HR: 1340h
AN: ED33B-0771    [Abstracts]
TI: Teaching the Teachers: Physical Science for the Non-Scientific
AU: * Michels, D J
EM: michels@louis14.nrl.navy.mil
AF: The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20064 United States
AU: * Michels, D J
EM: michels@louis14.nrl.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7660 M 4555 Overlook Avenue, Washington, DC 20375-5320 United States
AU: Pickert, S M
EM: pickert@cua.edu
AF: The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20064 United States
AU: Montrose, C J
EM: montrose@cua.edu
AF: The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20064 United States
AU: Thompson, J L
EM: thompsjl@cua.edu
AF: The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20064 United States
AB: The Catholic University of America, in collaboration with the Solar Physics Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory and the Goddard Space Flight Center, has begun development of an experimental, inquiry-driven and standards-referenced physical science course for undergraduate, pre-service K-8 teachers. The course is team-taught by faculty from the University's Departments of Education and Physics and NRL solar physics research personnel. Basic physical science concepts are taught in the context of the Sun and Sun-Earth Connections, through direct observation, web-based solar data, and images and movies from ongoing space missions. The Sun can illuminate, in ways that cannot be duplicated with comparable clarity in the laboratory, the basics of magnetic and gravitational force fields, Newton's Laws, and light and optics. The immediacy of the connection to ongoing space research and live mission data serves as well to inspire student interest and curiosity. Teaching objectives include pedagogical methods, especially hands-on and observational experiences appropriate to the physics content and the K-8 classroom. The CUA Program, called TOPS! (Top Teachers of Physical Science!) has completed its first year of classroom experience; the first few batches of Program graduates should be in K-8 classrooms in time to capitalize on the motivational opportunities offered by the 2007-2008 IHY and IPY. We present data on the attitudinal and scientific progress of fifteen pre-service Early Childhood and Elementary Education majors as they experienced, many for the first time, the marvels of attractive and repulsive forces, live observations of solar system dynamics, access to real-time satellite data and NASA educational resources.
DE: 7513 Coronal mass ejections
DE: 7599 General or miscellaneous
DE: 6605 Education
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting