Welcome to the MAST Self-Study Course Homepage. On this page you will find links to the lessons for this course, a listing of available papers submitted by students of this course, and a list of references that were useful in making this course.
This course is now the subject of a new MAST book entitled, "Self-Instruction and Teaching: Science Education for the New Millennium."
The purpose of this course is to set out the ideas and methods by which self-study can be made efficient and thorough. For those taking this course as a member of MAST or SAS this is worth 1 credit towards a certification. This course has no certification.
Unlike other courses that require a project for which a paper is due after all coursework is done, this course requires a declaration of a project right away. This project will be the source for all student participation for each lesson. This project must be approved by your chosen instructor. I would recommend something that you can cover in a few weeks. As you work through the task-lists for the lessons use your project as the basis for what you will work on.
This lesson sets out how to plan your learning project in terms of time, resources, and materials. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how the techniques used to learn. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to use your resources as a means to using the techniques from lesson 2. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to test yourself. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to work a class or a seminar. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how the techniques of critical thinking can be used to teach. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to motivate your students. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to assess your teaching. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
Here is a list of the current instructors for this course. Contact can be made by email.
There are no student project papers here yet.
Ronald Gross [1991], Peak Learning, Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.
This book has a wonderful array of subjects describing how to find your learning potential and develop it. A good deal of lessons 1 and 3 are based on elements of this book. My only complaint is that the book seems a little too "preachy."
Arnold B. Arons [1997], Teaching Introductory Physics, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
This is a truly awesome book written by a significant contributor to the field. This book has honed my philosophy of science education. Much of the material in lesson 2 is due to this book.
Joseph J. Carr [1992], The Art of Science, Hightext.
This is a neat little book on how to do experimental research. I used it as the source for many of the logical fallacies outlined in lesson 2.
E. Bright Wilson [1952], An Introduction to Scientific Research, McGraw-Hill Book Company, reprinted with minor revisions by Dover Publications, Inc. in 1990.
Written by a Nobel laureate, this book is one of the best at describing the process of scientific research of any kind. It is quite a bit dated in terms of numerical and computational work, but the general principles are still sound. I used this as a guide to some of lesson 1 and a good deal of lesson 3.
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