Science 7728

Earth Science Summer 2004 Dr. John M. Pratte

Science 7728 is a course that will explore concepts and process in the earth sciences appropriate to the teaching of adolescent and young adult learners. Areas of exploration will include the motions of the earth and the materials and systems that compose it, the processes that shape the earth’s surface and the relation of these cycling processes to the living environment. Individual projects will focus on materials appropriate for particular age groups.  Science 7728 is one course of a sequence that is intended to serve students in the Elementary and Middle Grades Graduate Program at KSU.

The use of simple calculators is allowed in all quizzes and examinations. All examinations are closed book. No "memory sheets" or note cards are allowed. Visitors (friends, children, etc.) are strictly prohibited from the laboratory periods.

Attendance is required for all test times. There are no make-up quizzes or tests. Any grade for a missed examination will be replaced with the grade for the final exam with a valid excuse (illness, death, etc.) for the absence .

Use of Technology: 
Technology Standards for Educators are required by the Professional Standards Commission.  Telecommunication and information technologies will be integrated throughout the master teacher preparation program, and all candidates must be able to use technology to improve student learning and meet Georgia Technology Standards for Educators.  During the courses, candidates will be provided with opportunities to explore and use instructional media.  They will master use of productivity tools, such as multimedia facilities, local-net and Internet, and feel confident to design multimedia instructional materials, and create WWW resources. Professional educators will become acquainted with and use electronic portfolio hardware and software available through TRAC and other computer labs on campus.  Using this equipment will provide students with an exceptionally well-developed, compact portfolio product, which can include edited video teaching vignettes and accompanying reflective analysis for the exit portfolio.  Candidates will also develop expertise in presentation software for use in their classes, as well as at professional meetings

Diversity:
A variety of materials and instructional strategies will be employed to meet the needs of different learning styles of diverse learners in class. Candidates will gain knowledge as well as an understanding of differentiated strategies and curricula for providing effective instruction and assessment within multicultural classrooms. One element of course work is raising candidate awareness of critical multicultural issues. A second element is to cause candidates to explore how multiple attributes of multicultural populations influence decisions in employing specific methods and materials for every student. Among these attributes are ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, giftedness, disability, language, religion, family structure, sexual orientation and geographic region. An emphasis on cognitive style differences provides a background for the consideration of cultural context.

Kennesaw State University provides program accessibility and accommodations for persons defined as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A number of services are available to support students with disabilities within their academic program. In order to make arrangements for special services, students must visit the Office of Disabled Student Support Services (770-423-6443) and develop an individual assistance plan. In some cases, certification of disability is required. Please be aware that there are other support/mentor groups on the campus of Kennesaw State University that address each of the multicultural variables outlined above. For more information contact the Student Life Center at 770-423-6280.
 
Academic Integrity:
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs.  Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “informal” resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct’s minimum one semester suspension requirement.

Academic Withdrawal (from College or Individual Courses)
Students who find that they cannot continue in college for the entire quarter after being enrolled, because of illness or any other reason, should complete an official withdrawal form. Forms may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.

Students who officially withdraw from college with the approval of the College Dean will be assigned grades of “W” which will not affect their overall scholastic average. Those students who stop attending classes and notify no one usually are assigned failing grades which jeopardize their chances of future academic success.

Students may, by means of the same withdrawal form and with the approval of the College Dean, withdraw from individual courses while retaining other courses on their schedule. The last day to withdraw without academic penalty for this quarter is July 8, 2004. Failure to do so will mean the student has elected to receive the final grade earned in the course. The only exception to these withdrawal regulations will be for those instances that involve unusual and fully documented circumstances.

Academic Integrity:
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs.  Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation or falsification of University records or academic malicious/intentional misuses of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards.  Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “Informal” resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the code of  Conduct’s minimum one semester suspension requirement.

Attendance/Academic Policies:
You are expected to attend each of our class sessions. Attendance is encouraged by making this course worthy of your time and talent. Our weekly class meeting will involve interactive lecture, discussions, inquiry and other hands-activities, and student presentations.

Course Requirements and Assignments:
All course requirements and assignments are planned in an effort to assist candidates to apply what they have learned regarding contemporary issues in science education. The requirements for this course are consistent with the final portfolio requirements of the Master in Education degree.  Therefore, candidates should consider these assignments as ongoing opportunities to demonstrate their expertise in the three outcomes delineated on the Master CPI.  Furthermore, the candidate may wish to consider some or all of these assignments as potential portfolio entries. 

For comments and questions, send messages to : jpratte@kennesaw.edu