AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to offer an overall competence in the teaching of science through a multidisciplinary approach that includes both aspects concerning biological living systems and issues concerning aspects of ecology and ecosystems, sustainability of biomaterials, biodiversity. Topics of great scientific relevance, such as stem cells and their use and biotechnologies, will also be addressed, issues that must be addressed from nursery and primary schools with adequate knowledge. The aim of the course is to provide the critical tools suitable for transferring the concept of science and its arguments, training competent professionals in the scientific fields, treated in kindergartens and primary schools, also introducing the concept of complexity, plasticity and scientific flexibility. The theoretical work will be supported by practical laboratory interventions within the course in order to find out which are the most suitable methods for child learning.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to strengthen students' critical and conscious attitude towards scientific knowledge and teaching / learning processes in the context of Life Sciences. The didactic approach adopted will allow the questioning of personal mental representations, the sharing of experiences and hypotheses, the analysis of conceptual nodes and founding concepts and the recognition of effective didactic strategies for the exploration of the phenomena of life in the school of childhood and primary.

The educational objectives of the course include both knowledge of biological aspects and their teaching methodology. The detailed knowledge of the biological forms that underlie the forms of Nature will allow the operator, future teacher, to develop practical and theoretical methods suitable for a correct understanding by students of topics that are not really simple and often incorrect interpretation.

Starting from the historical bases, we get to the most recent technologies of socio-economic use of biological matter, approaching contemporary issues both concerning the bio-medical aspects and the ecological and environmental sustainability aspects (for example biotechnology and the basics of biodiversity).

The learning outcomes observed in previous years showed a different approach to the teaching of scientific subjects by students during their internships which led to the realization of some degree theses which also included a practical aspect of the teaching of life cycles (plants in particular) very innovative from the didactic point of view.

TEACHING METHODS

For the teaching methods of the second semester, in presence or at a synchronous or asynchronous distance, please refer to the specific AulaWeb application for teaching for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

In particuar, the course includes a general introductory part in which the methodology and strategy of teaching science is approached, with particular reference to the perception that modern society has of science itself and its social utility both from  a medical. ecological and environmental point of view. Topics are addressed regarding the educational value of scientific subjects both from the historical and current point of view, with particular attention to the practical method for learning in kindergarten and primary school, and the pedagogical role that the operator has in this training path. The next phase concerns the understanding and study of the components of the life forms starting from the composition of the subject and the representation of some easy experiments applicable to the teaching classes for the practical understanding of the subject itself. Then he approaches the study of living systems (theory of complexity and epistemology of living systems) and the theories of the birth of biological life on Planet Earth. The part most about biology is addressed by studying the biological functions of cells in their detail (metabolism and basic molecular mechanisms) and the structural and functional differences of prokaryotic, eukaryotic and plant cells. The innovative aspect regards the insertion of some notions of modern biology such as stem cells (function and use), the understanding of the social utility of biotechnology (advantages and problems) and the approach to biomaterials. The last part of the course deals with the issues most closely related to ecology such as ecosystems and their maintenance, biodiversity and its importance, aspects of bioethics

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Since the texts for the composition of a structured course as described are a lot and parts extracted from some paragraphs of text and reworked, the teaching materials on aulaweb will be made available to all students, both for attending and non-attending students

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The lessons of the Life Science and Nature Teaching Course will begin on February 22, 2021 followed by communication on aulaweb with the specifications of the hours and days of lessons

Class schedule

TEACHING OF LIFE SCIENCES AND NATURE

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

the examination procedures will be carried out in presence if allowed by the national health situation. An assessment of the state of written learning will be carried out at the end of the course and oral exams will then be taken. If the national health situation does not allow the modality in presence, exams will be carried out on the Teams platform, as required by current legislation or in the manner that will be indicated

ASSESSMENT METHODS

If the exam will be conducted in presence, the assessment procedures will be those carried out by the present commission. If different way, the procedures will be proposed with the remote commissions and the identification of the candidate's identity through an identification document.