Discourse in STEM Classrooms

3 credits · Peabody College - Professional

When people compare the teaching in various classrooms and schools, they often focus on the curriculum in use. However, empirical studies have shown that, while curriculum matters, classroom organization and discourse shape much of what students actually learn. In this course, we will examine ways of looking at discourse in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classrooms as it relates to disciplinary knowledge, teaching practice and student learning. We will read both seminal and cutting-edge works in the study of discourse in STEM classrooms, looking at multiple school contexts and across grade levels. Reflecting research in the field, we will primarily focus on issues in science and mathematics classrooms, comparing them to out-of-school settings. In addition, we will watch videotapes of K-12 classrooms to apply the analytic tools from the readings. This course is intended to help you gain a better understanding of research on the role of discourse in learning in STEM classrooms and develop a familiarity through readings with some of the concepts used in and issues addressed through the study of classroom discourse. [3]