CIDR - Math and Science Classes

Math and Science Classes range from large lectures to small labs where presentation of information is varied. Instructors might be explaining and defining important facts that students need to understand and memorize or they might require students to apply creative and critical thinking to problem solving.

Some common challenges when teaching math and science classes include identifying students' prior knowledge of the material, helping students see how course material relates to other material they have been (or soon will be) learning, and assessing their understanding of concepts. On this page we have collected a variety of resources related to teaching effectively in math and science classes.

CIDR Resources

	CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin Supporting Student Learning in Computer Labs CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 12(2)

	Consult with CIDR CIDR consultants are available to meet with you and discuss your questions about teaching math and science classes. See our Consulting pages on exploring teaching issues, designing courses and assignments, and collecting student feedback for more information. To schedule a consultation, call 206-543-6588, or contact us by email to arrange an appointment.

Additional Resources

Case Study Teaching in Science
An overview of teaching with cases in a refereed National Clearinghouse for Case Studies in Science -- from the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science at SUNY Buffalo

College Level One
from the National Institute for Science Education at the University of Wisconsin - Madison

ConcepTests
"This page contains ConcepTests for use in Chemistry .... This form of peer instruction is often an effective pedagogical method..."

Just in Time Teaching
from WebPhysics, maintainted by the Department of Physics at Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI)

The Math Forum
"The Math Forum, an online community funded in part by the National Science Foundation and hosted by Swarthmore College, has been built with the contributions of math educators, interested volunteers, and online programming groups ..."

Mathematical Thinking CATs (Classroom Assessment Techniques)
from the Field-tested Learning Assessment Guide (FLAG) for Math, Science, Engineering, and Technology Instructors

Novice Instructors and Student-Centered Instruction: Identifying and Addressing Obstacles to Learning in the College Science Laboratory
from the abstract: "We identify and analyze some widespread problems with the implementation of student-centered instruction in introductory college science and mathematics laboratory classes ..." The Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2(1)

Research, Development, and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education
"REDCUBE provides ... a web window on the wonderful world of biology-education research and reform. It contains 47 biology-educator profiles; 446 references (including 124 relevant to general science-education reform); and 490 hot-linked URL's ..."

Science Teaching Reconsidered: A Handbook
a publication of the National Academy of Sciences

Scientific Teaching(2004). Handelsman , J., Ebert-May, D., Beichner, R., Bruns, P., Chang, A., DeHaan, R., et al. Science, 304, 522-523.