Teaching in the Sciences: Learner-Centered Approaches PDF
Preview Teaching in the Sciences: Learner-Centered Approaches
Catherine McLoughlin, PhD Acram Taji, PhD Editors Teaching in the Sciences Learner-Centered Approaches Pre-publication REVIEWS, COMMENTARIES, EVALUATIONS . . . “Therearemanyimpressivefeatures Nomoderntertiaryeducatorcanaf- ofTeachingintheSciences:Learner- ford to ignore issues associated with CenteredApproaches.Therecognitionof theirteaching.Fortoolongtertiarysci- theneedforgreateremphasistobefo- enceeducatorshavebeenappointedon cused on tertiary science students as the basis of their research capabilities with little or no emphasis on their learnersishighlycommendableanda teaching abilities or their understand- refreshing change from current prac- ingofthelearner.Thisbookisawon- tices.Thisbookclearlyrecognizesthat derfulresourcefortertiaryscienceedu- thereareunderstandings,basedonsound cators to explore a diverse range of educational research, of how students approaches in which the needs of the best learn. Most important for tertiary learneraretheprimeobjective.Adop- scienceeducators,exemplarsaregiven tionofthestrategiesexemplifiedinthis showinghowthisinformationcantrans- bookwillensurethattheirteachingis lateinto their teaching approaches. based on very sound, contemporary Thebookexploresthefullscopeof educationalprinciples.Ihavenohesi- issues associated with tertiary science tation in strongly recommending this teachingandoffersguidanceinhowto book to tertiary science educators.” approachtheteachingofcontentinthe varioussciencedisciplines,assessment, Bruce G. Cameron, PhD (UNE), the laboratory as a teaching/learning DipEd, BSc (Hons) Senior Lecturer in Science context,andtheembracingofnewtech- and Environmental Education, nologies.Thisdiversityandexemplifi- University of New England, cation are strengths of this book. Armidale, NSW, Australia More pre-publication REVIEWS, COMMENTARIES, EVALUATIONS . . . “This book is timely in both its thesciences.Italsoprovidesaguideto practicalapproachtotheuseof and a good analysis of teaching, with constructivist pedagogies and appro- special attention focused on first-year priate technologies, and its innova- students,whomaybediverseintheir tive practices for teaching sciences in priorknowledgeanddegreeofmotiva- highereducation.Theauthorsspecifi- tion to learn. callyoutlineresearchonscienceteach- The book presents a realistic ap- inginhighereducation,fromrealand proachontheneedtohavelong-term virtual field trips to laboratory activi- planningofbothteachingmaterialand ties, to online discussions and broad- faculty preparation, but also provides bandconferencing.Theyraiseimpera- suggestionsonwhatindividuallectur- tive questions and provide practical ers could do with large and diverse advice for teaching based on sound groupsoffirst-yearsciencestudents,or theory and teaching experience. with students who study off campus. The authors make important con- Thebookisinterestinganduseful,uses nections between lifelong learning, soundtheory,andbringsnewperspec- constructivistpedagogy,andtheuseof tives on how to implement and im- appropriatetechnologiesinpromoting prove student-centered approaches in researchopportunitiesavailabletostu- teachingsciencesinhighereducation.” dentsinhighereducationrelatedtosci- ences.Theyproviderelevantcriticism Dorit Maor, PhD onthecurrentsituationofteachingsci- Lecturer in Tertiary ence in higher education. and Adult Education, Thisbookprovidessuggestionson School of Education, relevantinnovativeandpracticalsolu- Murdoch University, tionsforhighereducationlecturersin Perth, Western Australia Food Products Press® An Imprint of The Haworth Press, Inc. New York (cid:127) London (cid:127) Oxford NOTES FOR PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY USERS ThisisanoriginalbooktitlepublishedbyFoodProductsPress®,an imprintofTheHaworthPress,Inc.Unlessotherwisenotedinspecific chapterswithattribution,materialsinthisbookhavenotbeenprevi- ously published elsewhere in any format or language. CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION NOTES Allbookspublished byTheHaworthPress,Inc.anditsimprintsare printedoncertifiedpHneutral,acid-freebookgradepaper.Thispa- permeetstheminimumrequirementsofAmericanNationalStandard