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    SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
    EDUCATION 384-3 AND 385-3
    SPECIAL TOPIC:
    SCIENCE IN THE MOST CURIOUS PLACES
    (E7.00)
    Fall Semester, 1991 ?
    Instructor: P. Hopkinson
    (September 3— November 29)
    Location: Science World, Vancouver
    PREREQUISITE (or special instructions): None
    DESCRIPTION
    The 1991 Summer Institute at Science World is a cooperative project involving Science
    World B.C., the Faculty of Education, S.F.U., and the Department of Mathematics and
    Science Education, U.B.C. The Institute will involve thirty teachers in a week of seminars
    and workshops designed to promote activity-based science instruction in the lower
    Intermediate grades (4-7). The institute is designed for teachers who wish to pursue
    integrated, thematic teaching approaches with an emphasis on science activities.
    Teachers who are interested in extending their study of science teaching may enrol in a
    follow-up COMET course which will involve them in a self-directed project in their
    classrooms together with monthly meetings with other participants from the Summer
    Institute, S.F.U. faculty, and Science World staff. Those participants who have access to
    computers and modems will also be able to communicate with each other and with the
    resource persons through the MTS telecommunications network.
    OBJECTIVES
    This course will:
    a.
    promote activity-based science instruction at the intermediate level, and develop
    teaching approaches that reflect science as a holistic, human endeavor, with broad
    concepts that are linked to other subjects;
    b.
    to explore Science World as an informal education centre and initiate Science
    World's role as a leader in activity-based science instruction;
    c.
    to investigate the blending of informal learning experiences with the public school
    curriculum;
    d.
    to promote the role of Science World in supporting teacher development in science
    instruction;
    e.
    to bring together practising scientists, science educators (including Science World
    teachers) and classroom teachers to address current issues in the teaching of
    science;
    f.
    to assist in the sustained support for lower intermediate teachers' professional
    development in science teaching.
    .
    REQUIRED READINGS
    Case, R. (1990). Implementation through Informed Reflection. Burnaby, B.C.: Faculty of
    Education, S.F.U.
    Science World, B.C. (1991). Science World in a Bag: Activity-Based Science for
    Elementary School Children, Their Teachers, and their Parents. Burnaby, B.C.:
    Faculty of Education, S.F.U.
    STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS
    Participants will be required to:
    a.
    develop, teach 'and assess a science theme or unit of instruction in their classroom
    during the term following the Summer Institute;
    b.
    meet as a group to share and discuss their projects with each other, with S.F.U.
    faculty and with Science World staff. As the participants' classroom projects
    develop, there will be an opportunity to share video-taped episodes from their schools
    and to discuss the successes and failures of various curriculum and pedagogical
    approaches;
    c.
    complete readings as required by the course instructor.

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