Learning to TeachJocelyn Svengsouk

STARS vs. SchoolSTARS: hands-on, self-directed work. Voluntary.

Pressure on teachers to keep it “fun,” “engaging,” and not “schooley.” Emphasizes participants creating new knowledge.

School: less time to do inquiry. Note-taking and lecture format is used more. Transmission of content knowledge.

Important to BothDifferentiated instruction

Proper use and integration of multi-media

Multiple access points to the material

Acknowledge varied levels of participation

Quotes that Helped me See

“Miss, where were you yesterday?”

Students notice and they expect you to be there

Lesson Learned—be present. Consistency and dependability are vital to relationships with students and can affect their learning.

“Is there a right answer to this?”

What is truth? What is right? Who says?

Students may be seeking the magical right answer to be confirmed by the teacher, but we know science is subjective and changes.

Discovering the TruthLessons Learned—As science educators, we

push students to realize that they are discovering and “the truth”—as what was found based on evidence!

Windschitl, 2008, Clough, 2000

“You doing too much”

Why do we hear this refrain all the time?

Kids shut down when they: Feel disrespectedFeel overwhelmed or incapable to do the workThere are external factors impacting them

How to address this?

Lesson Learned—Be explicit in directions. Be a caring, supportive educator and provide the necessary scaffolding to get students over the activation energy in doing their work.

Samples of Best Practices

ScaffoldingMeta-Map Prompts

Differentiating InstructionStudents propose a cure for cancer

Use a question that has multiple levels of engagement and challenges all students

Engages higher level thinking: creativity, innovation, problem solving

Authentic application

What is important to me?

Courage“Courage is the most important of all the

virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage”

- Maya Angelou

Without courage, you won’t be able to help people, no matter how “talented” or “capable” you are. Being a good teacher requires courage.

Compassion“I’ve learned that people will forget what you

said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

- Maya Angelou

Without a heart committed to the good of others, you won’t have a positive, constructive impact. Being a good teacher means caring and making a difference.

Professional Commitments You need 100% of your attention and faculties in

teaching. Leave “baggage” at the door and be present for your kids.

Be well organized.

Be a whole person and respect your students as whole people—invest in their lives more than just the academic.

Don’t be afraid to try and fail—that is how you learn and grow.

Last, but not least…