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Sample student forum responses for education practices
1. Assessment: Uses assessment strategies (traditional and alternate)
to assist the continuous development of the learner.
Forum topic: "Now that you have had experience with
assessment concepts, develop a performance assessment for science. Briefly
describe how you would assess a student involved in a science activity."
Sample student response: "I would use a rubric to
assess the students process. With science activities it is more important to
understand how and why then to produce correct answers. Using the rubric
would give the teacher a chance to observe the students in action. In my
experience at USF I have learned that assessment is an ongoing process for
the teacher. It can be done in ways that are non-threatening for the
students as well as the conventional ways that we grew up knowing."
2. Diversity: Uses teaching and learning strategies that reflect each
student's culture, learning styles, special needs, and socioeconomic background.
Forum topic: "Describe a strategy you would use to
welcome a newly mainstreamed or exceptional education student into your
class."
Sample student response: "I think a good strategy
would be to get to know the individual's strengths ahead of time, and to
plan an activity in which the strength could observed by the class. I feel
this would help to make the new student feel welcome as well as let other
students in the class see that the individual can make a positive
contribution."
6. Ethics: Adheres to Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional
Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida.
Forum topic: "Describe a method that you have used, seen,
or found that could be an effective strategy for teaching students about
safety in the classroom or the lab."
Sample student response: "Students need to be taught
the safety rules that we need them to follow. First, we have to model them.
Explain the consequences and how dangerous it would be if safety rules were
not observed. Write the rules and keep them posted in the classroom. Review
the rules every time you are going to do an experiment."
7. Human Development and Learning: Uses an understanding of learning and
human development to provide a positive learning environment, which supports the
intellectual, personal, and social development of all students.
Forum topic: "When students do science projects
(constructivist activity), a variety of learning situations occur. Describe
how science projects address multiple intelligences and learning styles."
Sample student response: "Science projects enable
students with different learning styles to succeed when they may not in
another activity. I have found that hands-on or environmental projects
really keep the attention of my students. Students will have a better
self-concept when they are able to perform certain tasks. Using
multi-sensory approaches when teaching helps students with different
learning styles succeed. Creating a positive learning environment is
important in any classroom."
8. Knowledge of Subject Matter: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding
of the subject matter.
Forum topic: "Add a misconception you have observed or
discovered concerning science. For example: the speed of sound is one mile per
second, or the moon has no gravity."
Sample student response: "Last year while teaching the
solar system I was amazed at how many students had difficulty with the sun
being the center of the solar system, and not the Earth. We spent several
class periods discussing the issue. I hope that for many of the children it
is more clear, but I am afraid there are still many who went back to their
old way of thinking."
9. Learning Environments: Creates and maintains positive learning
environments in which students are actively engaged in learning, social
interaction, cooperative learning and self-motivation.
Forum topic: "Facts about science teaching: Science
teachers rely on lectures and textbooks, although hands-on activities are
increasing. 75% of elementary classrooms use textbooks or a single science
program. Across all levels, the time spent in science classes on various
activities: lecture 38%, lab 23%, seatwork 19%, group work 10%. Question:
Considering these factors, what change could improve the attitudes of K-12
students in science?"
Sample student response: "Children need to see the
relevance of what they are learning in their lives. We can begin to make
science more interesting for children by encouraging them to question -
question everything including information found in textbooks or other
resources. From questioning comes understanding. At this point, interest in
the subject may occur. Even if full-blown interest does not occur and the
process stops short at understanding, students will hopefully apply what
they have learned to life. If this happens, they will look at life
differently, maybe even more scientifically."
10. Planning: Plans, implements, and evaluates effective instruction in a
variety of learning environments.
Forum topic: "Give an example of a place that you visited
and the science that you learned there."
Sample student response: "When I was in Biology
class, we visited the trees on campus to examine how the size of the trees
and the roughness of the bark effected the vines growing on the tree."
11. Technology: Uses appropriate technology in teaching and learning
processes.
"What do you consider to be the most important factor(s)
or feature(s) when evaluating software? What type (tutor, tutee, reference,
simulation, tool, etc.) of software would you consider the most important for
learning science?"
Sample student response:" As teachers, it's vital
that we incorporate technology into the classroom. If we're bringing
software into the classroom, it's our responsibility to make sure that it's
appropriate in a number of ways. The software should be age appropriate,
educational, informative, user-friendly, imaginative, and should also make
student think. Software is a great tool and used appropriately, it can be an
asset."
Drs. Cavanaugh 2001
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