forInformation Sciences-Permanence ofPaperforPrintedMaterial, ANSI Z39.48-1984. Teaching in the Sciences Learner-Centered Approaches FOOD PRODUCTS PRESS® Crop Science Amarjit S. Basra, PhD Senior Editor Handbook of Formulas and Software for Plant Geneticists and Breedersedited by Manjit S. Kang Postharvest Oxidative Stress in Horticultural Cropsedited by D. M. Hodges EncyclopedicDictionaryofPlantBreedingandRelatedSubjectsbyRolfH.G.Schlegel Handbook of Processes and Modeling in the Soil-Plant Systemedited by D. K. Benbi and R. Nieder The Lowland Maya Area: Three Millennia at the Human-Wildland Interfaceedited by A. Gómez-Pompa, M. F. Allen, S. Fedick, and J. J. Jiménez-Osornio Biodiversity and Pest Management in Agroecosystems, Second Editionby Miguel A. Altieri and Clara I. Nicholls Plant-Derived Antimycotics: Current Trends and Future Prospectsedited by Mahendra Rai and Donatella Mares Concise Encyclopedia of Temperate Tree Fruitedited by Tara Auxt Baugher and Suman Singha Landscape Agroecologyby Paul A. Wojkowski Concise Encyclopedia of Plant Pathology by P. Vidhyasekaran Molecular Genetics and Breeding of Forest Treesedited by Sandeep Kumar and Matthias Fladung Testing of Genetically Modified Organisms in Foodsedited by Farid E. Ahmed Agrometeorology: Principles and Applications of Climate Studies in Agriculture by Harpal S. Mavi and Graeme J. Tupper Concise Encyclopedia of Bioresource Technologyedited by Ashok Pandey Genetically Modified Crops: Their Development, Uses, and Risksedited by G. H. Liang and D. Z. Skinner Plant Functional Genomicsedited by Dario Leister Immunology in Plant Health and Its Impact on Food Safetyby P. Narayanasamy Abiotic Stresses: Plant Resistance Through Breeding and Molecular Approachesedited by Muhammad Ashraf and Philip John Charles Harris Multinational Agribusinesseseditedby Ruth Rama Crops and Environmental Change: An Introduction to Effects of Global Warming, Increasing Atmospheric COand OConcentrations, and Soil Salinization on Crop Physiology 2 3 and Yieldby Seth G. Pritchard and Jeffrey S. Amthor Teaching in the Sciences: Learner-Centered Approachesedited by Catherine McLoughlin and Acram Taji Durum Wheat Breeding: Current Approaches and Future Strategiesedited by Conxita Royo, M. M. Nachit, N. Di Fonzo, J. L. Araus, W. H. Pfeiffer, and G. A. Slafer Teaching in the Sciences Learner-Centered Approaches Catherine McLoughlin, PhD Acram Taji, PhD Editors Food Products Press® An Imprint of The Haworth Press, Inc. New York (cid:127) London (cid:127) Oxford Published by FoodProductsPress®,animprintofTheHaworthPress,Inc.,10AliceStreet,Binghamton,NY 13904-1580. ©2005byTheHaworthPress,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisworkmaybereproducedor utilizedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopying,microfilm, andrecording,orbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwriting from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Cover design by Marylouise E. Doyle. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Teachinginthesciences:learner-centeredapproaches/CatherineMcLoughlin,AcramTaji,edi- tors. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 1-56022-263-8 (alk. paper)—ISBN 1-56022-264-6 (soft : alk. paper) 1.Science—Studyandteaching(Higher)2.Activelearning.I.McLoughlin,Catherine.II.Taji, Acram. Q181.T3515 2004 507'11—dc22 2004006959 CONTENTS About the Editors ix Contributors xi Foreword xvii Stephen Dinham Introduction. Learner-Centered Approaches in the Sciences 1 Catherine McLoughlin Acram Taji Chapter 1. Student-Centered Ecology: Authentic Contexts and Sustainable Science 9 Susan Barker Introduction 9 Challenges in Teaching Ecology 10 Experiential and Constructivist Approaches 11 Learner-Centered Teaching Materials: Promoting Sustainability 16 Fieldwork Teaching: Are Learner-Centered Approaches Possible? 17 Learning Indicators 21 Conclusion 23 Chapter 2. The Use of ICT in Molecular Science Student-Centered Learning: A Developmental Approach 27 Philip L. R. Bonner Introduction 27 ICT and Student Learning 28 CAL: A Learner-Centered Approach to Numeracy Problems 31 Evolving Evaluation 32 A Learner-Centered Approach to a Laboratory Simulation 34 Conclusion 37
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