Science Online Course Weekly Outline
In order for you to get a better
understanding of the Science/Environment/Math online course content, we
outline the weekly activities of the course in the following. Before
you read on to the content, please, take another look at the iEARN
online course prerequisites for participants:
* Basic word processing, Internet and e-mailing skills
* Reliable access to a computer and Internet
* Availability to commit at least 5 hours a week to course activities
* A classroom/students whom you will be working with throughout the course period
* Working knowledge of English
Now, please, read the Weekly Outline of the iEARN Science online course.
This
course is addressed to all Science, Environment, and Math teachers in
the US and across the world, teaching at different levels of education.
The course provides you with a way to involve your students in the
discussion of local and global environmental and/or social issues with
the students making a difference in the world.
Please, note that all of the discussions of
the course throughout the nine weeks will take place in the iEARN onlne
Forum. All assignments are expected to be posted in the Forum as well.
The iEARN online Forum provides a space for ongoing interactions among
course facilitators and participants throughout the course.
WEEK 1: Orientation
Week 1 is one of the first two weeks
of orientation. During these two weeks, you will have opportunity to
familiarize yourself to the features and contents of the course and
practice the technology used in the course delivery.
- Orientation and Welcome Summery
- Orientation to iEARN Online prof.dev. courses
- Communication tools
- Reading and Activities for Week 1
WEEK 2: Project Based Learning (PBL) and Orientation to iEARN
- Orientation to Project Based Learning and iEARN
- Online Project Based Learning Pedagogy
- Classroom Methodology
- Web Resources for Project Based Learning
- Reading and Activities for Week 2
WEEK 3: Preparing Your Students for Online Collaboration
- Preparing for Project Based Learning
- Why International Collaboration in School?
- iEARN Help for Preparing Your Class
- Internet Safety
- Netiquitte
- Readings and Activities for Week 3
WEEK 4: Comparing PBL and Traditional Instruction
- Determining Local Curriculum Standards
- The Importance and advantages of PBL
- Difference between traditional classes and PBL classes
- Multiplicity of PBL Activities
- Readings and Activities for Week 4
WEEK 5: Time to Choose
- Risks and Obstacles in Design and Implementation of PBL
- Examples of PBL Projects
- More on iEARN projects
- Readings and Activities for Week 5
WEEK 6: Only Four More Weeks to Go!
- Where do we stand?
- Designing a Problem Based Unit
- Sample of Problem Based Unit Templete
- Readings and Activities for Week 6
WEEK 7: Assessment and Tech Integration
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Odds and Ends about Internet Use
- Creating a Technology Integrated Lesson Plan
- Readings and Activities for Week 7
WEEK 8: Getting Ready to Fly!
By the week 8, you'll get ready to start working on an iEARN science project with your students.
- Reflecting on readings about various assessment methods
- Finishing up readings
- Begining the writing of Final Reflection Paper
- Readings and Activities for Week 8
WEEK 9: All good things come to an end...
- Reflection on taking online course
- Posting Final Reflection Paper
- Updating Your iEARN Personal Information
- Letting iEARN know what You think!
A
successful completion of an iEARN online course is only the beginning
of a fruitefull collaboration between You, your students and your
school, and the iEARN global community! You will have many other
opportunities for professional development to participate in various
international, regional and local conferences and share your
experiences of working on collaborative projects. We will keep in touch
through e-mails and newsletters. | 
