Science Education at Watershed
Harper Getting a Closer Look
Understanding how science is done, and what it can and cannot do, are vital steps in becoming an informed and productive citizen in today's world. Watershed science teachers work to help students experience science as a way to access an endlessly rich and exciting perspective on the universe and its phenomena. We feel that a sound and broad science education is essential for every student at Watershed, no matter what they choose to study in the future, and encourage everyone to take as many science courses as possible before graduation.
Although we are a small school with limited resources, we've been quite successful in designing challenging and interesting courses.
Freshman Year: Introduction to Scientific Observation
Gathering data at the telescope
Each incoming freshman is enrolled in Introduction to Scientific Observation, a course that is designed to let students immediately carry out real scientific investigations. There are no textbooks. Within the contexts of Meteorology, Astronomy, and Forest Ecology students journal, sample, experiment, observe, and discuss what they've observed. Much of the activity takes place outside of the classroom, in the natural world. By the end of the year, students have a personal understanding of what science is, how to do it, and can't wait to do more.
Sophomore Year: Conceptual Physics
Demonstrating Inertia
Recognizing that the natural universe operates under the same set of laws, we turn the standard progression of highschool science on its head, and offer physics first. Traditionally taught as a senior elective, with a heavy mathematical component, physics is now being taught before biology and chemistry in an increasing number of schools.
Building on the work of Paul Hewett, one of the original proponents of a non-mathematical conceptual approach to understanding the physical world, we explore a broad range of physical phenomena by demonstration, experimentation, and discussion. Emphasis is placed on true conceptual understanding, rather than mathematical problem solving skills. Many college physics professors find that students who are prepared conceptually are far ahead of their math-based counterparts in introductory college physics courses. College professors keep saying, "You teach them the concepts, we'll teach them how to solve the problems by applying their conceptual grasp" .
Junior and Senior Year: Biology and Chemistry
We alternate years that biology and chemistry are taught.
Biology Class Looking at Plankton
Biology
Biology is a broad discipline involving molecular, cellular, genetic, organismal, evolutionary, taxonomic, ecological, biotechnical and environmental aspects of the living world. It draws on our understanding of Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science, Mathematics, and other disciplines. For this reason, among others, Biology at Watershed is offered only to older students, preferably those with 2-3 years of other science courses.
The format of the class involves lectures, discussions, field and bench-top investigation. Science is a way of knowing. We work to develop the discipline, precision and open-mindedness required to participate effectively in the process of scientific inquiry. In combination with examining the Biology “content” typical of an advanced high school survey course our objectives are to:
- Develop our skills in the process of scientific inquiry including: observing; predicting; formulating hypotheses; designing experiments; and collecting, analyzing, interpreting and synthesizing data.
- Refine our oral, written and graphic presentation skills.
A deep study of living things involves exploring particular territories – cells, tissues, organs, organisms, populations, and communities – each with their own language and “culture.” This requires learning both a great deal of vocabulary and underlying physical, chemical, evolutionary, and ecological concepts. It’s my hope that students will be able to make use of these concepts to explore and understand life beyond the details and areas we investigate in our class.
The living world is amazing! Our primary goal is for students to develop a sense of wonder of the living world while learning the basics of biological science.Chemistry
Chemistry Class Using a Spectrometer
Chemistry is the study of the fundamental material, structure, and dynamics of nature. Much of this fundamental material and structure is invisible. This “invisibility” -- and the applied mathematical reasoning associated with the discipline -- sometimes makes chemistry a challenging subject for beginners. This course is designed to make the invisible "conceptually visible" through discussions, lectures, and labs. The math in this course is the basic math of ratios and conversions, although some algebraic formulae are also required.
Competency with basic chemical concepts is a major goal of the course. Other goals include recognizing the relevance and practical applications of chemistry (particularly as they relate to major environmental issues), and developing analytical skills and critical judgment. Our “Chemistry in Context” program supports an unusual approach to teaching and learning basic concepts of chemistry. Developed by the American Chemical Society, the Chemistry in Context textbook presents chemistry on a “need to know basis” meaning that chemistry is taught through the thorough study of major environmental issues (air quality, the ozone layer, global climate change, energy and society, water, and acid rain) and then progresses to applied chemistry (plastics, pharmaceuticals, nutrition, genetic engineering). Although we develop strong basic chemistry skills, a major goal is to have students leave the course competent to understand the language and role of modern chemistry and to leave more interested than when they came!
Seminars in Science
We experimented with a once-a-week lunch time seminar on Cosmology this semester, and it's been a real blast! The only prerequisite is a desire to know more about our Universe. We hope to do more of these in the years to come. Stay tuned...