ERIC Number: EJ1164755
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Mar
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1089-9995
EISSN: N/A
An Integrated Earth Science, Astronomy, and Physics Course for Elementary Education Majors
Plotnick, Roy E.; Varelas, Maria; Fan, Qian
Journal of Geoscience Education, v57 n2 p152-158 Mar 2009
Physical World is a one-semester course designed for elementary education majors, that integrates earth science, astronomy, and physics. The course is part of a four-course set that explores science concepts, processes, and skills, along with the nature of scientific practice, that are included in state and national standards for elementary school science. Geoscience concepts, such as water and seismic waves, are used to illustrate general principles of physics, such as wave transmission, refraction, reflection, and interference. Laboratories are drawn from both introductory physics and earth science courses and have been redesigned to have a strong inquiry component. Pre-assessments were used to evaluate students' prior knowledge of key ideas. The use of pyramid tests measurably enhanced student performance. A major theme of the course is how science is represented (and misrepresented) in the media. Pedagogical challenges encountered in the course are due to various factors, two main ones being lack of previous experience with the natural world among a largely urban student body and the diversity of material that the course covers.
Descriptors: Elementary Education, Majors (Students), Earth Science, Astronomy, Physics, Science Instruction, Elementary School Science, Scientific Concepts, Science Process Skills, Scientific Principles, Science Laboratories, Preservice Teacher Education, Interdisciplinary Approach, Biology, Student Evaluation, Student Attitudes
National Association of Geoscience Teachers. Carleton College W-SERC, One North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057. Tel: 540-568-6675; Fax: 540-568-8058; e-mail: jge@jmu.edu; Website: http://nagt-jge.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE); Department of Education (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Illinois (Chicago)
Grant or Contract Numbers: 0311624; P336B030081