LA&S 792c Topics in Science:
Science Teaching and the Search for Origins

(1-2 hours graduate or undergraduate credit)
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Course Syllabus

Instructor: Hume A. Feldman
E-mail: feldman@ku.edu
Office: 3083 Malott; 864-4740
Office hours: By special appointment.

Course Description

The course will cover topics in the historical sciences, specifically cosmology, geology, evolutionary biology and their effects on human society. The course content is based on the series of lectures to be given by nationally known scientists in the conference on "Science, Teaching, and the Search for Origins" to be held at the University of Kansas April 14-15, 2000.
Conference Web Page: http://mactania.phsx.ku.edu/KU-conf/

Conference presenters and participants will discuss the following questions regarding teaching scientific subjects:

• What do we know?
• How do we know it?
• Why do we feel confident about our knowledge?
• What is it that we do not know?

Participating teachers will be helped to understand and to discuss issues regarding science in their classrooms. Presenters will discuss and demonstrate classroom skills in teaching students basic science concepts. The conference will also include breakout sessions in which presenters and participating teachers will collaborate in a series of demonstrations and dialogues about teaching. Participants will be encouraged to discuss these issues and share with their colleagues their experiences regarding the conference topics.

The course project will be a substantial paper that requires applying the strategies and information presented in this conference to one's own discipline with the goal of improving the teaching of sciences in the classroom.

Course Requirements

1. Attending the conference

2. Writing an essay on the subject of incorporating the teaching of historical sciences in the classroom. This essay is intended to provide a rationale and context for including the historical sciences in the science curriculum.

In this essay, you may wish to discuss the following:

• the nature of science;
• scientific knowledge;
• the nature of historical science;
• connections to the National Science Education Standards;
• barriers to including the historical sciences; and
• benefits of including the historical sciences.

3. Develop a 4-6 week curriculum unit for teaching one of the historical sciences. (for graduate credit only)

This curriculum unit should minimally include:

• A calendar or scope and sequence;
• Inquiry-based laboratories and student activities;
• Software and simulations;
• Web resources;
• Correlation to local and national curriculum standards; and
• Assessments.
  

Graduate Course Requirements

1 hour	2 hours
4,000 word essay or 4-6 week curriculum unit. Curriculum unit may be in Web or notebook form.	4,000 word essay and 4-6 week curriculum unit. Curriculum unit may be in Web or notebook form.

Undergraduate Course Requirements

5,000 word essay for 2 credit hours.
2,500 word essay for 1 credit hour.

The hardcopy essays (12-point double-spaced) must be received by the instructor no later than July 1, 2000.

Course fees

Undergraduate one hour $91.65 two hours $183.30

Graduate one hour $134.40 two hours $268.80

You may enroll for this course online at https://www.kumc.edu /kuce/isc/forms/COLLEGEFORM.html, or by printing the online enrollment form and faxing it 785-864-7895, or by sending it to University of Kansas, Continuing Education Building, 1515 St. Andrews Dr., Lawrence, Kansas, 66047-1625. Students who wish to receive graduate credit will be contacted by a Continuing Education enrollment specialist who will outline for you the requirements and timeframe for admission to the KU graduate school and graduate course enrollment.