New Undergraduate Course: "Discovering Science in Out-of-School Hours"
Undergraduate Programs
The Department of Education is introducing a new undergraduate course, Discovering Science in Out-of School Hours.
The course is designed for the Department of Education-sponsored Certificate in After-school Education program (CASE) and also satisfies an elective requirement for the Minor in Educational Studies.
Director of Undergraduate Programs Sue Marshall comments, “The course is great preparation for any undergraduate who is working in after-school settings or who plans a career in K-12 teaching.”
This spring Discovering Science in Out-of-School Hours will be taught by Janet Yamaguchi, the Vice President for Education at the Discovery Science Center. She will be bringing to the class a wealth of knowledge and experience in motivating science learning through inquiry-based and hands-on approaches. A highlight of the class for UCI students will be the opportunity to participate in science education activities at the Discover Science Center or at local schools where the Discovery Science Center conducts after-school programs.
Course Description: Students will learn the design principles and teaching techniques that science museums and other out-of-school science programs use to motivate children and youth to learn science through discovery. This course will examine science-related subject matter that is most often misunderstood and focus on lesson delivery that is age-level appropriate for young students.
The course includes a 20-hour field experience requirement, which can be performed at a science learning center or after-school program, to complement what is being learned in class. Participants will practice lesson-development based on themes, holidays, and science competitions and learn science-focused teaching techniques, such as materials management.
