Improving Science and Science Education Courses for Prospective Teachers

佛罗里达州立大学的项目将修订小学教师的科学内容和科学教育课程。将开设化学、物理、生物和地球科学等课程。全球变化、佛罗里达脆弱的环境和科学/技术/社会的主题将交织在所有这些课程中。这些课程将从建构主义的角度进行教学，为学生提供动手的科学小组经验和构建自己对科学概念理解的机会。参与课程开发的教师包括科学家、科学教育家、多元文化教育、科学史和哲学以及科学教学中的语言问题方面的专家。该大学的专业发展学校系统将作为科学方法课程和实地经验的设置，该项目将与这些学校的教师和学生密切合作。国家教育部将建立一个网络，向佛罗里达州的其他学院和大学传播计划和材料。大学的费用分摊是国家科学基金捐款的15%。

Florida State University's project will revise the science content and science education courses for elementary teachers. Courses will be developed in chemistry, physics, biology, and earth science. The themes of global change, Florida's fragile environment, and Science/Technology/Society will be interwoven into all these courses. The courses will be taught from a constructivist perspective, providing students with hands-on group experiences in science and opportunities for constructing their own understanding of science concepts. The diverse group of faculty that will be involved in developing the courses includes scientists, science educators, and experts in multicultural education, the history and philosophy of science, and linguistic issues in teaching science. The University's system of Professional Development Schools will serve as the setting for the science methods course and field experiences, and the project will work closely with teachers and students at these schools. A network will be established by the State Department of Education to disseminate plans and materials to other colleges and universities in the Florida. The University's cost- sharing is 15% of NSF's contribution.