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SCI 255
Topic: The Nature of Science
Room: DH
219
T: 7-10 pm
Dr. John O. Matson
e-mail: jmatson@email.sjsu.edu
Office: DH438; 408-924-4891
Office Hours: MW 4:00-5:20, T 3:00-4:20, other by appointment.
Course Prerequisites:
SCI 255 requires the student to be in graduate
standing in a science major or permission of the instructor. Students must
have a firm background in science.
Course Overview:
A lecture/seminar course that addresses various
topics related to the nature of science (NOS) and its application to science teaching.
During the first half of the semester, we will follow the development of scientific
thought from its beginnings in the mystic thoughts of Paleolithic humans to the
modern day "New Philosophy of Science". What is science? How does it work?
What are the limits of science? What are its goals? These are a few
of the questions we will explore. During the second half we will address issues
related to integrating NOS into the science classroom. We will approach these
topics by reading a variety of papers by both scientists, philosophers of science,
and science educators.
Text: paperback,
available through amazon.com (new $33, used $16). Also, available in
the bookstore.
Strahler, A. N. 1992. Understanding Science:
An Introduction to Concepts and Issues. Prometheus Books, Buffalo, New York.
Recommended:
McComas, W. F. 1998. The Nature of Science in Science Education: Rationales
and Strategies. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston. (available through amazon.com
for about $50, but it takes several weeks to get it).
Other readings will supplement these texts (e.g. see "Selected Bibliography").
Course Requirements:
There are no exams for this course. Instead
grading will be based upon each of you leading two discussion sessions accompanied
by a short (1-2 pages) paper/outline summarizing the reading (book chapters or journal
publications), and a presentation describing your in-depth review of a special topic
of your choice. Student participation each week is an integral part of the
assessment.
Student presentations will be to summarize and enhance the important aspects of
the textbook chapters or journal articles. The accompanying paper/outline
will be a summary (abstract) of the paper you select and a list of discussion questions.
In preparation, you should review the pertinent literature related to the topic
of the chapter. These presentations and discussions should take about 45 minutes.
You will need to develop a series of discussion questions to actively engage the
rest of the class. All students will read the chapters so they can prepare
for the week's discussion.
The in-depth topic review and its presentation will take place latter in the semester.
Each of you will prepare a paper of at least six pages plus literature cited (see
list of possible topics at the end of this green sheet) and give a summary presentation
of your findings. Allow about 45-50 minutes for the presentation and another
20 minutes for discussion.
Grading:
1. Discussion presentations and paper = 25%
2. Special Topic Presentation and paper 40% = 45%
3. Active participation in discussions, about
2%/class meeting = 30%
Total 100%
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