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Essay on Methods & Materials in Mathematics and Science
Teachers should take an integrated mathematics and science methods class in the first semester of their senior year, just prior to their student teaching semester. Reflective practice should be used to ensure a supportive environment that addresses the barrier of teachers’ negative beliefs, attitudes and anxieties. Student responses to weekly online reflective questions will focus attention on a number of issues related to teacher dispositions and topics broached during classroom activities.
The first result is that, faculty will gain insight into the thinking of the students, and the insights will guide ongoing efforts for cultivating effective mathematics and science teaching. In addition, students will have increased opportunities to form the habit of reflective journaling. Anecdotal evidence suggests that students are particularly motivated to examine their thoughts in relation to those of their classmates. Online synopses of student responses will raise the level of interest and resulted in further discussions about students’ positive growth in pedagogical content knowledge and dispositions.
Writing for a math and science class strikes many students and teachers too, as an odd idea to say the least (Olson, 1992). However, an increasing number of educators have recognized the importance of written composition, especially in lower division and survey courses...............
