MED 430 - Science Methods: Middle School

3 Credits
FALL

A study of the purposes, methods, planning, instruction, and evaluation techniques for teaching in middle school classrooms. The course provides new research, strategies, and philosophies to best meet the needs of young adolescents. A corresponding clinical field experience augments classroom readings, discussions, and activities. An emphasis is placed on developmentally appropriate practices, reading across the curriculum, diverse student needs, and multilingual learners. Clinical field experience in an approved site is required [MED 430C].

This course provides teacher candidates with the educational theory, organizational structure, and instructional strategies central to middle school science education. Students write lesson plans and assessments using Minnesota Science standards. Instruction will focus on scientific knowledge to draw inferences or conclusions, explaining diagrams and graphs in terms of scientific content, and research in science education. Teacher candidates will demonstrate an understanding of inquiry based teaching/learning, the student as scientist, and hands-on science experimentation in the classroom.

Offered alternate years (odd)

Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Department

Corequisite: MED 430C