Course: MTC #105-21 Ambitious Science Teaching – a Book Study (Grades K – 12)
(A copy of the book will be provided to course participants. For this reason, in order to allow sufficient time to purchase the books
and for the participants to read it, registration will close on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th!)
Instructor: Michael Alvarez
Description: The ambitious teacher is someone who “works with students’ ideas” over time. What would you experience in classrooms where ambitious teaching was the focus? You would see and hear:
Ambitious teaching is supported by four sets of core practices that work together throughout every unit of study. These practices start with designing units of instruction (Planning for engagement with important science ideas); they then focus on making visible what students currently know about the science being taught (Eliciting students’ ideas); they help the teacher guide sense-making talk around investigations and other kinds of lab activities or readings (Supporting on-going changes in thinking); and finally they help the teacher scaffold students’ efforts to put everything together near the end of a unit (Pressing for evidence-based explanations).
Expected Outcome for Teachers: Design a complete unit of instruction in which teachers plan for engagement with important science ideas, elicit students’ ideas, support on-going changes in thinking, and press for evidence-based explanations.
Expected Outcome for Students: Students will end up studying events or processes that intrigue them, rather than “things” or abstract ideas.”
Next Generation Learning Standards to be addressed: Next Generation Science Standards K - 12
Dates: Tuesday, January 26th, 2021
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021
Time: 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: MHS Stem Lab B (Room 113) and/or
Webex Room Link: https://malverneufsd.webex.com/meet/malvarez
Credit: 5 hours equals ½ in-service credit
or
Stipend: 1 hr. = $45.
ON-LINE REGISTRATION ONLY CLOSES AT 3:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH!
(PAPER REGISTRATIONS WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED)
(A copy of the book will be provided to course participants. For this reason, in order to allow sufficient time to purchase the books
and for the participants to read it, registration will close on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th!)
Instructor: Michael Alvarez
Description: The ambitious teacher is someone who “works with students’ ideas” over time. What would you experience in classrooms where ambitious teaching was the focus? You would see and hear:
- Teachers anchoring their instruction in complex and puzzling natural events
- Students engaging in multiple rounds of creating and revising scientific models, explanations, and evidence-based arguments.
- Teachers using a variety of discourse strategies with students to get them to think deeply and to respond to each other’s thinking.
- Students prompting each other to engage in sense-making talk during investigations and other activities.
- Students’ ideas being represented publicly and worked on by the class.
- Teachers using specialized tools and routines to support students who are not willing or able to participate without help.
- Students speaking up about what information or experiences they need to move their thinking forward.
Ambitious teaching is supported by four sets of core practices that work together throughout every unit of study. These practices start with designing units of instruction (Planning for engagement with important science ideas); they then focus on making visible what students currently know about the science being taught (Eliciting students’ ideas); they help the teacher guide sense-making talk around investigations and other kinds of lab activities or readings (Supporting on-going changes in thinking); and finally they help the teacher scaffold students’ efforts to put everything together near the end of a unit (Pressing for evidence-based explanations).
Expected Outcome for Teachers: Design a complete unit of instruction in which teachers plan for engagement with important science ideas, elicit students’ ideas, support on-going changes in thinking, and press for evidence-based explanations.
Expected Outcome for Students: Students will end up studying events or processes that intrigue them, rather than “things” or abstract ideas.”
Next Generation Learning Standards to be addressed: Next Generation Science Standards K - 12
Dates: Tuesday, January 26th, 2021
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021
Time: 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: MHS Stem Lab B (Room 113) and/or
Webex Room Link: https://malverneufsd.webex.com/meet/malvarez
Credit: 5 hours equals ½ in-service credit
or
Stipend: 1 hr. = $45.
ON-LINE REGISTRATION ONLY CLOSES AT 3:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH!
(PAPER REGISTRATIONS WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED)