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Developing educational leadership around mathematics and science teaching and learning in Michigan.
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SCIENCE PARTICIPANT BOOK STUDY/REVIEW TASK

Background

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) can take on many forms. One of the strategies often used by such groups to focus on developing deeper understanding of concepts or content is a book study. Book studies exist in many forms: as gatherings of friends to discuss a book everyone might be reading for pleasure or a specific focus, or, as we will be doing, as a gathering of professionals who wish to deepen their knowledge on a particular topic through discussion and application of ideas presented in a particular book.

There are a few reasons we are doing this. First, it gives you all a chance to explore books on a variety of topics that we might not otherwise delve into in detail in our program. As science educators, we are really dealing with several disciplines, not just one, and so it is often difficult for us to stay on top of our content, let alone instructional or professional development issues. This task gives you a chance to focus on that, and give you the book you might otherwise have wanted to study on your own. Second, it provides an opportunity for all of us to share ideas with each other. In this case, the ideas aren’t necessarily our own, but rather, those of the authors of our books. Third, it gives you an opportunity to try to find books that might be useful to you and your colleagues back in your school or region, and to hear from other trusted colleagues in MMSTLC about the content and value of these books as resources. Finally, it gives us a venue to discuss the broader issues of inquiry and science instruction through a different lens than we are otherwise using, such as classroom lessons, tasks, or assessments. We think it will be quite useful to all of us.

The Task

We will be conducting two versions of a book study as a way to provide such a learning opportunity. You may choose to do a BOOK STUDY or a BOOK REVIEW, depending on your interest and that of your colleagues about the book you might choose. The book study will consist of reading a book with a small group of colleagues (up to 4), and then sharing ideas and having discussion about points brought up in the book. We will do this either for a group of individuals who all identify the same book as one they would like to pursue (if several individuals all choose the same book), or when a group of people says they would like to work together on a common issue, and a book on that issue is identified for the group. The book review will essentially be the same process of reading, writing a summary and review, and having some level of discussion online about topics from the book, but it will be for those individuals who selected a particular book of interest that no one else selected. They won’t get to bounce ideas about the details off on other people who have read it as in a book study, but they will get to focus on the book they are very interested in.

Once you have selected the book or category of books and group to work with, you will be sent the book at your home address. It is up to you and your study group to make sure that you read the book in the time scheduled, and that you provide the required online feedback and information according to that schedule as well. You will be writing a short summary of the book, which may even include brief excerpts or a review of topics from the book, and a personal review of the book as a resource for science educators (i.e. your OPINION about the usefulness, value, and ability to engage readers in thoughtful reflection about the topic). We’ll give details on these expectations in December. After doing this, you will be expected to pose some questions for your group about the book to engage them in ongoing discussion, or to other participants who read your review, to get them to provide thoughtful reflection on topics in the book without necessarily reading it. You will be expected to monitor the discussion on your book, and to provide comments and feedback on other people’s reviews and questions. Again, we’ll address these details later. We don’t want you to feel forced into just saying things you think we want to hear – we want you to act as leaders who thoughtfully engage in discourse on the topic of science education, and feel this is one (of several) good way to do this.

Timeline

  • Nov. 6 – All participants should respond on the discussion forums by this date to select their task/category/book selections.
  • Nov. 10 – All participants receive an email confirmation by today regarding their choice and group information, as well as address to send the book.
  • Nov. 26 – Books should arrive by today. Email us if not.
  • Jan. 29 – Summaries and draft questions are posted.
  • Feb. 20 – Summaries and reviews are posted to all. Participants should be commenting on other’s discussions.
    Mar. 13 – All participants have completed the minimum responses and summaries/reviews. Any ongoing conversation is welcome, but not required.

Book Study Recommendations

Professional Development:

Inquiry and Project-Based Learning:

Writing in the Science Classroom:

Assessment:

Physical Science:

Life Science:

Earth Science:

Posted in by sdbest on the November 3rd, 2008
For more information or details about the project, email info@mmstlc.org