Course+Descriptions

Please upload course descriptions, or copy and paste below.

Here's mine! I am going to make some brief edits as I think about it this week. - Melanie

Tentative Themes from Dean:

· Air, soil, water, food, energy · Pollution · Environmental chemistry/ecology Managing Environmental Issues · Sustainable development/production · Values, ethics, policy, planning || · Anatomy/physiology/pathology Nutrition and Metabolism · Biochemistry Medical Diagnostics · Imaging, ionizing/non-ionizing radiation Medical Knowledge Systems and Ethics · Traditional, evidence-based, complementary || · Mole Concept · Stoichiometry · Solutions Physics · Wave phenomena · Models of light Science in Saskatchewan · Industry · Agriculture · research || · Hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere Using Earth’s Resources · Extraction technologies, end uses, impacts Historical Geology · Geological time scale, plate tectonics, earth processes and changes, fossilization || Here is a draft of a letter to administrators and science learning coordinators that would include course descriptions. Please look over the pilot scenarios - I 'created' something for piloting 2 courses in a school that I think makes sense... Terry J
 * Environmental Science 20 || Resources in Our Environment
 * Health Science 20 || Human Systems
 * Science 20 || Chemistry
 * Earth Science 20 || Interactions in the Geosphere

__**Senior Science Curriculum Renewal**__ The purpose of this document is to provide Science Learning Coordinators and In School Administrators with information regarding the new Grade 11 and 12 Science Curricula being developed by the Ministry. These new courses will significantly impact course offerings within our Collegiates. This is an exciting time in the world of science, and the intent of our work over the next 4 years is to have (to quote Bill K) “No Surprises”. =Timeframes= The ministry is allowing us to have an unlimited number of pilot teachers in Grade 11 sciences. A small number of pilot teachers (~4) will attend province-wide meetings with Dean Elliot. All pilot community teachers will attend meetings, which will include pilot teachers and active observers. || Implementation year – Grade 11 All grade 11 sciences will be new curricula. Implementation workshops for grade 11 teachers. Pilot year – Grade 12? There is no province-wide pilot of Grade 12 courses, but there is a strong possibility of SPS having a local pilot for the new Grade 12 curriculum in those schools who have piloted Grade 11 courses in 2012-2013. Dean Elliot has supported this verbally. || Implementation year – Grade 12 All grade 12 sciences will be new curricula. Implementation workshops will continue for Grade 12 courses. || =Building Our Professional Community= At the October 7th Senior Science CDM, we began exploring the content and intent of the new Science Curricula. In order to support each other, we have created a science pilot teacher community whose purpose is to There are some teachers who will be piloting the new courses, and others who want to be a part of the discussion as an ‘active observer’. We will all contribute to the pilot of the few, and share our expertise and knowledge of teaching science. There is also a Sr Science Planning Committee consisting of a small group of science teachers involved in the planning of our large group meetings to ensure that they meet the needs of teachers. These names are highlighted. So far, teachers involved in these conversations include:
 * 2011-2012 || 2012-2013 || 2013-2014 || 2014-2015 ||
 * Formation of a pilot community, consisting of teachers interested in exploring, discussing, and learning from each other. Some of these teachers will be pilot teachers, while others will be active observers. Active observers will participate in planning, decision-making, and feedback to the Ministry. || Pilot year – Grade 11
 * continue the discussion around curricula;
 * learn from the pilot being proposed for next year
 * develop and assess resources;
 * share assessment practices;
 * and support each other.


 * Name || School ||
 * Linda Caughlin || Centennial ||
 * Bill Mantyka || Evan Hardy ||
 * Tina Rioux || Evan Hardy ||
 * Sarah Clark || Evan Hardy ||
 * Barry Charington || Evan Hardy/Online Learning ||
 * Catherine McQueen || Nutana ||
 * Siobhan Reyda || Nutana ||
 * Kim Chamagne || Nutana ||
 * Eastlynn Wiebe || Nutana ||
 * JP Ducasse || Mount Royal ||
 * Jon Schwanke || City Park ||
 * Ryan Brimacombe || Aden Bowmen ||
 * Jana Balon || Tommy Douglas ||
 * Melanie Nicklas || Tommy Douglas ||
 * Eric Rowley || Walter Murray ||
 * Angeline Crozier || Walter Murray ||
 * John Wright || Walter Murray ||
 * Karen Peterson || Walter Murray/Brightwater ||

