at what should be measured and how to measure it. Along with reading and mathematics, the testing of science is a key component of NCLBâ€"it is part of the national effort to establish challenging academic content standards and develop the tools to measure student progress toward higher achievement. The book will be a critical resource for states that are designing and implementing science assessments to meet the 2007-2008 requirements of NCLB. In addition to offering important information for states, Systems for State Science Assessment provides policy makers, local schools, teachers, scientists, and parents with a broad view of the role of testing and assessment in science education.

Teaching and Learning STEM

Teaching and Learning STEM
Author: Richard M. Felder
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 374
Release: 2024-03-19
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1394196342

The widely used STEM education book, updated Teaching and Learning STEM: A Practical Guide covers teaching and learning issues unique to teaching in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. Secondary and postsecondary instructors in STEM areas need to master specific skills, such as teaching problem-solving, which are not regularly addressed in other teaching and learning books. This book fills the gap, addressing, topics like learning objectives, course design, choosing a text, effective instruction, active learning, teaching with technology, and assessment—all from a STEM perspective. You’ll also gain the knowledge to implement learner-centered instruction, which has been shown to improve learning outcomes across disciplines. For this edition, chapters have been updated to reflect recent cognitive science and empirical educational research findings that inform STEM pedagogy. You’ll also find a new section on actively engaging students in synchronous and asynchronous online courses, and content has been substantially revised to reflect recent developments in instructional technology and online course development and delivery. Plan and deliver lessons that actively engage students—in person or online Assess students’ progress and help ensure retention of all concepts learned Help students develop skills in problem-solving, self-directed learning, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication Meet the learning needs of STEM students with diverse backgrounds and identities The strategies presented in Teaching and Learning STEM don’t require revolutionary time-intensive changes in your teaching, but rather a gradual integration of traditional and new methods. The result will be a marked improvement in your teaching and your students’ learning.

Making it tangible. Learning outcomes in science education

Making it tangible. Learning outcomes in science education
Author: Sascha Bernholt
Publisher: Waxmann Verlag
Total Pages: 521
Release: 2012
Genre: Education
ISBN: 3830976445

One of the central features in current educational reforms is a focus on learning outcomes. Many countries have established or revised standards to describe what teachers are supposed to teach and students are expected to learn. More recently, the emphasis has shifted to considerations of how standards can be operationalized in order to make the outcomes of educational efforts more tangible. This book is the result of a symposium held in Kiel, that was arranged by two science education groups, one at the IPN (Leibniz-Institute for Science and Mathematics Education at the University of Kiel) in Germany and the other at the University of York, UK. The seminar brought together renowned experts from 12 countries with different notions of the nature and quality of learning outcomes. The aim was to clarify central conceptions and approaches for a better understanding among the international science education community. The book is divided into five parts. In Part A, the organizers set the scene, describing the rationale for arranging the symposium. Part B provides a broad overview about different approaches, challenges, and pitfalls on the road to the clarification of meaningful and fruitful learning outcomes. The set of papers in Part C provides deep insights into different, although comparable approaches which aim to frame, to assess, and to promote learning and learning outcomes in science education. Smaller projects are presented as well as broad, coordinated national programs. The papers in Part D outline the individual historical development from different national perspectives, reflecting the deficits and problems that led to current reforms. Finally, a summary of the organizers analyses the conclusions from different vantage points.

Practical Work in Science

Practical Work in Science
Author: Brian Woolnough
Publisher:
Total Pages: 86
Release: 1985
Genre: Great Britain - Secondary schools - Curriculum subjects: Science - Practical work
ISBN: 9780521278614

This book reviews the major science curriculum developments and the present position of practical work in secondary schools.

The Effective Teaching of Secondary Science

The Effective Teaching of Secondary Science
Author: John Parkinson
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 285
Release: 2014-06-03
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1317893719

The Effective Teaching of Secondary Science encourages the trainee teacher to develop effective skills for teaching science to secondary school pupils. The comprehensive coverage of topics and issues provides good foundations for trainee teachers who are encouraged to test and evaluate different techniques. Practical advice is offered in areas such as lesson planning, the preparation of worksheets, planning practical activities and safety in the laboratory. The book also discusses the use of information technology as well as multicultural and gender issues and the teaching of pupils with special needs. Much of the work covered is undepinned by areas of educational research such as educational theory and psychology and sociology of education. Information on the requirements of the national curriculum and on post-16 science courses is given and includes a number of assessment techniques for the problematic area of assessing science attainment target 1.