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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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