Innovative Teaching Methods in Chemistry
Instructor:
Cecilia Kutas, Sr.
Lecturer
LM
221
416-978-8796
Office hours: WR 10:00 - 12:00, also by appointment
In
my view, effective teaching depends on effective two-way
communication between teacher and student, and making meaningful connections
between what the student already knows and the new material. In this
course we will be making connections most of the time, (as opposed to memorizing
reams of new data in isolation), and we will be finding new, different and
imaginative ways to communicate the information we want to convey to our
students.
We will work at building learning communities where the teacher's role is that of facilitator and co-learner rather than 'knower-of-all', and we will use a variety of arts based techniques to convey scientific information. We will be pursuing intelligent learning and find out how to promote that (as opposed to rote learning). We will also discuss how scientific information is built up, and how scientific communities work. Much of the course will concentrate on putting ideas into practice, and evaluation will be based on students' ideas, and how they put them into practice. The ultimate aim is to integrate pedagogical know-how with leading edge chemical discoveries so we can bring these into the classroom in a holistic way that is consistent with Ontario Curriculum Guidelines.
I look forward to an enjoyable and productive year of mental adventure and exploration with you.
We will work at building learning communities where the teacher's role is that of facilitator and co-learner rather than 'knower-of-all', and we will use a variety of arts based techniques to convey scientific information. We will be pursuing intelligent learning and find out how to promote that (as opposed to rote learning). We will also discuss how scientific information is built up, and how scientific communities work. Much of the course will concentrate on putting ideas into practice, and evaluation will be based on students' ideas, and how they put them into practice. The ultimate aim is to integrate pedagogical know-how with leading edge chemical discoveries so we can bring these into the classroom in a holistic way that is consistent with Ontario Curriculum Guidelines.
I look forward to an enjoyable and productive year of mental adventure and exploration with you.
-- Cecilia Kutas
-
-like sunflowers, students naturally turn towards enlightenment