Teaching in the Sciences: Learner-Centered Approaches

254 Pages·2005·4.798 MB·\254

by  Acram Taji (Editor)

Catherine McLoughlin, PhD
Acram Taji, PhD
Editors
Teaching in the Sciences
Learner-Centered Approaches
Pre-publication
REVIEWS,
COMMENTARIES,
EVALUATIONS . . .
“Therearemanyimpressivefeatures Nomoderntertiaryeducatorcanaf-
ofTeachingintheSciences:Learner- ford to ignore issues associated with
CenteredApproaches.Therecognitionof theirteaching.Fortoolongtertiarysci-
theneedforgreateremphasistobefo- enceeducatorshavebeenappointedon
cused on tertiary science students as the basis of their research capabilities
with little or no emphasis on their
learnersishighlycommendableanda
teaching abilities or their understand-
refreshing change from current prac-
ingofthelearner.Thisbookisawon-
tices.Thisbookclearlyrecognizesthat
derfulresourcefortertiaryscienceedu-
thereareunderstandings,basedonsound cators to explore a diverse range of
educational research, of how students approaches in which the needs of the
best learn. Most important for tertiary learneraretheprimeobjective.Adop-
scienceeducators,exemplarsaregiven tionofthestrategiesexemplifiedinthis
showinghowthisinformationcantrans- bookwillensurethattheirteachingis
lateinto their teaching approaches. based on very sound, contemporary
Thebookexploresthefullscopeof educationalprinciples.Ihavenohesi-
issues associated with tertiary science tation in strongly recommending this
teachingandoffersguidanceinhowto book to tertiary science educators.”
approachtheteachingofcontentinthe
varioussciencedisciplines,assessment, Bruce G. Cameron, PhD (UNE),
the laboratory as a teaching/learning DipEd, BSc (Hons)
Senior Lecturer in Science
context,andtheembracingofnewtech-
and Environmental Education,
nologies.Thisdiversityandexemplifi-
University of New England,
cation are strengths of this book. Armidale, NSW, Australia
More pre-publication
REVIEWS, COMMENTARIES, EVALUATIONS . . .
“This book is timely in both its thesciences.Italsoprovidesaguideto
practicalapproachtotheuseof and a good analysis of teaching, with
constructivist pedagogies and appro- special attention focused on first-year
priate technologies, and its innova- students,whomaybediverseintheir
tive practices for teaching sciences in priorknowledgeanddegreeofmotiva-
highereducation.Theauthorsspecifi- tion to learn.
callyoutlineresearchonscienceteach- The book presents a realistic ap-
inginhighereducation,fromrealand proachontheneedtohavelong-term
virtual field trips to laboratory activi- planningofbothteachingmaterialand
ties, to online discussions and broad- faculty preparation, but also provides
bandconferencing.Theyraiseimpera- suggestionsonwhatindividuallectur-
tive questions and provide practical ers could do with large and diverse
advice for teaching based on sound groupsoffirst-yearsciencestudents,or
theory and teaching experience. with students who study off campus.
The authors make important con-
Thebookisinterestinganduseful,uses
nections between lifelong learning,
soundtheory,andbringsnewperspec-
constructivistpedagogy,andtheuseof
tives on how to implement and im-
appropriatetechnologiesinpromoting
prove student-centered approaches in
researchopportunitiesavailabletostu-
teachingsciencesinhighereducation.”
dentsinhighereducationrelatedtosci-
ences.Theyproviderelevantcriticism
Dorit Maor, PhD
onthecurrentsituationofteachingsci-
Lecturer in Tertiary
ence in higher education.
and Adult Education,
Thisbookprovidessuggestionson School of Education,
relevantinnovativeandpracticalsolu- Murdoch University,
tionsforhighereducationlecturersin Perth, Western Australia
Food Products Press®
An Imprint of The Haworth Press, Inc.
New York (cid:127) London (cid:127) Oxford
NOTES FOR PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS
AND LIBRARY USERS
ThisisanoriginalbooktitlepublishedbyFoodProductsPress®,an
imprintofTheHaworthPress,Inc.Unlessotherwisenotedinspecific
chapterswithattribution,materialsinthisbookhavenotbeenprevi-
ously published elsewhere in any format or language.
CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION NOTES
Allbookspublished byTheHaworthPress,Inc.anditsimprintsare
printedoncertifiedpHneutral,acid-freebookgradepaper.Thispa-
permeetstheminimumrequirementsofAmericanNationalStandard
forInformation Sciences-Permanence ofPaperforPrintedMaterial,
ANSI Z39.48-1984.

