Teaching Science in Urban Schools

Teaching Science in Urban Schools is a crosslisted Cognitive Science/Natural Science class taught by Laura Wenk.

Course Description
The National Science Education Standards are premised on a conviction that all students deserve and must have the opportunity to become scientifically literate, but the opportunities for students in many urban schools to become scientifically literate are severely limited. These schools may have high teacher turnover, limited or non-existent laboratory facilities and equipment, dated textbooks, and few teachers who themselves have studied science or math. To provide students with the skills and concepts they need to become active participants in their own education, they need hands-on experiences, time to write and reflect, and chances to build conceptual understanding. Students in this class will work with innovative ways to teach subjects like biology, earth science, or physics with inexpensive or easy to obtain materials. They will work in teams to develop interesting projects designed to engage students in active learning with opportunities to teach public school children. This course is intended for those with prior coursework in education, science, or urban studies. The course has a community engaged learning component with a placement in Holyoke. You must have one full morning or afternoon free in order to enroll.