The Goals and History of Science Education Chapter 3 The Goals and History of Science Education

Challenge The twenty-first century must be based on agreement and cooperation if we are to solve the real problems facing the planet today, such as: alleviation of world hunger, reducing environmental threats, and creating a sustainable world society. The world of science education--- in this country and around the world---will have to grapple with how it can contribute to the perceived needs of individuals, societies and the planet as a whole. 79

The Goals and History of Science Education How to Read This Chapter There are two sections to this chapter. In the first you will find a discussion of key reports and recommendations that have influenced science education. The second part of the chapter focuses on the history of ideas in science education including how researchers have documented the field of science teaching. You might want to start with the history of science. You’ll find a Web site developed by Annette Parrott, a science teacher in Atlanta, who traced the field of science teaching (science and technology as well), thousands of years into the past. She has also focused on the contributions of different ethnic groups to science education. Web site

The Goals and History of Science Education Chapter 3 Map

The Goals and History of Science Education Invitations to Inquiry What are goals and how are they formulated? What factors or forces affected the goals of science education for the 1990s? How and why have the goals of the science curriculum changed in this century? What are the origins of modern science education? What was the Progressive Education Movement and how did it influence the science curriculum? What were the characteristics of the science curriculum reform during the Golden Age of Science Education and how do they compare with the Standards-Based reforms of the 1990s? What are the contemporary trends in science education? What will science education emphasize in the early part of the 21 st Century 80

The Goals and History of Science Education Inquiry 3.1: Goals of the Science Curriculum Brainstorm with peers and make a list of what you consider to be the most important goals of the science curriculum. Put your list away and come back to it later. Complete the activity in Inquiry 3.1 in which you will rank order a set of goals in a questionnaire. How should goals differ at different levels of schooling? 81-82

The Goals and History of Science Education Science Education Reports 83-88

The Goals and History of Science Education Compare & Contrast Project 2061Project on S,S&CNSES On a chart like this, use the material and the websites of these projects, and identify the major contribution of each on science teaching in today’s schools

The Goals and History of Science Education Inquiry 3.2: Icons of Science Education Roots, Pre Progressive Ed., Golden Age, Back-to-Basics, Nation at Risk, Reforms of the 1990s The New Millennium What social forces influenced science education? What reports or commissions affected the goals of science teaching? What were the desired goals of science teaching? What was the focus of the science curriculum? 89-90

The Goals and History of Science Education History of Science Education Design a time line of events in the history of science teaching in the last two centuries. Consider three concurrent historical timelines, Science, Technology and Science Education. Plot the events on adding machine tape, or some other material. Line the separate timelines up so that you can compare and contrast them across content areas. Use the resources in the Art of Teaching Science as well as the web sites at the end of the chapter. 90

The Goals and History of Science Education Historical Markers Seven historical markers are identified to help us understand the development of science education. These include: –Roots, Pre –Progressive Ed., –Golden Age, –Back-to-Basics, –Nation at Risk, –Reforms of the 1990s –The New Millennium Design a web showing the political, social and educational forces influencing one of the markers (see the Golden Age example on thisw and the next slide)

The Goals and History of Science Education Golden Age Marker 93-96