Science-y Goodness!
The State of Science Education in the US
I really enjoyed our Friday chat. As the least knowledgeable person participating I also learned a few things.
One very important topic was the state of science education in our schools. In SD & DNA Mike devoted the last part of his book to it, Chapter 9, Page 300.
I graduated from high school in 1961. I learned by rote. Memorize stuff, pass a test, then forget it. I was surprised when the other, younger, chat participants said that is exactly how they were taught. It is a little depressing to learn that in 50 years we haven't made much progress.
If our children don't properly learn about the scientific process, or critical thinking, in school why should we expect they will know any better as adults. Which of course could explain some of the policies of Ex-President Bush's administration. :) Of course prior Democratic administrations didn't address the problem either.
From the 2006 Program for International Student Assessment:
http://www.usatoday.com/educate/mathscience/article-math2.htm
"The nation's 15-year-olds make a poor showing on a newly released international test of practical math applications, ranking 24th out of 29 industrialized nations, behind South Korea, Japan and most of Europe. U.S. students' scores were comparable to those in Poland, Hungary and Spain."
What steps need to be taken to improve the science education our children are receiving? I can't think of anything more important than how we teach our kids because they represent the future.
I can think of a few:
1. An interactive class room environment. Let the kids play with science, not just sit back and watch a teacher explain the science to them.
2. More, better, science training of our teachers. If they don't adequately know the science process how can they teach it.
3. Better, more accurate, monitoring of the science education our kids are getting.
Any other ideas or thoughts?
One very important topic was the state of science education in our schools. In SD & DNA Mike devoted the last part of his book to it, Chapter 9, Page 300.
I graduated from high school in 1961. I learned by rote. Memorize stuff, pass a test, then forget it. I was surprised when the other, younger, chat participants said that is exactly how they were taught. It is a little depressing to learn that in 50 years we haven't made much progress.
If our children don't properly learn about the scientific process, or critical thinking, in school why should we expect they will know any better as adults. Which of course could explain some of the policies of Ex-President Bush's administration. :) Of course prior Democratic administrations didn't address the problem either.
From the 2006 Program for International Student Assessment:
http://www.usatoday.com/educate/mathscience/article-math2.htm
"The nation's 15-year-olds make a poor showing on a newly released international test of practical math applications, ranking 24th out of 29 industrialized nations, behind South Korea, Japan and most of Europe. U.S. students' scores were comparable to those in Poland, Hungary and Spain."
What steps need to be taken to improve the science education our children are receiving? I can't think of anything more important than how we teach our kids because they represent the future.
I can think of a few:
1. An interactive class room environment. Let the kids play with science, not just sit back and watch a teacher explain the science to them.
2. More, better, science training of our teachers. If they don't adequately know the science process how can they teach it.
3. Better, more accurate, monitoring of the science education our kids are getting.
Any other ideas or thoughts?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Dutton on -
Ed,
Every generation will find fault with our education status ... and system. I remember reading Steve Allen's "Dumbth" and thinking things have not changed much since he wrote the book. His book could have been written yesterday - right up to the cashier who can't make change. My hope is that survival of the fittest will weed out the weaklings. However, I find myself in a world where my daughter makes the "B Honor Roll" and schools don't use red pens because it may hurt the kid's feelings. My impression is that while K-12 is certainly a weak point, American universities and industry have no peers. The graduate school work ethic is unbelievable and you would be amazed at the effort foreign countries and companies put into corporate espionage here in America. While India is standing up a rather impressive set of universities, the good students always want to escape to America. Not sure how long this will hold, but we're not doing too badly right now.
http://www.amazon.com/Dumbth-Thinking-Reason-Better-Improve/dp/1573...
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