Teaching Science at University from Coursera

This course will prepare you for teaching science in higher education. In this MOOC you will learn to make your knowledge as an excellent researcher accessible to your students. We will show you how to communicate science to novices as well as advanced students in science. You will experience the value of teaching with analogies and you will be guided to train your students' competences. Based on up-to-date findings from research into teaching and learning science you will be able to

- implement evidence-based strategies into your own teaching,

- use students everyday-conceptions for the development of courses,

- prepare analogies and models to teach in your field,

- implement problem-based teaching,

- set up for experiments and teach the nature of science.

This course enables you to teach abstract science topics to your students and make them become active and successful learners. The course is based on lectures (videos), handouts (knowledge-to practice briefs), which supplement the knowledge taught in the lectures and assignments to implement the teaching strategies into your own practice.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction: Teaching and Learning Science

Welcome to your first week of Teaching Science at University! In this first module we will give you an overview of what you will learn during our 5-week course and show you what you can achieve as an excellent lecturer or teaching assistant at your university! In the first lesson our focus is on evidence-based teaching. We will show you how you can base your lectures, lab classes, and courses on science education research. You will learn about main principles of visible learning and mind frames which will help you to embrace these principles. Then we will adapt learning theories to science teaching, starting with behaviorism up to cognitivism, constructivism, and neurodidactics. Interviews with a Professor in Animal Behaviour and a Professor in Neuroscience give further insight in the way we learn. At the end of the first week, you should be able to implement and reflect upon one evidence-based teaching strategy in your own teaching. Have fun!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Offers the opportunity to learn to explain complex science topics to both novice and advanced science students

Provides experience with teaching using analogies

Guides how to train students' science competences

Details strategies for using everyday student conceptions in the development of courses

Offers strategies to address conceptions to help students change their ideas

Reviews summary

Enhancing university science teaching

According to learners, this course offers a strong foundation in evidence-based strategies for teaching science at the university level. Students found the lectures informative and well-structured, providing practical insights into topics like conceptual change, teaching with analogies, and lab instruction. Many appreciated the focus on applying theory to practice through assignments. While largely positive, a few noted that the course serves best as an introduction, suggesting the depth may be limited for those seeking advanced pedagogical techniques.

Provides a solid introduction, but may lack advanced detail.

"This course is an excellent starting point for anyone new to university-level science pedagogy."

"While comprehensive for an introduction, I wished for deeper dives into certain complex topics."

"It lays out the fundamentals clearly, though experienced educators might find it less advanced than expected."

Concepts like conceptual change and analogies are well explained.

"The explanations of abstract concepts like conceptual change were very clear and easy to follow."

"Understanding how to effectively use analogies was a key takeaway for me."

"The videos broke down complex pedagogical ideas into understandable segments."

Assignments help apply concepts to real teaching scenarios.

"The assignments really pushed me to think about how to implement these ideas in my own classroom."

"I found the tasks that required me to adapt course material particularly useful."

"Being able to apply the strategies to my actual teaching context made the learning stick."

Focuses on teaching techniques backed by research.

"I gained valuable insights into how science education research can inform my teaching."

"The course is well-grounded in evidence-based strategies, which gives me confidence in applying them."

"Learning about the research behind different teaching methods was incredibly helpful."

Directly applicable to teaching science in higher ed.

"As a teaching assistant, this course gave me concrete strategies I could use immediately in my lab sessions."

"The focus on university students' learning processes was highly relevant to my work."

"I feel better prepared to teach my next course after completing this."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Teaching Science at University with these activities:

Gather a Collection of Online Science Education Resources

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Create a valuable resource for yourself and others by compiling a collection of online science education materials.

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Search for online science education resources.
Evaluate the quality and relevance of the resources.
Organize the resources into a coherent collection.
Share your collection with others.
Review and update your collection as needed.

Read "How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School" by National Research Council

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Gain a deeper understanding of the principles of learning and how to apply them in the science classroom.

