Teaching Natural Sciences Courses

Syllabus Content

GE course syllabi need to contain specific language about the General Education Area to help familiarize students with the GE aspects of the specific GE Area, your course, and how these courses fit within their whole program. Therefore, you need to include the rationale for the Knowledge of the Disciplines requirements, the rationale for your specific course to be approved as a Natural Sciences course, and the Natural Sciences Student Learning Outcomes in your course syllabus.

Knowledge of the Disciplines Rationale Expand dropdown
"Since each discipline offers a different perspective for understanding the world, understanding anything well requires some understanding of all of them. Students employ critical thinking skills to develop questions of inquiry that reflect an understanding of different disciplinary perspectives."
Specific Course Rationale Expand dropdown
To find the rationale for your course's inclusion in Knowledge of the Disciplines - Natural Sciences go to the catalog, select the course you're teaching, scroll down to the heading "Rationale for Knowledge of the Disciplines" and copy and paste the rationale.
Student Learning Outcomes Expand dropdown
"In Natural Sciences courses, students will:
1. Attain a basic knowledge of scientific laws that govern the universe.
2. Solve problems using scientific principles and provided data.
3. Using methods consistent with the discipline, gather information that is of a quality appropriate for analysis.
4. Solve problems using scientific principles and original data gathered using methods consistent with the discipline.
5. Interpret, evaluate, and analyze scientific information presented in the media to become a scientifically literate citizen."

Assessment Resources

Completing Assessment of GE Courses every semester is vital to ensuring that EMU's GE Courses are successful and that students meet the Learning Outcomes through intentional learning. Assessment is meant to facilitate evaluation of student success in reaching the intended learning outcomes of each General Education area. GE has created Assessment Rubrics for each GE Area. Students are rated as exceeding the target learning outcome, meeting the target learning outcome, or falling below the target learning outcome. Below is the Natural Sciences Assessment Rubric which will be included in the gradebook of your Natural Sciences course Canvas shell upon request.

The first Student Learning Outcome states that students will attain a basic knowledge of scientific laws that govern the universe.

Exceeds Target: Uses technical vocabulary beyond that introduced in the course. Consistently demonstrates extensive knowledge of information and concepts.

Target: Uses the appropriate technical vocabulary. Demonstrates appropriate knowledge of core information and concepts.

Below Target: Limited or no evidence of ability to use the appropriate technical vocabulary. Limited or no evidence of knowledge of core information and concepts.

The second Student Learning Outcome states that students will solve problems using scientific principles and provided data.

Exceeds Target: Is able to clearly and logically justify the process used to correctly solve discipline-specific problems.

Target: Identifies the appropriate established principle and/or data to solve discipline-specific problems. Uses the information to analyze and correctly solve the problems.

Below Target: Unable to identify the appropriate established principle and/or data to solve discipline-specific problems. Cannot use the information to analyze and correctly solve the problems.

The third Student Learning Outcome states that students will, using the methods consistent with the discipline, gather information that is of a quality appropriate for analysis.

Exceeds Target: Suggests improvements to the process of gathering data that would improve the quality of original data gathered. Suggests additional, different types of original data that could be gathered that would improve the analysis.

Target: Uses discipline-specific methods to gather original data. Data that is gathered is of a quality appropriate for analysis.

Below Target: Uses an incorrect method to gather original data or the data that is gathered is of insufficient quality for analysis.

The fourth Student Learning Outcome states that students will solve problems using scientific principles and original data gathered using methods consistent with the discipline.

Exceeds Target: Provides insight into the reliability, limitations, and/or uncertainty present in the data.

Target: Uses data to support a hypothesis or established principle, or to make a concrete prediction.

Below Target: Limited or no evidence of ability to derive useful information from data.

The fifth Student Learning Outcome states that students will interpret, evaluate, and analyze scientific information presented in the media to become a scientifically literate citizen.

Exceeds Target: Thoroughly assesses sources and uses multiple sources of valid material to defend a personal position about a scientific issue of relevance to society.

Target: Appropriately assesses source material and uses valid material to defend a personal position about a scientific issue of relevance to society.

Below Target: Makes an insufficient attempt to assess source material or does not use valid material to defend a personal position about a scientific issue of relevance to society.

Please contact Dr. Maria Milletti, Head of the Natural Sciences Working Group for the General Education Sub-Committee on Assessment, at [email protected] to have the above rubric included in the gradebook feature of the Canvas shells for your Natural Science courses or with any additional questions regarding teaching a GE Natural Science course.

Natural Sciences Learning Community - Coming Soon!

As an EMU instructor teaching a GE course, you will be invited to join an intentional Learning Community to meet other EMU instructors teaching in the same GE Area. These learning communities will allow instructors to develop, share, and facilitate student learning together. Look for the Natural Sciences Learning Community in your Canvas Dashboard to get more information.