Graduate Research Papers
Availability
Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Abstract
Very early on in my teaching career it became apparent to me that teaching required talent, patience, perseverance, and a wide array of tools. The past thirteen years of teaching have provided insight to the methods that work best in the classroom. Throughout my education as a part of the Masters of Science Education program at the University of Northern Iowa I have been exposed to many different models of teaching and learning. One instructional approach I think is essential to my teaching is project and problem based learning. Science is understood to be a process of finding out and a system for organizing and reporting discoveries. Rather than being viewed as the memorization of facts, science is seen as a way of thinking and trying to understand the world. (American Association for the Advancement of Science 1989.) Project based and problem based learning is a framework that allows students to use science process skills to experience science as a way to understand the world around them. Project based and problem based learning is by no means a magic bullet or a one-size fits all instructional approach, but I believe it is an important part of a balanced learning experience for students. Within the learning experiences that are part of project based and problem based learning students benefit by gaining essential skills that are part of the Iowa Core and skills that cross many curricular areas. The activities I created are directly connected to the Iowa Core Curriculum Essential Skills and Concepts. Each activity is linked to 21 st Century Skill, Science Standards, Literacy Standards, Inquiry Standards, Social Studies Standards and Math Standards. The activities that I created are tied to Characteristics of Effective Instruction, Cognitive Complexity and Connections to Students Lives which are all components of the Iowa Core Curriculum. I feel project based and problem based learning activities are vital to my curriculum so much so that I chose to create these type of activities in fulfillment of my creative component.
Year of Submission
2010
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Science Education Program
Date Original
7-2010
Object Description
1 PDF (60 pages)
Copyright
©2010 Susan Considine
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Considine, Susan, "Project/Problem Based Learning Activities for High School Biology" (2010). Graduate Research Papers. 4538.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/4538
Comments
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