TEACHING OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (Intended for Teaching of Life Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and General Science)


Book Description

Students of today, especially at the school level, perceive science as a collection of facts to be memorized, whereas, in reality, it is constantly changing as new information accumulates and new techniques develop every day. The objective of teaching is not restricted to imparting scientific information to students, but also to help them apply these principles in their daily lives. This comprehensive book, written in an easy-to-understand language, covers the entire syllabus of teaching of Biological Sciences in particular and Science Teaching in general. In so doing, it takes into account the needs of teacher-trainees and in-service teachers. Organized into 20 chapters, the book discusses in detail the many facets and aspects of Biology/Science Teaching. The text introduces modern approaches to teaching, with the aim of improving student learning throughout their course. It emphasizes the need for pedagogical analysis vis-à-vis subject teaching, constructive approach, laboratory work, Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE). In addition, the text highlights the difference between microteaching and simulated teaching. It also shows how e-learning and co-curricular activities can be successfully integrated in biological sciences teaching. NEW TO THIS EDITION Inclusion of one chapter on ‘Concept Mapping in Biology Teaching’. This chapter advocates the popularized constructivist approach of teaching-learning process. Besides, some figures, tables and flow charts are also added to make the book more useful to the readers. KEY FEATURES : • Analyses Constructivism versus Behaviourism. • Includes self-explanatory model lesson plan. • Discusses Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the context of Biology/Science teaching-learning. • Suggests how apparatus and devices can be secured and cultured, and used in classroom demonstrations and student projects. Primarily intended as a text for students of B.Ed. pursuing course on Teaching of Biological Sciences/Life Sciences, the book should prove equally useful for B.Ed. students following courses on Teaching of Physical Sciences. In addition, diploma students of Elementary Teacher Education (ETE) having a paper on Teaching of EVS (General Science), and M.Ed. and M.A. (Education) students with an optional/elective paper on Science Education would find the book extremely useful.




High-School Biology Today and Tomorrow


Book Description

Biology is where many of science's most exciting and relevant advances are taking place. Yet, many students leave school without having learned basic biology principles, and few are excited enough to continue in the sciences. Why is biology education failing? How can reform be accomplished? This book presents information and expert views from curriculum developers, teachers, and others, offering suggestions about major issues in biology education: what should we teach in biology and how should it be taught? How can we measure results? How should teachers be educated and certified? What obstacles are blocking reform?




The Sourcebook for Teaching Science, Grades 6-12


Book Description

The Sourcebook for Teaching Science is a unique, comprehensive resource designed to give middle and high school science teachers a wealth of information that will enhance any science curriculum. Filled with innovative tools, dynamic activities, and practical lesson plans that are grounded in theory, research, and national standards, the book offers both new and experienced science teachers powerful strategies and original ideas that will enhance the teaching of physics, chemistry, biology, and the earth and space sciences.




Teaching Of Biological Sciences


Book Description

This comprehensive book, written in an easy-to-understand language, covers the entire syllabus of teaching of biological sciences in particular and science teaching in general. In so doing, it takes into account the needs of teacher-trainees and in-service teachers.




Reform in Undergraduate Science Teaching for the 21st Century


Book Description

The mission of the book series, Research in Science Education, is to provide a comprehensive view of current and emerging knowledge, research strategies, and policy in specific professional fields of science education. This series would present currently unavailable, or difficult to gather, materials from a variety of viewpoints and sources in a usable and organized format. Each volume in the series would present a juried, scholarly, and accessible review of research, theory, and/or policy in a specific field of science education, K-16. Topics covered in each volume would be determined by present issues and trends, as well as generative themes related to current research and theory. Published volumes will include empirical studies, policy analysis, literature reviews, and positing of theoretical and conceptual bases.




The Chicago Guide to College Science Teaching


Book Description

Higher education is a strange beast. Teaching is a critical skill for scientists in academia, yet one that is barely touched upon in their professional training—despite being a substantial part of their career. This book is a practical guide for anyone teaching STEM-related academic disciplines at the college level, from graduate students teaching lab sections and newly appointed faculty to well-seasoned professors in want of fresh ideas. Terry McGlynn’s straightforward, no-nonsense approach avoids off-putting pedagogical jargon and enables instructors to become true ambassadors for science. For years, McGlynn has been addressing the need for practical and accessible advice for college science teachers through his popular blog Small Pond Science. Now he has gathered this advice as an easy read—one that can be ingested and put to use on short deadline. Readers will learn about topics ranging from creating a syllabus and developing grading rubrics to mastering online teaching and ensuring safety during lab and fieldwork. The book also offers advice on cultivating productive relationships with students, teaching assistants, and colleagues.




Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science


Book Description

Today many school students are shielded from one of the most important concepts in modern science: evolution. In engaging and conversational style, Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science provides a well-structured framework for understanding and teaching evolution. Written for teachers, parents, and community officials as well as scientists and educators, this book describes how evolution reveals both the great diversity and similarity among the Earth's organisms; it explores how scientists approach the question of evolution; and it illustrates the nature of science as a way of knowing about the natural world. In addition, the book provides answers to frequently asked questions to help readers understand many of the issues and misconceptions about evolution. The book includes sample activities for teaching about evolution and the nature of science. For example, the book includes activities that investigate fossil footprints and population growth that teachers of science can use to introduce principles of evolution. Background information, materials, and step-by-step presentations are provided for each activity. In addition, this volume: Presents the evidence for evolution, including how evolution can be observed today. Explains the nature of science through a variety of examples. Describes how science differs from other human endeavors and why evolution is one of the best avenues for helping students understand this distinction. Answers frequently asked questions about evolution. Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science builds on the 1996 National Science Education Standards released by the National Research Councilâ€"and offers detailed guidance on how to evaluate and choose instructional materials that support the standards. Comprehensive and practical, this book brings one of today's educational challenges into focus in a balanced and reasoned discussion. It will be of special interest to teachers of science, school administrators, and interested members of the community.




The Life Sciences


Book Description




BSCS Biology


Book Description




Tools for Critical Thinking in Biology


Book Description

The American Association for the Advancement of Science's report on Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education suggests that instructors "can no longer rely solely on trying to cover a syllabus packed with topics" but rather should "introduce fewer concepts but present them in greater depth." They further suggest that the principles embodied in a set of core concepts and competencies should be the basis for all undergraduate biology courses, including those designed for nonmajors. The theme of Tools for Critical Thinking in Biology will be the first and most fundamental of these competencies: the ability to apply the process of science. Biology courses and curricula must engage students in how scientific inquiry is conducted, including evaluating and interpreting scientific explanations of the natural world. The book uses diverse examples to illustrate how experiments work, how hypotheses can be tested by systematic and comparative observations when experiments aren't possible, how models are useful in science, and how sound decisions can be based on the weight of evidence even when uncertainty remains. These are fundamental issues in the process of science that are important for everyone to understand, whether they pursue careers in science or not. Where other introductory biology textbooks are organized by scientific concepts, Tools for Critical Thinking in Biology will instead show how methods can be used to test hypotheses in fields as different as ecology and medicine, using contemporary case studies. The book will provide students with a deeper understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of such methods for answering new questions, and will thereby change the way they think about the fundamentals of biology.