EDUC 415 - Methods for Elementary Science and STEM Instruction

Credits: (3)

Instructional Method: Three hours lecture.
Cross-Listed: EDUC 515.

Today’s elementary school students will one day work in fields that demand advanced skills in collaboration, reasoning, and critical thinking. They will be tasked with finding solutions for complex and interdisciplinary global challenges using tools and methods that change and advance rapidly. Their knowledge and understanding of math, science, technology, and engineering will need to be integrated, practical, and creative. This course will immerse learners in inquiry-based experiences that integrate STEM disciplines while requiring systematic reflection on how issues of access and relevance impact the participation and success of diverse children. Through active engagement, students will practice the scientific and mathematic skills that are foundational to STEM learning experiences in the elementary grades while considering how classroom structures support engagement, collaboration, risk-taking, and creativity. They will learn to work together in well-reasoned ways as they encounter challenge, ambiguity, and constraints. Finally, students will design or adapt STEM lessons that are intellectually rigorous, universally designed, and culturally responsive for the diverse children they will teach.

Note(s): Applied Learning designated course.