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Wednesday 2 March 2011

Science Education Research and Reform

This a good topic that it concerns to everyone and the future of education and teaching skills with students.

JellyfishPipettesTest tubesEvent 1MoleculesDiscoverScience1DiscoverScience2LeafDNA Workshop

Dr Linda Hadfield
University of Edinburgh










Abstract:

Mathematical equations can be the most precise way to express physical ideas. However, students often have difficulty linking their understanding of physical ideas with mathematical representations of 
those ideas.   If students do not interpret the mathematics as scientists intended, what are they thinking instead?

I will present example problems from an undergraduate chemical thermodynamics course. These problems involve the first law of thermodynamics and spontaneity for chemical reactions.  I will briefly describe teaching reforms that have been implemented in undergraduate classes and development of a survey for monitoring the impact of educational changes

http://sibe.bio.ed.ac.uk/group

Linda is responsible for the course Research Communication in Action, which trains postgraduate students and new researchers in subject/research communication. Before moving to Scotland, Linda developed an outreach program for JILA, a physics research institute located in Colorado, USA. She also investigated how undergraduates learn thermodynamics as part of Carl Wieman's science education research group. Linda earned her PhD at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and her MS from the University of California at Berkeley. Both degrees are in physical atmospheric chemistry. Before graduate school, Linda taught science to secondary school students in Malawi, Central Africa, as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Discover Science

Each year since 2005, on behalf of the University of Edinburgh, SIBE has organised and delivered ‘Discover Science’, the University’s largest contribution to the Edinburgh International Science Festival. This exciting variety of hands-on science activities, workshops and shows, aimed at children and families, takes place in partnership with National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. Over 200 University staff and students from science subject areas across the University, are involved.

Adult visitor: “Great that it's free - fantastic event.”
Adult visitor “Excellent, really good fun and great enthusiasm from demonstrators and staff helped make it even better.”
Young visitor:”‘ Brilliant - different things to try.”

Discover Science is part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival:


http://sibe.bio.ed.ac.uk/node/46


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