Unique Because of MCTP
EDCI 372: Elementary Science Methods
Dr. J. Randy McGinnis
UM College Park
Fall 1997
The following are activities/circumstances that were unique to this section of
the course and were facilitated by participation in/connection with MCTP:
An Emphasis on Mathematics and Science
1. I was able to recruit students with an area of emphasis in mathematics
(4 teacher candidates) or science (8 teacher candidates) in addition to 9 MCTP
teacher candidates. Twenty-one of the 31 students had either math or science
as an area of emphasis.
2.. I used one demonstration lesson derived from work done by the MCTP faculty
(McGinnis & Graeber: "The Island of Earf"]. This module makes links
between mathematics and science as the teacher candidates participates as
members of health clinics charged with determining what causes ear infections
on an island.
Emphasis on Cognitive/ Constructivist Points of View
3. I focused on the cognitive/constructivist major view of teaching. I began
the semester modeling how the teacher candidates could teach young learners the
phases of the moon in a problem-based, interdisciplinary (mathematics and
science), cooperative learning and technology rich manner. I continued
modeling exemplary pedagogical practices throughout the semester in many other
learning activities. The direction of innovation in this class was certainly
set by MCTP.
4. I used the text The young child as a scientist: a constructivist
approach to science methods as one text to support the constructivist
perspective of the MCTP; I also used Multicultural Elementary Science Methods
to support the MCTP perspective on diversity.
5. Reflection on key ideas and conceptual change was emphasized. The past
reports of the value of journaling, by both students and MCTP instructors as
well as our own experiences in more routine courses the previous semester led
us to implement journaling. Students wrote journal entries. On the
final exam students were asked to reflect on how their major concepts (big
ideas) that they held about teaching science have been challenged or viewed in
a different light.
6. I made more effort than usual to have performance based evaluation
activities. I used a modified version of Peer Coaching (an MCTP mentor teacher
advocated method) to guide the teacher candidates' three peer conversation
experiences (on physical science, life science, and earth science). The
majority of the class assignments were based on activities and data collected
in the teacher candidate's field-based placements in elementary/middle schools.
They all were evaluated (first by the teacher candidates themselves then by me)
using rubrics that the teacher candidates assisted in developing.