View How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes.
Summarize the key concepts and theories presented in the book.
Identify implications for your own teaching practice.

Develop a Lesson Plan for Teaching a Science Concept

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Enhance your skills in designing and implementing effective science lessons.

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Choose a science concept to teach.
Identify the learning objectives for your lesson plan.
Select appropriate teaching methods and activities.
Develop assessment strategies to evaluate student learning.
Reflect on your lesson plan and make adjustments as needed.

Four other activities

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Participate in a Peer Teaching Session

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Enhance your understanding by teaching science concepts to your peers.

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Find a peer who is studying the same material.
Choose a topic to teach.
Prepare your lesson.
Teach the lesson to your peer.
Get feedback from your peer.

Practice Writing Scientific Reports

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Improve your ability to communicate scientific findings clearly and effectively.

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Review the guidelines for writing scientific reports.
Choose a scientific topic and gather data.
Write a draft of your report.
Get feedback on your draft from a peer or instructor.
Revise and finalize your report.

Create a Science Education Blog Post

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Share your knowledge and insights on science education by writing a blog post.

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Choose a topic related to science education.
Research and gather information on your topic.
Write a draft of your blog post.
Get feedback on your draft from a peer or instructor.
Publish your blog post.

Contribute to an Open-Source Science Education Project

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Get involved with the open-source community and make a contribution to science education.

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Find an open-source science education project to contribute to.
Identify a way to contribute your skills to the project.
Make a pull request or otherwise contribute your changes.
Get feedback from the project maintainers.
Continue contributing to the project as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Teaching Science at University will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Science Teacher

Science education and communication are vital skills for a Science Teacher, allowing them to inspire the next generation of scientists and prepare students for higher education in STEM fields.

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Curriculum Developer

Teaching Science at University covers principles of visible learning and methods for assessing students' conceptions -- everything a Curriculum Developer needs to know to create engaging and effective lesson plans.

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Educational Researcher

A solid understanding of science education research is crucial for Educational Researchers, and this course delves into the latest findings on teaching and learning science.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers can benefit from Teaching Science at University's focus on evidence-based teaching strategies and the use of analogies and models to improve student engagement.

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Science Communicator

Teaching Science at University provides valuable insights into communicating science effectively to diverse audiences, a key skill for Science Communicators.

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Museum Educator

Museum Educators can enhance their ability to create interactive and educational science exhibits by learning about teaching with analogies and framing science teaching to make it relevant for students. (fit_score: 65)

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Science Writer

Teaching Science at University helps Science Writers develop their ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to a broader audience through the use of analogies and metaphors.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers may find the module on framing science teaching to make it relevant for students helpful in presenting technical information in an engaging and understandable manner.

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Science Policy Analyst

This course offers valuable insights into the nature of science and the scientific endeavor, which are essential for Science Policy Analysts to effectively analyze and communicate science-related policies.

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Grant Writer

Teaching Science at University provides Grant Writers with a deeper understanding of the research process and the importance of evidence-based teaching, which can be valuable when writing grant proposals for science education projects.

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Educational Consultant

Educational Consultants can benefit from the course's focus on improving student learning in a lab or field setting, as well as the use of models to enhance understanding.

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School Administrator

Teaching Science at University may be useful for School Administrators who want to support science teachers in implementing effective teaching strategies and creating a positive learning environment for students.

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Higher Education Administrator

This course can provide Higher Education Administrators with insights into the challenges and opportunities of teaching science at the university level, helping them to support faculty and improve the quality of science education.

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Nonprofit Program Manager

Teaching Science at University may be useful for Nonprofit Program Managers working in science education or outreach programs, providing them with practical strategies to engage students and promote scientific literacy.

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Science Journalist

This course can help Science Journalists develop their understanding of the scientific process and the different ways to communicate science to the public, making their reporting more accurate and engaging.

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