Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

3D Science Secondary Education (Face-to-Face)

PSCI 4870-01

Course: PSCI 4870-01
Credits: 2
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCI
CRN: 31753

Course Description

An introduction to the concepts and skills required to teach science at the middle or high school level using the “Three Dimensions” as defined by the SEEd standards. This class will introduce the theories of 3D teaching and allow students to practice them on assignments. (As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): Instructor permission Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Ambitious Science Teaching by Windshitl, Thompson, and Braaten

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge of the Physical and Natural World. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the physical and natural world by preparing lessons that accurately describe and teach correct scientific concepts, principles, and theories.
2. Communication. Students will develop the ability to clearly communicate in a teaching setting while using the 3D principles of science teaching.
3. Creative Thinking. Students will come up with at least some of their own, original ways to teach science.
4. Critical Thinking. Students will develop the ability to evaluate lessons with respect to their use of the 3D principles of science teaching and, if necessary, change them to better use 3D principles.

Course Requirements

Grading: Grades will be based on the following:
Reading quizzes
Lessons
Attendance and Participation
Final Lesson

Final grades will be assigned following a typical scale:
            93.0-100.0%    A                                             73.0-77.0%       C
            90.0-93.0%      A-                                            70.0-73.0%       C-
            87.0-90.0%       B+                                            67.0-70.0%       D+
            83.0-87.0%      B                                              63.0-67.0%       D
            80.0-83.0%       B-                                            60.0-63.0%       D-
            77.0-80.0%      C+                                            <60.0%              F

Reading quizzes. Students are expected to read before class and be prepared to discuss in class chapters of the book.

Lessons. Students are expected to prepare five 3D lessons throughout the year. These will be discussed in class, and will be graded based on both completion and the incorporation of 3D ideas into the lesson.

Attendance and Participation. Students are expected to attend and participate each day. Failure to do so can result in the loss of these points. (See attendance policy.)

Final Lesson. The final exam for this class is for students to prepare their best 3D lesson and teach it during the final time.

Course Outline

Date                Activity
2 Sept              Go over syllabus, talk about book, what are DCI's, SEP's, and CCC's (what is 3d)?, popsicle stick activity
9 Sept              Discuss chapter 2, discuss CCC's (Big Ideas from the book), how do DCI's, SEP's, and CCC's fit together and show up in lessons
16 Sept            Discuss chapters 3 and 6, discuss SEP's (discussion and modeling from the book)
23 Sept            Practice turning a normal lesson into a 3D lesson
30 Sept            Work on developing a 3D lesson
7 Oct                Teach the 3D lesson you developed/critique each others' 3D lessons
14 Oct              Fall break/No class
21 Oct              Discuss how 3D is different from multiple perspectives
28 Oct              Teach your second 3D lesson/critique others' 3D lessons
4 Nov               Discuss chapters 8, 9, and 11, lessons, labs, and assessments in 3D
11 Nov             Popsicle stick part 2 - use it to actually start developing a lesson
18 Nov             Present your popsicle stick 3D lesson/critique others' 3D lessons
25 Nov             Thanksgiving break/No class
2 Dec               Teach your fourth 3D lesson/critique others' 3D lessons
8 Dec (Final, 5 PM - 7 PM)    Teach your "ultimate" 3D lesson

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Work turned in after the due date may be subject to a 50% penalty.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is required. As a teacher, if you must miss a day, you have to call ahead and arrange for a sub. We follow the same policy: if you must miss a day, you MUST contact the instructor a reasonable amount ahead of time (an email two minutes before class is not sufficient). Failure to do so may result in the loss of 2/3 of your total attendance and participation points (10% of your final grade). A second failure will result in the loss of all of your attendance and participation points. Also, more than one missed class for any reason (unless there is a “good cause” such as a medical emergency as determined jointly by the instructor and student) will result in the loss of 20 participation points per missed day (beyond the first).

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.