Syllabus helpers chart

Chapter 11

Syllabus Helpers

STS represents a departure from "traditional" science education, as it tends to see curriculum in an interdisciplinary context and in the context of personal and social perspectives. As you work with this chapter, reflect on your views of science as they relate to your science discipline, and ask yourself how these disciplines interact with technology and society. There are many interesting strategies of teaching presented in this chapter, and you might want to focus on them. Also, you find a couple of case studies of curriculum projects that are based on STS. You might also have your students visit the websites of these two projects (and others).

Pedagogical Tool Highlights/Content Notes

Initial Case Study

A Controversial Student Project, p. 399

As part of a teacher's biology course, students propose a human reproduction project, but run into a conflict with the school principal.

Invitations to Inquiry

Focus questions for the chapter, p. 400

Key questions that focus students on S-T-S issues and teaching science.

Inquiry Activities

Inquiry Activity 11.l: Getting Involved in STS

Inquiry Activity 11.2: STS Issues in Science Textbooks

Inquiry Activity 11.3: STS Module Design

Inquiry Activity 11.4: Evaluating an STS Module or Project

Students participate in an STS project.

Using an STS rubric, students analyze science textbooks.

Students sketch the elements of an STS module.

Using STS critieria, students evaluate an STS module.

STS Strategies

Strategies: pp. 408-412

Clarifying Values

STS Value Dilemma Sheet

STS Action Dramas

Case Studies

Online Dilemma Discussions

Thinking Pieces

These strategies can be used with any type of STS content, and are designed to engage the students in explorations and activities.

STS Themes & How to Teach Them

Themes include: pp. 414-425

Population Growth

Air Quality and Atmosphere

Energy

Effects of Technological Development

Hazardous Substances

Water Resources

Utilization of Natural Resources

Environment

Each theme contains content information as well as suggestions for actions that could be taken. The actions are suggestions for teaching strategies that students might use in developing an STS unit or module.

Think Pieces

Sample Think Piece: Why should STS be part of all science courses?

The Think Pieces focus students on exploring STS issues.

Science Teachers Talk

Teacher's discuss: How do you deal with STS issues in the classroom?

Read what teacher's do, and compare it to your own approach.

Case Studies

STS as the Entire Science Program: Some Questions

Biased Teaching?

A teacher ojects to STS as a full-fledged program.

A parent object's to a teacher's reading list claiming it is biased.

Science Education Literature

Education for Environmental Sustainability by David L. Haury

A key article on sustainability and how science teacher's might deal with the topic.

Problems and Extensions

Sample P and E: What research skills will students need to develop in order to carry out STS action projects?

Several problems to engage students in STS issues and questions.

Readings

p. 438

Key readings on STS

On the Web

pp. 438-439

A collection of STS websites

Pedagogical Tool	Highlights/Content	Notes
Initial Case Study	A Controversial Student Project, p. 399	As part of a teacher's biology course, students propose a human reproduction project, but run into a conflict with the school principal.
Invitations to Inquiry	Focus questions for the chapter, p. 400	Key questions that focus students on S-T-S issues and teaching science.
Inquiry Activities	Inquiry Activity 11.l: Getting Involved in STS Inquiry Activity 11.2: STS Issues in Science Textbooks Inquiry Activity 11.3: STS Module Design Inquiry Activity 11.4: Evaluating an STS Module or Project	Students participate in an STS project. Using an STS rubric, students analyze science textbooks. Students sketch the elements of an STS module. Using STS critieria, students evaluate an STS module.
STS Strategies	Strategies: pp. 408-412 Clarifying Values STS Value Dilemma Sheet STS Action Dramas Case Studies Online Dilemma Discussions Thinking Pieces	These strategies can be used with any type of STS content, and are designed to engage the students in explorations and activities.
STS Themes & How to Teach Them	Themes include: pp. 414-425 Population Growth Air Quality and Atmosphere Energy Effects of Technological Development Hazardous Substances Water Resources Utilization of Natural Resources Environment	Each theme contains content information as well as suggestions for actions that could be taken. The actions are suggestions for teaching strategies that students might use in developing an STS unit or module.
Think Pieces	Sample Think Piece: Why should STS be part of all science courses?	The Think Pieces focus students on exploring STS issues.
Science Teachers Talk	Teacher's discuss: How do you deal with STS issues in the classroom?	Read what teacher's do, and compare it to your own approach.
Case Studies	STS as the Entire Science Program: Some Questions Biased Teaching?	A teacher ojects to STS as a full-fledged program. A parent object's to a teacher's reading list claiming it is biased.
Science Education Literature	Education for Environmental Sustainability by David L. Haury	A key article on sustainability and how science teacher's might deal with the topic.
Problems and Extensions	Sample P and E: What research skills will students need to develop in order to carry out STS action projects?	Several problems to engage students in STS issues and questions.
Readings	p. 438	Key readings on STS
On the Web	pp. 438-439	A collection of STS websites