Writing Assignments

Read the assigned article and determine its connection to how people learn science. Write a short essay on how the article relates to some aspect of the science inquiry learning cycle that we are using. Be sure to identify specific passages from the article and relate them to specific parts of the inquiry learning cycle. How many connections you make is up to you, but each connection should be clearly articulated. The essays need to be thoughtful, but they shouldn't be more than the equivalent of 2-3 typed pages. Provide a complete link or reference so that the instructor can readily refer to the article if needed.

Write your essay in a word processor and then copy and paste it into the form that will appear after you submit your username and the article number or title (e.g. Article #1, Explore vs Experiment, Etc.). This will log you on to the site, you do not have be logged on already (but it is okay if you are).

Username:
Assignment:

Here is a list of some articles. You will be assigned #1 and #2. In a third writing assignment you will choose from the other options or find a current article about learning science that interests you. Be sure to reference the title and url of the article in your paper. Read #1 for the first writing assignment (early in the semester) and #2 for the second writing assignment (later in the semester).
  1. "What is Inquiry-Based Science?" By Dana Bulba, Published: January 27, 2019 - Smithsonian Science Education Center, (ssec.si.edu)
  2. "In Science Classrooms, a Blast of Fresh O2" By Natalie Angier, Published: October 30, 2007 - New York Times
  3. "Science teachers as participants in the culture of science" By Brian Drayton, Published: December 11, 2018 - MSPnet.org
  4. "When you say technology, what do you mean?" By Brian Drayton, Published: November 25, 2015 - MSPnet.org
  5. "Tell-Tale Signs of the Inquiry-Oriented Classroom" By Brian Drayton and Joni Falk, Published: March 2001 - National Association of Secondary School Principals
  6. "Truth decay and STEM education" By Brian Drayton, Published: March 7, 2018 - MSPnet.org
  7. ""They Were Trained for This Moment" By Dahlia Lithwick, Published: Feb 28, 2018 - Slate.com
  8. "The enduring power of print for learning in a digital world" By Patricia A. Alexander and Lauren M. Singer, Published: October 3, 2017 - The Conversation
  9. "Learning to Learn: You, Too, Can Rewire Your Brain" By John Schwartz, Published: August 4, 2017 - The New York Times
  10. "Neuromyths and research for teachers and learners" By Brian Drayton, Published: October 24, 2017 - MSPnet.org
  11. "How to Teach Students to Think Like Scientists" By Eric Brunsell, Published: October 26, 2010 - Edutopia
  12. "Building a Better Teacher" By Elizabeth Green, Published: March 2, 2010 - New York Times
  13. "Convergence: Big data, digital texts, and what?" By Brian Drayton , Published: 3 November 2015 - MSPnet Discussion Forum: “Opinions Worth Debating”
  14. "Ray Kurzweil: Memorization is For Robots. People Learn By Doing." By Jason Gots, Published: December 18, 2012 - bigthink.com
  15. "The Curious Case of Polywater" By Joseph Stromberg, Published: 7 November 2013 - SLATE
  16. "In schools, self-esteem boosting is losing favor to rigor, finer-tuned praise" By Michael Alison Chandler, Published: January 15, 2012 - Washington Post
  17. "Start Science Sooner" By The Editors, Published: February 18, 2010 - Scientific American
  18. "Laws of Nature, Source Unknown" By Dennis Overbye, Published: December 18, 2007 - New York Times
  19. "How Science Can Improve Teaching" By Daniel T. Willingham, Published: August 22, 2012 - Scientific American
  20. "Dead Ideas In Teaching" By Maryellen Weimer, Ph.D., Published: November 16, 2012 - Magna Publications
  21. "Time out boosts brains" By Ainslie MacGibbon, Published: August 2, 2010 - The Sydney Morning Herald
  22. "Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements" By Buck Institute for Education, Published: 2015
  23. "Next Generation: 5 Ways Science Classes Will Change" By Michael Dhar, Published: October 09, 2013 - LiveScience
  24. "Learning styles, again" By Brian Drayton, Published: 17 April 2018 - MSPnet
  25. "Thinking for the Future" By David Brooks, Published: December 9, 2013 - New York Times
  26. "Can We Teach People What Science Is Really Like?" By Harry Collins , Published: 24 Sept 2015 - COLLINS, H. (2015), Can We Teach People What Science Is Really Like?. Sci. Ed., 99: 1049–1054. doi: 10.1002/sce.21189
  27. "Fast or good? or Whos in charge of ed tech innovation?" By Brian Drayton, Published: December 9, 2014 - MSPnet
  28. "Authentic Intellectual Work and Standardized Tests: Conflict or Coexistence? Improving Chicago's Schools." By Fred M. Newmann, Anthony S. Bryk, and Jenny K Nagaoka, Published: January 2001 - ERIC
  29. "ASA Statement on Using Value-Added Models for Educational Assessment" By The American Statistical Association, Published: April 8, 2014
  30. "What value is added? VAM under review" An MSPnet Discussion by Brian Drayton, Published: April 23, 2015
  31. "The Influence of Teachers’ Knowledge on Student Learning in Middle School Physical Science Classrooms" By Philip Sadler and Gerhard Sonnert, Published: Spring 2013, Posted: 04/06/2016 - American Educational Research Association/MSPnet