NATURAL SCIENCE SAMPLE COURSE DESCRIPTION

GS- East

Science does not exist in a vacuum. There is a social interface to every facet of science, however small. Since very little of the social side of science is discussed in high school and college science classes, Governor’s School students examine that interface in several areas. Special consideration is given to the types of lifestyles that can exist with a sustainable environment.

Natural Science is usually divided into four areas:

GS-West

Iterative Modeling of Kinetic Systems
Chemical reactions and other kinetics systems can be modeled as an iterative process using a computer spreadsheet. These models can illustrate nonlinear effects when individual parameters change. Students create models of complex chemical reactions and use the models to analyze the effects of changes in the parameters of the processes. Similar models can be developed for dynamic processes in ecology , epidemiology and economics, where local change can have global effects.

Bioethical Frontiers
Through role-playing, debate, and dialogue, students collectively focus on contentious scientific issues in order to enhance their decision-making skills. The Human Genome Project, genetic testing, somatic cell nuclear transfer, stem cell, and other cutting-edge topics are introduced to tease out the ethical principles, rules, and current laws that each student must grapple with to work through these emerging dilemmas. Personal and societal positions on these topics are analyzed by weighing the ethical principles and moral values entangled in possible decisions. An important goal is to have each student begin to build a dynamic, growing personal point of view as they begin to consider that the questions are more important than "correct" answers. Because of the student-centered, interactive class environment, students are engaged in authentic learning that provides ownership to solutions involving higher order thinking skills and moral reasoning.