All the SFN science forums http://www.scienceforums.net/index.php Sun, 13 May 2012 20:33:49 +0000 15 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66385-aspiring-science-teacher-looking-for-advice/
A little background on myself:
I'm currently attending my local CC majoring in physics (gave engineering a one semester try, wasn't my cup of tea). Haha. Teaching is my family business, as my dad, sister, aunt, two cousins, and great aunt are all teachers and my mom is the secretary for a local middle school.

I'm a declared physics major, and when I transfer to my local CSU, I will be majoring in physics with an emphasis in teaching (the "general option" as it is called there). I've always known I wanted to become a teacher at some point in my life even while majoring in engineering to become an engineer. Specifically, I'd like to teach the sciences because that has always been my true academic passion. I would like to become a high school physics/chemistry/earth science teacher as the program I am looking to attend fulfills all requirements for the single subject teaching credential in science with a concentration in physics for California.

I just have a few questions for those science teachers out there currently teaching at the high school levels. Firstly, if I were planning on going on to a masters program, would a graduate program for a masters in education be the optimal degree? Or rather a masters in a science education program? Or just an advanced degree in physics/geophysics? (I say geophysics because the program also prepares undergraduates for physics-related interdisciplinary fields in grad school) I've always been interested in receiving a masters degree as a promise to myself, not just for higher pay.

Secondly, I've heard that science and math teachers are in high demand around the nation. Does anyone have any knowledge about this specifically for California? Any other information that anyone has about teaching the sciences would be extremely helpful and I will be very grateful. Thanks everyone!]]> Sun, 13 May 2012 20:33:49 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66385-aspiring-science-teacher-looking-for-advice/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66381-where-to-start/ Sciences (Applied Sciences) Access to HE Diploma. And i've been reffered to a career adviser because i do love science but i dont really know what i want to do and in order to get on the course i need to know precisely what course and university and job im going to go for. My perfect job would be in a lab syhthesizing new chemicals. Im also interested in quantum physics and find it fascinating that we only see energy and not reality itself, and the double slit experiment blew me away, as i always thought light travelled in straight lines not like waves. Anyone have any helpful information about possible future career prospect's that fit what im intested in? Thanks in advance people.]]> Sun, 13 May 2012 14:34:37 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66381-where-to-start/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66350-how-will-i-do-in-chemistry-in-college/
In the past, I never really had good study habits. Junior high and early high school, I never studied at home. I just used the time in class to do any practice or other form of studying. However, now that I took AP chemistry this year, that has started to change.

I took AP chemistry all this year, and I made C's every quarter, both semesters. I'm a B student in math classes when I just do any studying and practice during class time. For chemistry, I tried a lot harder than I normally do, but I admit that I still didn't try my hardest. I did start to do practice problems on my own time, and occasionally made flash cards, etc. I sometimes read the text book.

My laziness throughout my entire life came from a very poor confidence level and a lot of uncertainty about the quality of my future. My confidence has slowly risen throughout high school. While I'm not 100% confident yet, I've always been a curious person and have had a deep passion for the sciences, and I enjoy math, even if it's a pain sometimes.

What I want to know from you is this: if I really, really get myself in order, will someone like me be able to stand a chance in college? AP chem served as a transition to help me prepare for college, and so far I've done just okay. If I really get serious about it, read my book for all the chapters and study consistently (and not cram the night before), do a lot of practice problems and work to understand concepts, do you think I will survive?

Tell me about any of your experiences too, and tell me about what has helped you study in college - how you did it, which resources you used the most, etc.

I really appreciate your input in advance. ]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 21:52:36 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66350-how-will-i-do-in-chemistry-in-college/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66289-for-those-who-are-yet-decide-on-their-university-choices/ ]]> Tue, 08 May 2012 13:04:35 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66289-for-those-who-are-yet-decide-on-their-university-choices/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66109-comment-on-ajb-blog/
http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66103-blog-post-ajb-a-level-mathematics-is-not-equipping-students-with-the-right-skills/page__pid__674786#entry674786

Does the site owner not wish the subject to be discussed?]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:58:37 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66109-comment-on-ajb-blog/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66075-undergraduate-research-question/ Hi. I have been doing undergrad research in biochem for about 5 months now. However, the summer is approaching and I am thinking about switching to a different lab. I want to do this because 1. my PI did not get the undergraduate grant, and I would have to essentially work there for free 2. The project is not very exciting and the atmosphere, not intellectually stimulating. Should I switch labs to something i am more interested in?.. how will the switch reflect on my grad app...(ie do they want to see commitment to lab). I should also mention that i only have 2 more semesters until graduation. Thanks. Sat, 28 Apr 2012 22:52:37 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66075-undergraduate-research-question/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66047-how-to-make-science-more-interesting-to-students/
If you were part of an advisory committee to advice your government or the education minister how would you make students to get more attracted to science?]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:12:49 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/66047-how-to-make-science-more-interesting-to-students/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65996-what-should-i-expect-in-a-physics-degree/ Well? What? Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:28:29 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65996-what-should-i-expect-in-a-physics-degree/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65989-is-america-prospective-for-trained-physicians/ I am a Bangladeshi and my wife is a trained medical doctor. Recently she became successful at finding a residency position in America. I am curious to know, is America prospective for trained physicians?

