Module 7 current_science_programs

Current Science Programs

Questions to Consider

Should a teacher use a commercially prepared science program or commercially prepared science kits?

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

What are some of the models for using commercial products?

What commercial products are available?

How should these products be evaluated?

Should a teacher use commercial

science programs/kits?

Many districts will make that decision for

you and provide programs or kits for you

to use.

Research does not clearly show

achievement differences with the use of

commercial products.

What does that mean?

Often it will be your decision about

whether to use science programs and/or

kits in the classroom OR to what extent

you will use materials provided by the

district or school.

It is important, therefore, for you to be

acquainted with what is available and

models for use.

What are the advantages and

disadvantages?

Advantages

◦ Materials and activities are available.

◦ Activities are usually keyed to national or

state standards.

◦ Typically hands-on.

◦ May increase student motivation and

engagement.

◦ Teachers will limited background in science

do not have to prepare materials.

What are the advantages and

disadvantages?

Disadvantages

◦ Students come to think it is the equipment, not scientific principles, that make things work the way they do.

◦ Activities may be hands-on, but not minds-on.

◦ The teacher may not really understand the principles behind the activities.

◦ The teacher often feels limited and uncreative.

What commercial products are

available? Merck Institute for Science Education and

the National Science Resources Center provider a list of some commercial programs on the Internet at http://www.mise.org/mise/index.jsp?p=instructional_materials#stc .

During the Explore section of the lesson, you were to investigate several of these programs.

What commercial products are

available? These programs may be classified by the

elements they provide. Examples include:◦ Complete curriculum, with scope and sequence

and lesson plans for the entire science education program

◦ Optional curriculum, and suggested lesson plans that may supplement or replace a science program

◦ Activities that may supplement a science program

◦ Kit-based science programs intended to a complete curriculum

◦ Kits that may be purchased to supplement the science curriculum

What are some of the models for

using commercial products?

Complete science program

Supplement for current science program

Occasional use

Other models according to school or

teacher preference

How should these products be

evaluated?

This is probably the most important question. Does the (program, activity, kit)…

◦ Correspond to state standards?

◦ Clearly teach the targeted scientific standards?

◦ Engage students in minds-on as well as hands-on science?

◦ Result in student achievement?

Is it reasonably priced? Easy to use?

How should these products be

evaluated?

Bottom line:

In your professional opinion, will use of

this product provide the best science

education experience for your students?

How should these products be

evaluated?

There is no right or wrong answer.

Whether commercial products or kits are

effective in teaching science depends on

the skill of the teacher using them…just

as effective science teaching without

commercial products.

Commercial products cannot replace

good teaching, but they can support it.