EDUC 490: Special Topics in Teaching Science
Course Information
Welcome message
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to EDUC 490 – Special Topics in Teaching Science. The course will assist you to sharpen your teaching skills as you reflect upon the general teaching-learning environment, the teaching and learning materials and resources, and in particular, the syllabi of your own teaching subject(s). You are encouraged to reflect upon these three areas every time you engage in weekly readings and activities. Take time to think about the real life environment/context in which you are expecting to practice your teaching profession and see how effective teacher you can make yourself.
I look forward to the opportunity to meet you (virtually at least!) and have the chance to explore, and share experience in secondary school science teaching.
How to proceed and become successful in this course
In this course you are expected to read the weekly readings thoroughly and make a contribution by writing/posting your comment about the reading/activity below the course page. The comments space will be open from 23rd Sept 2015. I, the instructor, will post a guiding question to initiate a discussion about the topic of the following week every Sunday. The discussion space will then be left open until Friday of every following week, when I am expecting every one of you to have made your posts. A post can be made individually or in a group of two. In addition to your own comment(s), you are also encouraged to comment on you colleagues’ post in response. Make sure you individually engage with the weekly activity because it is from this that your final assignment (Portfolio) will be compiled. Instructions on how to post your final assignments (the Portfolio) will be conveyed to on a later date. N.B: Your weekly posts/comments should at least have a minimum of 80 words).
Communicating with the instructor
The most important resource for you in this course is your instructor. He will be available for help and support via e-mail, on individual or group basis. It is the instructor’s hope to respond to e-mails within two working days. A WhatsApp group for the course will also be formed very soon and you can also use this for communication. Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or WhatsApp when you have questions or concerns.