Course Directory

Tch Of Elem Sci

Examines methods of presenting science in the elementary school. Provides experiences in learning process, scope and sequence of science concepts, methods of investigation, problem solving, laboratory skills, scientific attitudes, newer curricula, reading materials, observing and working with elementary school children, and developing, teaching, and evaluating lessons. Two hour lecture and two hours laboratory weekly. Each semester.

Biol Inves Sci Ed

Electronic Science Ed

Intended for the science teacher who has had a little or no previous course work in physics or mathematics. Covers the fundamental law of electricity and magnetism, alternating current theory, and the theory and practical application of such devicesas ammeters, voltmeters, oscilloscopes, vacuum tubes, transistors, power suppliers, amplifiers, and oscillators. Examples of some of these devices will be built in the laboratory, and general procedures for trouble-shooting faulty equipment will be illustrated. Summer only, on demand.|

Sci Curr Jr High

Acquaints students with modern science curricula for the junior high/middle school levels. Stresses recent developments in curricula objectives, science content, teaching strategies, and laboratory activities. Individual projects included. Annually.

Field Astronomy

Examines experimental tools and methods useful in astronomy. Concentrates on mastery of important techniques and concepts by a do-it-yourself process, not an encyclopedic survey of astronomy. Complements courses in descriptive astronomy (ES 200 and 201 and SCED 550) rather than duplicating them, serving much the same purpose as a laboratory in astronomy. The student will build simple telescopes, spectroscopes, and other astronomical instruments. Summer only, on demand.

Field Photography

Teaches students how to use a modern camera and accessories to photograph subjects in the field. Includes techniques of close-up, telephoto, and wide-angle photography as well as film development, lighting, use of filters, and composition. Provides students with opportunities to learn and practice techniques for photographing such objects as small animals, birds, flowers, large animals, and other field subjects. Students provide camera and film. Summers only, on demand.

Pgm Improving Eled Sci

Sci Tech & Soc: Topics

Interdisciplinary course designed to acquaint students with information, curricula and teaching methodologies appropriate for integrating STS topics into science and social studies instruction. Includes topics in nature of science, history of science, history of technology, ethical decision-making, and the influences of changes in sciecne and technology on society. Required for all secondary science and social studies education majors. Spring semester. Prerequisite: Junior Standing|

Sci Student Tch Sem

All biology and general science student teachers are required to meet for this seminar. Students must participate in small group discussions by asking questions that have arisen during the time since the last seminar and to share some of the practica,l techniques and ideas they have discovered. Students evaluated as to their willingness to seek out answers to their personal questions and to stimulate their peers with provocative questions and practical solutions. Prerequisite: Concurrent with stu,dent teaching.

Seminar

Current topics in science education. May be repeated (as topics vary) up to nine credits. On demand.

Sem In Sci Misconception

A survey of current literature in the area of science misconceptions. Each student will research a topic and develop interviews and surveys to determine the misconceptions in the area. Fall, odd-numbered years.

Investigative Tech

Enables elementary, middle, and junior high school teachers to use investigative techniques and the process approach in their own classrooms. Investigative techniques focus on developing skills in science processes such as observing, classifying, formulating hypotheses, collecting and analyzing data, and designing experiments. Includes experiences with modern elementary and junior high school science curricula. Two lecture and two lab hours. Fall, annually.

Special Topics Sci Ed

Studies of topical material under the guidance of the instructor. Maximum credit allowable toward graduation: 9 credits. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and the student?s graduate committee. On demand.

Investigations In The Sciences

Presents a survey of types of investigations. Emphasizes typical investigations which may be used as models for classroom use. Students will experiment with published experiments within their discipline and at the appropriate grade level as well as d,"esign their own. Two hours lecture, two hours laboratory. Fall, even-numbered years.

Field Biol

Field course designed to acquaint elementary, middle, and secondary teachers with the biological environment outside of the classroom as it pertains to plants and animals, their collection, identification, preservation, and ecology. Activities that are applicable to the public school will be provided. Summers, on demand.

Botany

Gives elementary, middle, and secondary teachers an understanding of the basic aspects of plant science. Emphasizes taxonomy, morphology, and life processes of the flowering and nonflowering plants as they relate to work done in elementary and secondary schools. Two lecture and two lab hours. Summer, on demand.

Field Ornithology

This is primarily a course on the identification and natural history of birds of this area. The primary teaching methods will be illustrated lectures, identification practice via color slides, and field trips. Prerequisite: Basic Biology. Summers, on demand.

Field Zoology

Field course designed to acquaint the elementary, middle, and secondary teachers with the biological environment outside the classroom as it pertains to animals, their collection, preservation, identification, and ecology. Activities that are applicable to K-12 schools will be provided. Summer, on demand.

Ecology

Familiarizes elementary, middle, and secondary teachers with the relationships between plants and animals and their environment. Emphasizes field work. Frequent field trips to areas of particular ecological interest in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Five field, laboratory and lecture hours. On demand.

Chemistry

Lecture-laboratory course designed to give elementary, middle, and secondary teachers an understanding of basic chemistry. The chemistry of common experience in the public school is explored and the manipulation of chemical apparatus is given special attention. Two laboratory hours. On demand.

Physics

Lecture-laboratory course designed to give elementary, middle, and secondary teachers an understanding of basic physics. Areas of concentration are the metric system, properties of matter, mechanics, atomic energy, heat, sound, light, magnetism, andelectricity. Particular attention will be provided for the application of these areas to public school sciences. Two lecture and two laboratory hours. On demand.

Science Curriculum

This course is designed to come late in the program when the student will have an adequate background for discussions centered around the various approaches to the teaching of science in the elementary, middle, and secondary schools. A study of the principles of curriculum construction, including curriculum origins, goals, objectives, scope and sequence, and evaluation. Spring, annually.

Res And Mat

Gives teachers experience with literature, equipment, and materials used in teaching science in the school. Explores physical and human resources from national, state, and local communities. Students will be given ample opportunity to develop and try out teacher-made resources. On demand.

Supervision Of Science

Prepares science educators (elementary, middle, junior high, and senior high school teachers) for leadership and supervisory roles in the improvement of science curricula and instruction. Spring, even-numbered years.

Science Internship

Gives practical experiences in working with teachers and children as a specialist in science teaching, supervising, and assisting in curriculum work. On demand.

Astronomy

Deals with the planets and their satellites, including the earth and moon, with comets and meteors, with the sun, the stars and clusters of stars, with the interstellar gas and dust, with the Milky Way, and other galaxies that lie beyond the Milky Way. Includes the fundamental concepts of cosmology and the basic principles of light. Three lecture and/or laboratory hours. On demand.

Geology

A study of rocks, minerals, and geologic formation as they are related to elementary and secondary school science. Past history of the earth as well as present geologic phenomena are discussed. Fields trips to areas of geologic interest are taken. Two lecture and two field or laboratory work hours. On demand.

Meteorology

Stresses fundamentals of weather and weather instruments, maps, records, as well as other activities applicable to elementary and secondary school science. Three lecture and/or laboratory hours. On demand.

Recent Adv Science

Acquaints students with significant developments in the field of science that have taken place in the last two decades. Assumes a background of information in the fundamentals of the biological and physical sciences. Three lecture hours. On demand.

History Of Science

A study of the history of science with accent on the way in which broad scientific principles have developed and those who played a part. On demand.