Rationale
While students and teachers are trying to cram brains full of facts and formulas, students are slowly slipping down in the how-to-think area. Being able to consider, rationally, different perspectives, opinions, and different options, and being able to communicate the results of that thinking is a skill that is getting too little attention. That skill is not on the test, but without it, success on the test is an elusive prize.
This unit uses the discussion (or "case study") approach combined with hands on (demonstration) lessons to address New Mexico state science content standards while teaching skills in thinking, analyzing, judging, and communicating. My students will express their learning through debate and discussion, essays, presentations, and exams. Their competence and confidence will increase through their understanding of issues and questions. This understanding will develop through debating, listening, reasoning and through research.
With pressure on the school to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), there can be a tendency to try and fill the students' minds with facts and formulas, theories and concepts, and methods and strategies. This might be a great way to learn test taking, and test taking might be a great skill to have in its own rite. But knowing how to think, reason, research, and rationalize is universally valued in any field of endeavor. Ironically, they are missed mostly when the pressure is on to pass the test.
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