Class 9/11/08

Today's class period mainly consisted of notes, something we usually do not do. However, the information presented was important. The class period consisted of taking notes presented off of a power point. The first slide discussed the importance of teaching science well. As future educators, this information is important for us to know. One note that i put a star next to stated, "Science in this sense is more than a means for getting ahead in the world of work. It is a resource of becoming a critical and engaged citizen." We then went on to discuss the four reasons to teach science well. One reason stating, "Science may provide a foundation for the development of language, logic, and problem-solving skills in the classroom." Next we went on to discuss science as a new paradigm. Following that we discussed what scientists really do. Most people have the wrong imagine of scientists in their heads. We learned that real scientists use a wide array of methods to develop hypothesis, models, and formal and informal theories. Next we moved on to the language of science, and the importance of understanding it. One note stated, "It is important for educators to be clear about specific scientific usage to avoid confusion." I completely agree. Finally, we took down notes on conflicting definitions including evidence, scientific claims, and facts. The day ended with a quick run through on estimation in which the entire class made estimates as to which class container had more Hershey's kisses. Our teacher informed us that the lesson pertains to volume to surface ratio, and that spherical houses hold more. In the end, the importance of today was to gain an understanding of what science actually is and the importance of us as future educators to have an accurate understanding of the many topics we covered within class.