Course: Teaching Natural History and Biology

» List of faculties » FP » KBE
Course title Teaching Natural History and Biology
Course code KBE/KVPB
Organizational form of instruction Seminary
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements Course does not contain work placement
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Jančaříková Kateřina, doc. PhDr. Ph.D.
  • Sodomková Martina, Ing. et Ing.
  • Pražáková Martina, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
Lectures: 1. Teaching methods I. Verbal teaching methods (monological verbal teaching methods, dialogical verbal teaching methods, exposition, storytelling (narrative method), guided reading, discussion-based, role-play and situational teaching methods). Working with specialist texts. 2. The 'good questions' method. 3. Teaching methods II. The illustrative demonstration method. Visual aids. Scientific abstraction. 4. Methods and didactic approaches III and their application in the teaching of natural history and biology - active learning methods, the inquiry-based method, project-based learning, problem-based learning. 5. Methods and didactic approaches IV - modern teaching methods, place-based education, outdoor learning, transformative learning. 6. Methods and didactic approaches V - games, educational games. Gamification. Programmes, educational simulators, applications. Memory trace (engram). Educational games in biology teaching. ICT in biology teaching. 7. The classroom. Theories of the 'empty' and 'rich' classroom. Classroom equipment. Teaching aids, apparatus and blackboards in the classroom. 8. Teaching aids in natural history and biology lessons. Textbooks. Working with textbooks. Choosing a textbook. Living organisms and natural specimens in natural history and biology lessons. Natural history collection. Herbarium. Specimens. 9. Representation. Models in biology lessons (static and dynamic). Static and dynamic representations in biology lessons (drawings, paintings, photographs, slides, transparencies, computers). 10. Assessment in natural history and biology (formative assessment, self-assessment). Oral/written assessment of knowledge. Test preparation. Multi-criteria assessment and its preparation. 11. Assessing learning outcomes in natural history and biology I. Traditional tools. Oral examinations. Didactic tests and their specific features with regard to natural history and biology as school subjects. 12. Assessing learning outcomes in natural history and biology II. Less commonly used tools. Essays. Five-line questions. Concept maps and other less traditional methods of assessing learning outcomes. 13. The content of natural history and biology teaching. The curriculum, the theory of didactic reconstruction, and the relationship between the discipline, the subject and the syllabus. 14. Educational documents: the Framework Educational Programme (RVP) and the School Educational Programme (ŠVP).

Learning activities and teaching methods
Dialogue metods(conversation,discussion,brainstorming), Self-study (text study, reading, problematic tasks, practical tasks, experiments, research, written assignments), Active metods (simulation, situational contingency methods, drama,acting, namagerial acting ), Lecture, Practicum
Learning outcomes
The content of this course builds on the course Didactics of Biology. The aim of the lectures is to familiarize students with teaching methods, teaching aids, lesson content, and ways of assessing students' learning outcomes in natural history and biology. The aim of the practical classes is to develop students' practical knowledge and skills, which they will use in practice when teaching these subjects at primary and secondary schools.

Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of biology teaching methodology

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam, Presentation of acquired experience via portfolio

Active participation in lessons Completion of set assignments during the semester Assessment test
Recommended literature
  • BRTNOVÁ ČEPIČKOVÁ, I. Didaktika přírodovědného základu. Ústí nad Labem: UJEP, 2013.
  • FLETCHER-WOOD, H. Responzivní výuka: kognitivní vědy a formativní hodnocení v praxi.. Praha: Euromedia Group, 2021. ISBN 978-80-242-7152-1.
  • KAMPOURAKIS, K., REISS, M. Teaching Biology in Schools: Global Research, Issues, and Trends. New York: Routledge, 2018. ISBN 9781138087941.
  • KUBICOVÁ, S., PTAŠKOVÁ, H., PTAŠEK, J. Metodika výuky biologie na 2. stupni základních škol a středních školách z pohledu pedagogické praxe ? náměty pro začínajícího učitele. Ostrava: Synergie, 2009. ISBN 978-80-7368-882-0.
  • PAVLASOVÁ, L. Přehled didaktiky biologie. Praha: UK v Praze, 2014. ISBN 978-80-7290-643-7.
  • REISS, M. Teaching Secondary Biology. London. 2021.
  • STUCHLÍKOVÁ, I., JANÍK, T., et al. Oborové didaktiky: vývoj - stav - perspektivy. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2015. ISBN 978-80-210-7884-0.
  • VINTER, V., KRÁLIČEK, I. Začínající učitel biologie. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého, 2017. ISBN 978-80-244-5021-6.
  • WELLINGTON, J., IRESON, G. Science Learning, Science Teaching. New York: Routledge, 2017. ISBN 9781138654105.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester