• As part of the course requirement, each of you must compose a science journal during the semester.  The purpose of this activity is to develop your confidence and interest in reading articles about science and technology that has a direct impact on society.

• Each week, find one article in a newspaper or magazine that is of interest to you and that relates to topics covered in SCI 101.  Try to find a variety of articles with some addressing topics related to biology, some relating to geoscience or astronomy, and other science disciplines associated with the course.  An article might be about a new discovery (e.g., the discovery of black holes at the center of distant galaxies), a new technological advance (e.g., an improved fuel system for cars), or an issue of political or social concern (e.g., global warming, cloning).  Also use a variety of sources for your articles.  Different sources (e.g., popular magazines, science journals) approach science topics and writing in different ways.

• Once you have found an article, write a short (less than one page) commentary on it.  The commentary is to include:

1. A two or three sentence summary of the main point of the article.
2. A short discussion of how the article relates to material in the course.
3. A statement about why the article is important.  Does it address life-changing technology?  Solve an old problem?  Add to out understanding of earth, our solar system, or our universe?
 
• The article and commentary are to be turned in  each week.  The article for a particular week does not have to be related to the topics being covered in class during that week, but must apply to a topic that relates to some aspect of the entire course.

• Your first journal report is due during the third week of class.  One journal article is to be turned in each week thereafter through the week of March 8.

PART II.  (From March 22- last week of class) 

• For the second half of the course, your journals will consist of reflections on how you learn.  Because many students in the class are prospective teachers it is important that you monitor and understand your own learning.  One way to do this is to ask "How did I learn?"  The objective of your journals in the second part of the course is to improve your awareness of how initial ideas are challenged and changed or strengthened.  You need to be aware of how students come to know what they know.  Understanding how you learn will make you a more effective teacher (and learner) in the future.

• At the end of each week, write down your reflections on your learning during recent class periods.  Think about what you learned and how it was learned.  Your reflections should include any homework, class activities, and discussions with classmates or others.  Write about anything that is relevant to your learning process in the course.

• Your last reflection journal (week of April 26) is to summarize your learning process over the whole course of the semester.  In the summary, address the question "How did I learn science this semester?", or "The learning of              was the most difficult for me; how did I learn         ?"  Think of your summary as telling a story of your learning process, from an initial way of thinking to an idea(s) about a "final" understanding of science.  Remember, in teaching and learning the process is far more important than the final piece(s) of knowledge.

• Each journal entry is to be dated and signed and truned in weekly.  Making only a few superficial remarks is not an appropriate Journal reflection.