Category Archives: Science Education
One Way to Improve Your Teaching
Sometimes I am asked what is the most important part of teaching effectively or what is the one thing that I’d recommend for people to try. Unfortunately, I don’t believe the question can be answered. There is no single thing … Continue reading
Polar Bears
We went out for dinner last night for my oldest son’s birthday. Then, we drove around to look at Christmas lights. As we drove around, our youngest son (4 years old) started talking about the north pole and whether or … Continue reading
Posted in Science Education, Science Saturday, Teacher Actions
Tagged camouflage, cash, polar bears
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A More Practical Approach
Just an FYI post: I’ve restarted a blog I haven’t revisited in four years. I, along with my students, have been doing a lot of interesting work with K-12 students. So, I decided to start sharing some of those practical … Continue reading
Posted in Science Education, teacher education
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Creating Doubt
One of my preservice teachers asked me what I would do when students are working in groups and one group seems to be “right on”. I told her, “I do everything I can to get them to doubt their thinking”. … Continue reading
Posted in Goals for Students, Science Education, Teacher Actions
Tagged doubt, questions, symmetrical responding
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Science, creativity, & literature
The nature of science is often misrepresented as dull, straightforward, & overly empirical. Such a view misses important aspects of creativity & intuition in science. Below is an abstract to a recent paper where the author uses insights from Edgar … Continue reading
Flipped: it’s Newton, but its’ not Einstein
I just got done with a webinar on the flipped classroom. I appreciated the dialogue. I am confident that the people in the webinar are each tremendous educators. While I don’t see the flipped classroom as where instruction ought to … Continue reading
Posted in Education Reform, Science Education, Teacher Actions
Tagged flipped classroom, inquiry, teaching
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Did you go to high school? Join the education department!
A few days ago, I was sent this link to an article where a physics professor “discovers” that lecture isn’t working. (Gasp!) What I find hilarious (in an infuriating way) is that this physics professor could have found this out … Continue reading
Posted in Education Reform, General Education, Science Education
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Pseudoteaching with Demos
Pseudoteaching was a concept I have understood and been wary of for a long time. However, only recently was I able to put a name to the phenomena thanks to a conversation I had with Frank Noschese. This post is … Continue reading
Posted in Science Education
Tagged active mental engagment, demos, pseudoteaching, questioning
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Scientists’ fowl mouths
I’m always intrigued at how scientists view the nature of science. Most of their words are accurate, but misleading to the general public. They speak as though answers are inevitable. Yet, a scientist knows that while answers in general may … Continue reading
Posted in Science Education
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What is the purpose of educational technology?
I am reading Larry Cuban’s book, Teachers and Machines from 1986. In the book he calls instructional technology “any device available to teachers for use in instructing students in a more efficient and stimulating manner than the sole use of … Continue reading
Teaching as Dynamic 