* For 2011-2012, funding sources for our pilot community meetings will come from Collegiate Renewal funds, and the funding source for our Sr Science Planning Committee meetings will come from Curriculum and Instruction. There will be no cost to school PD funds for release time. =New Course Descriptions= There are 4 completely new science courses being offered at Grade 11 – replacing our existing 3 course offerings. Computer Science 20 and 30 are not being renewed yet, but will be done sometime in the future. They are not a part of this planning. Course descriptions have been built around the curricular themes identified by Dean Elliot from the ministry, as there is no draft curriculum created yet. These courses include:

Earth Science 20
…

Environmental Science 20
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary scientific field that integrates physical and biological sciences to the study of the environment and the solution of environmental problems. The focus of this Grade 11 science course revolves around resources in our environment such as: air, soil, water, food and energy. Environmental studies incorporate more of the social sciences for understanding human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. There is a focus on environmental issues such as pollution, and management of environmental issues (sustainable development and production, values, ethics and policy and planning). This course will include an interaction of physical, chemical, and biological processes.

Health Science 20
Health Science 20 is one of the exciting new interest based Science classes offered at the Grade 11 level. This class is of particular interest to students seeking a career in Health Sciences or related fields or are just interested in being informed consumers of Health Services. Topics include anatomy (structure) physiology (function) and their relationships. Nutrition will be introduced through basic biochemistry and metabolism. Various medical diagnostic techniques will be examined including biochemical tests, and medical imaging using ionizing or non ionizing radiation techniques. The class will examine traditional and alternative knowledge systems, supporting evidence and medical ethics.

(Physical) Science 20
__**Physical Science**__ is a science course that explores the relationship between matter and energy. The physics component of this program examines the study of light. Topics include the behaviour of light, reflection and mirrors, refraction, and waves. The chemistry element of this course explores matter and its properties. The periodic table and atomic structure are amongst concepts considered. There is a strong laboratory element to this course.

=Scheduling Thoughts for Piloting= There are some science departments who would like to pilot all of the new courses so that they can support each other, while there are other schools who have individual teachers interested in piloting a single course. Our Sr Science Planning Committee’s recommendations for pilot scenarios include: One of Earth, Environmental, or Health Science 20 could be offered in addition to the existing Bio, Chem, Physics 20, creating 4 Grade 11 course offerings. || This could be any combination of two courses. One should be: One should be: Any of these combinations would keep 3 course offerings at Grade 11. || If 3 or 4 of the new courses are being piloted, we would recommend that all of the existing Bio, Chem, Physics 20 courses be deleted. || =Timeline Dilemma for Pilot Teachers= A conversation that we would recommend occur as soon as possible is between potential pilot teachers and in-school administration. This would identify who is interested in piloting which course and when administration would need this decision by. The dilemma is that pilot decisions have immediate implications for course selection handbooks but there is a very high possibility that Dean will not have the draft curricula developed until Semester 2. The ministry is not requiring us to notify them until January at the earliest about our finalized pilot teacher list. =Questions= If there are specific questions you have, please contact: Terry Johanson, Instructional Consultant Wendy James, Coordinator Curriculum Sr Science Planning Committee: Barry Charington (Evan Hardy) Tina Rioux (Evan Hardy) Linda Caughlin (Centennial) Melanie Nicklas (Tommy Douglas) Karen Peterson (Brightwater/Walter Murray)
 * 1 Course Being Piloted || 2 Courses Being Piloted || 3 or 4 Courses Being Piloted ||
 * This should not be (Physical) Science 20, as it is a combination of existing Physics 20 and Chemistry 20.
 * Physical Science 20, delete Chemistry and Physics 20.
 * Environmental Science 20, delete Biology 20.
 * Health Science 20 – this is significantly new content with little replication in existing curricula.
 * Earth Science 20 – this is significantly new content with little replication in existing curricula.