SSME720 PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE TEACHING
| Course Code: | 4200720 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (0.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Secondary Science and Mathematics Educ. |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | |
| Offered Semester: | Fall and Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
Course Objectives could be listed as:
- Students will be able to analyze and reflect on current issues in philosophy of science within the context of science teaching.
- Students will be able to critique contemporary issues in philosophy of science.
- Students will be able to explain the difference between science and pseudo-science.
- Students will be able to list and explain the approaches regarding theory change in science.
- Students will be able to express their positions about the nature of science.
- Students will be able to compare the different approaches in nature of science studies.
- Students will be able to develop and design a product reflecting their personal stand points about the philosophy and nature of science from an educator standpoint.
Course Content
The course introduces and examines contemporary issues in philosophy of science in science teaching context. The course presents the difference between science and pseudo-science, discusses the change in scientific theories, and the nature of science in education context. The course focuses on the role of philosophy, especially the philosophy of natural sciences, on how we teach and perceive science. This course, basically, aims to provide fundamental knowledge and information regarding philosophy and nature of science to students at graduate level. It also aims to create an environment where students criticize and reflect on philosophical issues in science teaching.
Course Learning Outcomes
The main goal of this course is to introduce graduate level students the philosophy of natural sciences in order them to analyze, synthesize and develop philosophical arguments in their dissertation studies and publications about natural sciences.