Cases in Middle and Secondary Science Education The Promise and Dilemmas

by Koballa, Thomas R.; Tippins, Deborah J.

• ISBN13: 9780131127982
• ISBN10: 0131127985
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-07-30
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This broad-based volume highlights dozens of situations and challenges associated with middle school and secondary school science teaching, along with the suggestions of experts for improving practice and stimulating creative thinking in a scientific vein.After an introduction to the case-based pedagogy, ten chapters present three to four cases each, all of which relate to a central theme. The final chapter delineates a methodology for creating engaging, instructional cases from one's personal teaching experience. Through a study of the cases, future and practicing science teachers can glean an understanding of prevailing instructional practices and convincing, research-based arguments with which to challenge current traditional approaches.For future and in-service science teachers at middle and secondary schools.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors

Preface

Classroom Case Narratives and Pedagogical and Research Tools in Science Education

Adolescent Learners in Science

Reform and Science Curriculum

Planning for Science Instruction

Organizing a Positive Learning Environment

Learning in the Science Classroom

Learning in the Laboratory and Informal Settings

Controversial Issues in the Science Classroom

The Role of Technology in Science Teaching and Learning

Assessment in Science

Student Teaching and Mentoring

Science Teacher Education: Exploring the Paradoxes and Possibilities of Case-Based Instruction

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Science teaching is a complex and uncertain endeavor. Today, middle school and secondary science teachers are called on to develop learning environments that facilitate students' construction of science understandings, skills, and attitudes. They must make decisions about curricula, instructional and assessment strategies, and their own professional development. In addition, teachers must be prepared to work with students from diverse cultural backgrounds and consider how what they do in their classrooms contributes to science education reform.Cases in Middle and Secondary Science Education: The Promise and Dilemmasis about the challenging situations that arise in middle school and secondary science teaching and how to handle these situations. The science teachers, science teacher educators, and scientists who have contributed to this book are knowledgeable in many aspects of science and science teaching and learning. In their contributions, they have highlighted many dilemmas associated with middle school and secondary science teaching and have offered suggestions for improving practice and stimulating critical thinking about the science learning environment.This book is intended for beginning and experienced middle school and secondary science teachers, science teacher educators, science teacher mentors, and school and school district administrators. It is ideal for use as a problem-solving vehicle and tool for reflection by preservice teachers. It will assist them in developing an understanding of prevailing instructional practices in science at the middle and secondary levels and current attempts to reform traditional approaches to science teaching and learning. Additionally, the book will be very useful for inservice workshops and secondary education courses at the graduate level. And schools and universities that are collaborating in reform will be able to use this case handbook as a guide in their reform efforts. Organization of the TextAs with the first edition of this book, this second edition consists of 12 chapters, with the first chapter serving to introduce the case method and the final chapter describing how to develop cases based on teachers' personal experiences. Chapters 2 through 11 each contain three or four cases that focus on different dilemmas related to the chapter topic. These range from 'Adolescent Learners in Science" and "Reform and Science Curriculum" to "Organizing a Positive Learning Environment" and "Student Teaching Science and Mentoring." Found among the chapters is a mixture of open cases--those that involve unresolved dilemmas--and closed cases (in which the author is able to arrive at a solution for the dilemma described.) Each case ends with "Questions for Reflection and Discussion." Commentaries that provide possible "solutions" for open cases and "responses" to closed cases follow all but two novel cases. "Resources to Consider" are found at the end of each of these chapters. For this edition, Chapters 2 through 11 have been improved through the addition and revision of cases and commentaries. Five new cases bring attention to dilemmas associated with culturally relevant science teaching and planning, teaching reading in the science class, and formative assessment to improve science instruction. The Classroom Cases and CommentariesThis second edition will be particularly valuable to educators who recognize that science teaching and learning occur in a world of uncertainty and that teaching is deeply rooted in our personalities and experiences as learners. Classroom cases provide the problem posing and dialogical learning environment needed to facilitate reflective and critical thinking about the dilemmas and problematic situations that arise in middle school and secondary science teaching. These situations are embedded contextually and do not have a correct answer or tidy solution. This allows individuals to define the problem