Teaching in the Sciences
Learner-Centered Approaches
FOOD PRODUCTS PRESS®
Crop Science
Amarjit S. Basra, PhD
Senior Editor
Handbook of Formulas and Software for Plant Geneticists and Breedersedited by Manjit
S. Kang
Postharvest Oxidative Stress in Horticultural Cropsedited by D. M. Hodges
EncyclopedicDictionaryofPlantBreedingandRelatedSubjectsbyRolfH.G.Schlegel
Handbook of Processes and Modeling in the Soil-Plant Systemedited by D. K. Benbi
and R. Nieder
The Lowland Maya Area: Three Millennia at the Human-Wildland Interfaceedited
by A. Gómez-Pompa, M. F. Allen, S. Fedick, and J. J. Jiménez-Osornio
Biodiversity and Pest Management in Agroecosystems, Second Editionby Miguel A. Altieri
and Clara I. Nicholls
Plant-Derived Antimycotics: Current Trends and Future Prospectsedited by Mahendra Rai
and Donatella Mares
Concise Encyclopedia of Temperate Tree Fruitedited by Tara Auxt Baugher and Suman Singha
Landscape Agroecologyby Paul A. Wojkowski
Concise Encyclopedia of Plant Pathology by P. Vidhyasekaran
Molecular Genetics and Breeding of Forest Treesedited by Sandeep Kumar and Matthias
Fladung
Testing of Genetically Modified Organisms in Foodsedited by Farid E. Ahmed
Agrometeorology: Principles and Applications of Climate Studies in Agriculture
by Harpal S. Mavi and Graeme J. Tupper
Concise Encyclopedia of Bioresource Technologyedited by Ashok Pandey
Genetically Modified Crops: Their Development, Uses, and Risksedited by G. H. Liang
and D. Z. Skinner
Plant Functional Genomicsedited by Dario Leister
Immunology in Plant Health and Its Impact on Food Safetyby P. Narayanasamy
Abiotic Stresses: Plant Resistance Through Breeding and Molecular Approachesedited
by Muhammad Ashraf and Philip John Charles Harris
Multinational Agribusinesseseditedby Ruth Rama
Crops and Environmental Change: An Introduction to Effects of Global Warming, Increasing
Atmospheric COand OConcentrations, and Soil Salinization on Crop Physiology
2 3
and Yieldby Seth G. Pritchard and Jeffrey S. Amthor
Teaching in the Sciences: Learner-Centered Approachesedited by Catherine McLoughlin
and Acram Taji
Durum Wheat Breeding: Current Approaches and Future Strategiesedited by Conxita Royo,
M. M. Nachit, N. Di Fonzo, J. L. Araus, W. H. Pfeiffer, and G. A. Slafer
Teaching in the Sciences
Learner-Centered Approaches
Catherine McLoughlin, PhD
Acram Taji, PhD
Editors
Food Products Press®
An Imprint of The Haworth Press, Inc.
New York (cid:127) London (cid:127) Oxford
Published by
FoodProductsPress®,animprintofTheHaworthPress,Inc.,10AliceStreet,Binghamton,NY
13904-1580.
©2005byTheHaworthPress,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisworkmaybereproducedor
utilizedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopying,microfilm,
andrecording,orbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwriting
from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America.
Cover design by Marylouise E. Doyle.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Teachinginthesciences:learner-centeredapproaches/CatherineMcLoughlin,AcramTaji,edi-
tors.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-56022-263-8 (alk. paper)—ISBN 1-56022-264-6 (soft : alk. paper)
1.Science—Studyandteaching(Higher)2.Activelearning.I.McLoughlin,Catherine.II.Taji,
Acram.
Q181.T3515 2004
507'11—dc22
2004006959
CONTENTS
About the Editors ix
Contributors xi
Foreword xvii
Stephen Dinham
Introduction. Learner-Centered Approaches in the Sciences 1
Catherine McLoughlin
Acram Taji
Chapter 1. Student-Centered Ecology: Authentic Contexts
and Sustainable Science 9
Susan Barker
Introduction 9
Challenges in Teaching Ecology 10
Experiential and Constructivist Approaches 11
Learner-Centered Teaching Materials:
Promoting Sustainability 16
Fieldwork Teaching: Are Learner-Centered
Approaches Possible? 17
Learning Indicators 21
Conclusion 23
Chapter 2. The Use of ICT in Molecular Science
Student-Centered Learning: A Developmental Approach 27
Philip L. R. Bonner
Introduction 27
ICT and Student Learning 28
CAL: A Learner-Centered Approach to Numeracy Problems 31
Evolving Evaluation 32
A Learner-Centered Approach to a Laboratory Simulation 34
Conclusion 37