Spring 2010 Courses

YEAR 1, STEP 1
Physics 39: Teaching Science [2 units] – Friday 12-2PM, 200 LeConte – CCN: 70218
This seminar is for students who are interested in both improving their ability to communicate scientific knowledge, and considering a career in teaching science in K12 schools. It combines instruction in inquiry-based science teaching methods, learning pedagogy and a fieldplacement (15 hours) in a local, urban, elementary science classroom.

YEAR 1, STEP 2

Math 39A: Seminar for Teaching Math in Schools [2 units] – Monday 2-4PM, 31 Evans – CCN:54167
The purpose of this seminar is to introduce the participants to life in a K-12 mathematics classroom. Several specific mathematical topics that are known to be troublesome in the K12 curriculum will be discussed. Students will contrast what they learn about these topics in mathematics courses in college with how they will teach them to their students. The course includes a field placement (15 hours) in a local, urban, elementary math classroom.

Engineering 39: Engineering in K-12 Math and Science Learning [2 units] – Thursday 3:30-5PM – CCN: 27761
This seminar will explore the development and use of engineering-based projects in K12 science and math education. Students enrolling in this seminar should be interested in pre-college math and science education, and be willing to spend time in local classrooms during the course of the semester. A field placement (15 hours) in a local elementary or middle school will be arranged for each student.

YEAR 2

Education 195C: Problem-Solving as an Approach to Teaching & Learning in Mathematics & Science [3 units] – Wednesday 1-4PM, 4635 Tolman – CCN: 23779
In this course you will develop pedagogical principles, dispositions, knowledge, tools, and skills that will serve you well in your own classrooms. The course offers a sequence of collaborative problem-solving and reflection activities through which you will be able to appreciate and develop a coherent, effective approach to the teaching and learning of any mathematical or scientific conceptual domain. Course includes a field placement (30 hours) in an urban middle or high school math or science classroom.

YEAR 3

History 100, Section 4: History of Technology [4 units] – TuTh 12:30-2PM, 219 Dwinelle – CCN: 39258
How do technology and society interact? What drives technological change? How does technology transfer across different cultures? The aim of the course is for you to learn about how technology affects social change and, especially, how technological change is invariably shaped by historical and social circumstances.

History 100, Section 8: Scientists as Servants of the Church and State, 1600-2000 [4 units] – MWF 2-3PM, 213 Wheeler – CCN: 39270
Scientists have occupied a privileged place in Western societies since the Scientific Revolution, but can they be trusted? For most of the past four centuries, the answer has been a resounding no. In this course, we explore the evolution of the idea that scientists are free from the duty to uphold the authority of church and state and the frequent attempts to suppress this freedom.

Math 151: Mathematics of the Secondary School Curriculum I [4 units] – Tu/Th 9:30-11AM PLUS Discussion Thursday 12:30-2pm, 3 Evans – CCN:54539
This course covers the following mathematics topics that are covered in the secondary school curriculum. The concepts of congruence and similarity, equation of a line, functions, and quadratic functions will also be covered. This course includes an optional field placement (15 hours) in a high school middle or high school math class.

Statistics 157: Research Methods for Science and Mathematics K-12 Teachers [3 units] – MW 4-6PM, 340 Evans – CCN: 87747
Students undertake several in-depth research projects to develop methods for engaging in authentic research in the science or mathematics content area related to their major. Interactive lectures and labs are designed to meet the needs of future teachers by guiding students to develop specific techniques— including statistics, mathematical modeling and scientific writing—needed to engage in authentic scientific and applied mathematical research.

YEAR 4

ESPM 178B: Environmental Science Education Practicum [4 units] – Wednesday 5-8PM, 2066 VLSB – CCN: 29623
Framed around the topic of sustainability, the course engages students from different science majors to apply the content knowledge from their discipline to build curriculum pieces for presentation in high school classrooms. Students develop pedagogical content knowledge and relate teaching theory to practice. Additional topics covered include classroom management and leadership, lesson planning, presentation skills, and readings in science education. Course includes a field placement (30 hours).

Math 153: Mathematics of the Secondary School Curriculum III [4 units] –MWF 11AM-12:30PM, 9 Evans; Discussion Tues 2-3:20PM, 110 Wheeler – CCN: 54545
This course is the last part of a three-semester sequence, Math 151-152-153, whose purpose is to give a complete mathematical development of all the main topics of school mathematics in grades 8-12, except probability and statistics. A key feature of this presentation is that it would be directly applicable to the classroom of grades 8-12, and in fact, to middle school as well. Discussion section’s main purpose is to discuss solutions of problems in the homework assignment, but it will inevitably touch on other issues related to the lectures.