 Electronic PortfolioThe University of Pennsylvania's Science Teacher Institute Master of Integrated Science Education Program |
| Rubric
Category - Synthesis
of Scientific Concepts Across Courses – The participant has demonstrated a synthesis of key program ideas across the program content. |
PHYS 590 PHYSICS:THE FOUNDATION OF SCIENCE
I particularly value this PowerPoint because it clearly expresses the
enduring understanding in this rubric category- the idea that content
concepts cross disciplines. This was an end-of-term project I did about
the
trigonometry used in physics. I love math
and found that connection fascinating. This was the first piece I tried
to link into my portfolio, but I could not determine whether this work
should have been linked under math or under physics. This confusion
caused me to reorganize my e-portfolio.
This PowerPoint reveals both good and not-so-good points about me as a learner. The math and science content is evident and I feel I made the connections between the two courses. On the other hand, the technology and lesson designs were not as promising. This was the second time I ever made a PowerPoint slide show, and the design of the PowerPoint is not the best. After taking the Science Education class, I also feel that my lesson did not exhibit best practices like my Rock Cycle Lessons do.
I think this is a good piece to have on my portfolio page because I would like to see how I can grow and make changes to it. I challenged myself by creating a PowerPoint and by trying to make the math and science connection very clear. In the near future, after I learn a bit more, I would like to revise this piece to improve the technological aspects.
Physics & Math PowerPoint
This PowerPoint reveals both good and not-so-good points about me as a learner. The math and science content is evident and I feel I made the connections between the two courses. On the other hand, the technology and lesson designs were not as promising. This was the second time I ever made a PowerPoint slide show, and the design of the PowerPoint is not the best. After taking the Science Education class, I also feel that my lesson did not exhibit best practices like my Rock Cycle Lessons do.
I think this is a good piece to have on my portfolio page because I would like to see how I can grow and make changes to it. I challenged myself by creating a PowerPoint and by trying to make the math and science connection very clear. In the near future, after I learn a bit more, I would like to revise this piece to improve the technological aspects.
Physics & Math PowerPoint
About two years
later I did get the
opportunity to put my PowerPoint skills to the test again, and did a
much better job! Click here to read about it as well as other technology
ventures I undertook.
Related
Courses - CHEM 511- PHYSICAL
BASIS OF CHEMISTRY
GEOL 685 - EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE
Another piece of evidence that I wanted to include for this rubric category is a paper I wrote during our first year in the program. The paper is about the chemistry of rocks and draws on information I learned in our first Chemistry course and on the rock cycle, which I researched during our Education course. I wanted to extend my knowledge of the rock cycle since I had designed a unit about it. In writing the chemistry paper I learned and wrote about the scientist who were instrumental in our current understanding of the rock cycle, J. Hutton, and the chemical composition of rocks, N.L.Bowen. This was the first time I encountered Bowen's Reaction Series, so I wrote about those ideas in my paper, but I really did not understand it completely. It was difficult to put those facts into my own words because I was paraphrasing ideas that were foreign to me.
Nearly two years later I read my chemistry paper again, and something strange experience. My eyes ran across the old, familiar words, but at the same time there was something new and fresh about them. The facts made sense. I understood what the words said. They weren't foreign ideas anymore. This was a result of taking the Earth and Planetary Science course. We learned about everything that was in my paper. I included my notes about rocks, but going on a field trip to the Wissahickon Valley was an especially helpful experience for me. We got the chance to see the metamorphic rocks and learn about their formation. I have also included the assignment related to that field trip because it required us to put different ideas to tell the story of these rocks (which is similar to the assessment I designed in my rock cycle unit, click to link to that part of the E-Portfolio).
E-Portfolio
Home Page
GEOL 685 - EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE
Another piece of evidence that I wanted to include for this rubric category is a paper I wrote during our first year in the program. The paper is about the chemistry of rocks and draws on information I learned in our first Chemistry course and on the rock cycle, which I researched during our Education course. I wanted to extend my knowledge of the rock cycle since I had designed a unit about it. In writing the chemistry paper I learned and wrote about the scientist who were instrumental in our current understanding of the rock cycle, J. Hutton, and the chemical composition of rocks, N.L.Bowen. This was the first time I encountered Bowen's Reaction Series, so I wrote about those ideas in my paper, but I really did not understand it completely. It was difficult to put those facts into my own words because I was paraphrasing ideas that were foreign to me.
Nearly two years later I read my chemistry paper again, and something strange experience. My eyes ran across the old, familiar words, but at the same time there was something new and fresh about them. The facts made sense. I understood what the words said. They weren't foreign ideas anymore. This was a result of taking the Earth and Planetary Science course. We learned about everything that was in my paper. I included my notes about rocks, but going on a field trip to the Wissahickon Valley was an especially helpful experience for me. We got the chance to see the metamorphic rocks and learn about their formation. I have also included the assignment related to that field trip because it required us to put different ideas to tell the story of these rocks (which is similar to the assessment I designed in my rock cycle unit, click to link to that part of the E-Portfolio).
E-Portfolio
Home Page