Introduction

This training course will shed the light on teaching methods for science and curriculum preparation and strategies. In this Education, in Curriculum & Methods of Teaching Science conference, you will learn to make your knowledge as an excellent researcher accessible to your students. We will show you how to communicate science to novices as well as advanced students in science. You will experience the value of teaching with analogies and you will be guided to train your students' competencies. Based on up-to-date findings from research into teaching and learning science.

You will be able to

• implement evidence-based strategies into your own teaching,

• use student’s everyday conceptions for the development of courses,

• prepare analogies and models to teach in your field,

• implement problem-based teaching,

• set up for experiments and teach the nature of science.

Training Objectives

At the end of this training course, participants will learn:

• Evidence-based teaching main principles and curriculum of visible learning and mind frames which will help you to embrace these principles

• Adapt learning theories to science teaching, starting with behaviorism up to cognitivism, constructivism, and neurodidactics.

• Implement and reflect upon one evidence-based teaching strategy in your own teaching.

• How to guide students from their everyday conceptions to scientific ones.

• Use your students’ pre-conceptions not as obstacles but as starting points for teaching science.

• Methods for a quick assessment of your students’ conceptions.

• Strategies for how we can change our students’ conceptions and how we can help your students to change their ideas.

• Address the pre-instructional conceptions of your students in your teaching.

• Choose good analogies for teaching science and implement them fruitfully.

• Frame your science teaching to make it relevant for your students.

Target Audience

This course is intended for:

• Instructors who want to expand their knowledge of the new trends in teaching methods.

• Curriculum Assessment Specialist.

• Anyone who wants to learn about the Education in Curriculum & Methods of Teaching Science.

Outlines

Day 1: Introduction to Teaching & Learning Science

• Evidence-based approaches in science teaching
• Evaluating and rating teaching strategies
• How the brain processes and computes information
• Learning theories: from behaviorism to constructivism
• Encouraging higher-order thinking skills

Day 2: Conceptual Change in Science Learning

• Understanding everyday (pre-instructional) conceptions
• Importance of prior knowledge in science learning
• Assessing students’ existing conceptions
• Learning as conceptual and ontological change
• Strategies for facilitating conceptual change

Day 3: Engagement Strategies in Science Teaching

• Why science is difficult to understand
• Techniques for improving student engagement
• Teaching with analogies: purpose and benefits
• Designing and using effective instructional analogies
• Multiple representations in science education
• Re-framing science teaching for better understanding

Day 4: Active Learning & Real-World Context

• Making science relevant to real-life contexts
• Socio-scientific issues in active learning
• Designing tasks for active learners
• Encouraging participation through active learning strategies
• Using digital tools to enhance active learning experiences

Day 5: Advanced Teaching Skills & Communication

• Setting clear learning goals for students
• Supervision of theses and research projects
• Communicating risk and uncertainty in science
• Developing student scientific thinking and reasoning skills
• Integrating all strategies into effective science teaching practice