Bill Robertson, Ph.D. - Classes
Teacher Education Department

MSED 4311 - Teaching Science in Intermediate and Middle Grades - Assignments

Due January 26

Introduction Online - As part of the classroom assignment, I would like you to introduce yourself to the class in Blackboard CE8.  Introductions should be done individually and address the following in your response: Name, Field of Study, Interests, Why you want to be a teacher & Something unique or interesting about yourself.

Discussion - 1 Page (300 words) Written Response posted in Blackboard Discussion Entitled to “Your Metaphor For Teaching”. This discussion will close by 11:55 PM MST on January 26.

Due February 2

Quiz 1 - Syllabus and Class Procedures

Discussion - Obtain a copy of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) from science for the grade level (4-8) you hope to teach. From the TEKS Web site, locate your content area concepts. Select only your content TEKS and copy/paste into a Word document.

In your group in Blackboard, individually provide a response to the questions posed for the discussion areas of which you are a member. It is the Discussion topic entitled "Standards and the TEKS". Group members should also provide constructive feedback to individual responses that others post. For each discussion topic, each member should have a minimum of 1 individual response (200 words) to the overarching question and 2 individual postings for feedback (50 words) to other group members comments. This discussion will close by 11:55 PM MST on February 2.

Due February 9

Assignment - Design a Rube Goldberg Machine that incorporates at least 6 unique physical science concepts. The machine should be drawn out and described in text (approximately 300 words). The description should also include an introduction, the step by step process of the machine, a section on how the concepts are manifested in the machine and a section on how this assignment can best be taught in a classroom setting. The physical science concepts can include (but are not limited to) the concepts listed on this Web link.

You should plan to submit this through the Assignments area in Blackboard as an electronic file in Word.

Due February 16

Quiz 2 - Science For All Americans

**Online Class Meeting Only on February 10**

We will not have a face to face class meeting at UTEP,
but we will all participate in a on-line assignment through Blackboard

Due February 23

Assignment - 2-3 Page (600 - 900 words) Written Response on focusing a. What is important for middle grade students (4-8) to Learn in Science? and b. What methods will be best for teaching science concepts to middle grade students (4-8)? Utilize the Science For All Americans text as your research framework and provide examples from your experiences within the classroom as applicable.

You should plan to submit this through the Assignments area in Blackboard as an electronic file in Word.

Due March 2

Assignment - In the assignments area for our class in Blackboard, please attach a formatted copy of your midterm activity from which a classroom set of materials will be created. Please be sure you have followed the science activity template in the development of your activity. You can also look at a sample activity in the appropriate format. Use spell check and have the activity correctly formatted as a Word document.

Due March 9

Mid-Term Projects and Presentations (in Class) - Assignment - You should plan to submit your final paper (3-5 pages) through the Assignments area in Blackboard as an electronic file in Word. Your Mid-Term presentation will be done as part of a classroom demonstration on March 7.

Due March 23

**Online Class Meeting Only on March 10**

We will not have a face to face class meeting at UTEP,
but we will all participate in a on-line assignment through Blackboard

Discussion - Perform an Internet Search for Activities that meet specific TEKS in your grade level in the area of science. Post the Web Sites into Blackboard discussion area entitled “Web Resources for Science (4-8)”. Identify your subject area and the TEKS you are addressing for each entry.

Each person is responsible to make 1 individual post with 3 different Educational Web Sites. For each Educational Web Site, identify the name of the site, the URL (Web Address), and a descriptive sentence about the content of the site. This discussion will close by 9 PM MST on March 21.

Due March 30

Assignment - Please post your reflections to the site visit in the assignments area entitled "Professional Development School ". Provide a two to three page reflection addressing the following statements in reference to the science activity that you lead within your current classroom. This can be your midterm activity or another activity that you have identified and delivered. You should address the following areas within your reflection:

  • Before you performed the activity with the class, define your expectations for yourself and the class in terms of teaching and learning.
  • After you facilitated the activity with the class, write about your experience for yourself and the class in terms of teaching and learning.
  • Describe what you learned about your own instructional methods and student learning as it relates to concepts and skills in your activity.

You should plan to submit this through the Assignments area in Blackboard as an electronic file in Word.

Due April 6

Discussion - In your group in Blackboard, individually provide a response to the questions posed for the discussion areas of which you are a member. The content for the discussions will center around a specific chapter of the Impact Teaching: Ideas and Strategies for Teachers to Maximize Student Learning textbook. Group members should also provide constructive feedback to individual responses that others post.

For each discussion topic, each member should have a minimum of 1 individual response (200 words) to the overarching question and 2 individual postings for feedback (50 words) to other group members comments. This discussion will close by 9 PM MST on April 4.

Due April 20

**Online Class Meeting Only on April 14**

We will not have a face to face class meeting at UTEP,
but we will all participate in a on-line assignment through Blackboard

Quiz 3 - Impact Teaching: Ideas and Strategies for Teachers to Maximize Student Learning

Assignment - Provide a two to three page reflection addressing the following statements in reference to methods of science instruction you have learned and encountered this semester. Possible sources of information include class meetings, Blackboard discussions, experiences from your internship classroom, and the texts for the class (Impact Teaching: Ideas and Strategies for Teachers to Maximize Student Learning and Science For All Americans).

  • What is your role as a constructivist teacher? Cite examples from both your internship and the class texts.
  • Describe what you learned about instructional methods and the assessment students as it relates to concepts and skills in science.
  • Personally, what do you think are your instructional strengths? What areas of instruction do you need to improve?

You should plan to submit this through the Assignments area in Blackboard as an electronic file in Word.

Due April 27

Assignment - Community Outreach Activity

Students will participate in and provide a reflection paper on a community outreach activity. This activity should focus on the area of learning at home and be a response to your experience at the specific interactions from your participation in aProfessional Development School Outreach Activity

You should plan to submit your final paper (2-3 pages) through the Assignments area in Blackboard as an electronic file in Word.

Due May 5 (PPT) and May 9 (Project Write Up)

Assignment - Final Product and Poster Session Presentation

You should plan to submit your final paper (10-12 pages) through the Assignments area in Blackboard as an electronic file in Word by May 9. Your Final presentation will be done as part of a poster session on May 5.

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UTEP College of Education