]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:42:47 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65989-is-america-prospective-for-trained-physicians/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65988-how-tough-is-physics-as-a-subject/
So for some clarity, how hard/tough is physics to study for someone with no special natural abilities in math or science?]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:13:13 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65988-how-tough-is-physics-as-a-subject/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65864-universities-with-good-physics-departments/
Can anyone give some insight? What universities have a good reputation in physics?
(In the UK)]]> Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:09:30 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65864-universities-with-good-physics-departments/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65591-back-to-college-help/
I am hoping to do an Access to Higher Education diploma at college soon, and then go on to University to study Physics.

I have been out of school for many years, so my maths is pretty sub-standard after years of neglect and working in very non-mathematical industries. (fractions baffle me, and basic mental division and subtraction are difficult).

College Access to HE Diploma will take me upto GCSE Grade C level in math, but I'm planning to take it further to A grade and do A-levels in math and physics to satisfy Uni entry standards.

I want to start studying now at home to get my skills up to a reasonable standard before I go to college in 5 months.

Can anyone advise me of good books and online resources that can help me out with home study?

I'm doing this on my own.
So any advice/tips in:
- Structuring home study
- what to learn
- How to learn it
Would be greatly appreciated.
No matter how basic, or simple sounding, it will all help.

Thanks.
]]> Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:45:57 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65591-back-to-college-help/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65581-quantum-computational-chemistry/ Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:54:59 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65581-quantum-computational-chemistry/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65485-my-pa-program-starts-in-may-but-i-am-waiting-for-fall-starting-schools-to-get-back-to-me-help-what-do-i-do/
I'm on a super time crunch and don't want to wait until May to call these programs and tell them to hurry up because I don't want to disrespect the program which accepted me. Would you call them? Ask them for the status of my application? I've already emailed the school I'm wait-listed at saying that they're my first choice and basically I would choose them over the other. I'm getting really nervous because I'm worried that they won't contact me in time! What would you do?]]> Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:16:46 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65485-my-pa-program-starts-in-may-but-i-am-waiting-for-fall-starting-schools-to-get-back-to-me-help-what-do-i-do/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65365-preperation-for-career-advice-software-engineering/ Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:19:05 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65365-preperation-for-career-advice-software-engineering/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65157-need-career-advice/ Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:05:22 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65157-need-career-advice/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65087-literature-review/
Don't know if you can help, but I'm doing a literature review at the moment for my bachelorthesis.
Since it's for my bachelor, the review doesn't have to be exhaustive, but I have to build a framework and discuss some relevant literature in the field.

Part of my project is the relationship between large organizations and their foreign subsidiaries.
I'm searching for literature right now, but my question is:

There are thousands of articles available on that topic. Without reading them all, how can I develop an understanding of the most recent, and most influential findings?
How do I know which articles contain the leading theories in the field?
How do I know which articles contain the most relevant frameworks or concepts?

Thanks in advance ]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:16:21 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65087-literature-review/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65041-science-biochemistry/
What can a general 3 year science degree majoring in Biochemistry lead to?

What sort of jobs are available to people after completing this type of degee?

Would honours increase your employment prospects considerably? If so, how so?

Should you get industrial experience before moving onto a phD if that is what you plan to do?]]> Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:39:05 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65041-science-biochemistry/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65024-interactive-scale-of-the-universe/ http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120312.html]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:38:32 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/65024-interactive-scale-of-the-universe/ http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/64947-changing-the-way-we-teach/
The point of this thread is not to help me with my assignment; if anything I hope to maybe glean some inspiration and insight. Rather, what I aim to do is discuss the wider issue regarding the way we teach courses and whether or not things should be changed. My opinion is that some sort of change is required in order to fix an obvious problem with students that enter into and graduate from the tertiary education system, which is that students don't seem to be learning what they need to learn and more importantly, that they aren't understanding the material. A lot of this seems to come down to how learning is facilitated in high school, however I don't think that the blame lies entirely at their doorstep.

In any case, I am interested to hear other thoughts on this.


A relevant thread:

What can we do for science education?



As well as a couple of blog entries (enter shameless self promotion):

Shut up and listen to your students - By Cap'n Refsmmat

Where are they all? - By yours truly]]> Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:38:37 +0000 http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/64947-changing-the-way-we-teach/