Teaching Science for Understanding: A Practical Guide for Middle and High School Teachers - Softcover

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James Gallagher is Professor of Science Education at Michigan State University.  During his tenure at Michigan State University, Dr. Gallagher has been engaged in teacher education and staff development on campus, nationally, and internationally.  He has worked with MSU’s Professional Development School program and both undergraduate and graduate courses for prospective science teachers.  He also has conducted a widely recognized program for staff development of teachers in Michigan and Ohio.  He directed a research and development program on classroom-based assessment that has influenced the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning in middle school science. He recently co-directed a project studying leadership development in science and mathematics education, and a professional development project for teachers in rural schools in Michigan. 

Dr. Gallagher has been a leader in the current reform efforts in the United States.  He was a member of the writing team on the National Research Council’s National Science Education Standards, and he coordinated development of AAAS Project 2061’s Blueprint for Teacher Education.  He serves as an advisor for 2009 revision of the National Assessment of Educational Progress and as a member of the international Steering Committee for the Third International Mathematics and Science Study ― Multinational Video Study.  He has published widely with nearly 100 reports, journal articles, and chapters in books.  He was the 1998 winner of the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Science Education through Research, which is the highest award given by the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. 

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Teaching Science for Understanding, 1/e

Written by the leading science educator in the country,Teaching Science for Understanding challenges you to transform your ideas about teaching from passive, direct learning to active, inquiry learning. To do so, the author demonstrates science teaching through three different levels of learning activities:

• building students base of information
• developing understanding
• applying knowledge

Each chapter guides you through the type of planning and instruction you will need to create a constructivist environment in your classroom, providing you with specific activities and examples to illustrate how you can teach science for understanding.

Unique Features:

Science Reform Identifies the four major elements of a new vision for science education; science for all, teaching and learning for understanding, a broader vision of science, and a reduction of the amount of science content offered in middle and secondary school teaching. Supporting these elements are Project 2061, Science for All Americans, National Science Standards and No Child Left Behind.

Active Learning promotes students engaged in constructing their own learning and assists teachers in knowing their role in deciding when to withhold help, when to give help, and what help to give.

Instructional Model for Teaching Science for Understanding shares a design for planning objectives, ongoing assessment and learning activities through a sample lesson on photosynthesis.

Excerpts from best-selling Middle School and Secondary Textbooks and Teacher Guides Appearing in Chapters 10-14, explicit examples of textbook pages and teacher guides illustrate how teachers can use textbooks as enrichment, background knowledge and resources as a part of teaching science for understanding.