Chapter 3: The Goals and History of Science Education
Syllabus Helpers
Chapter 3: The Goals and History of Science Education
Syllabus Helpers
The focus of this chapter is on the goals and the development of ideas of the science curriculum. In the chapter we explore the changes in the goals of science education during the past century, but will pay particular attention to the contemporary nature of the science curriculum and reports and recommendations issued by a number of groups, commissions, and professional societies.
Initial Case Study Divine Intervention, p. 80 This case focuses on the issue of
evolution and creation science in the context of adopting
science textbooks. Invitations to Inquiry Focus questions for the chapter on
p.80 Key invitations include How and why have
the goals of science education changed, and what will
science education emphasize in the early part of the
twenty-first century? Inquiry Activities Inquiry Activity 3.1: The Goals of the
Science Curriculum Inquiry Activity 3.2: Icons of Science
Education: How Do They Tell the Story of Science
Education Inquiry Activity 3.3: How Were Course
Improvement Projects of the 1960s Different from the Reform
Projects of the 1990s? Ranking goals of science teaching and
comparing the results to a research study. An inquiry into the major phases of the
history of ideas in science education by identifying
icons. Comparing and contrasting projects from
the Golden Age of Science Education to the Reform Era of the
1990s and into the 21st Century Case Studies Rehasing the Sixties New Science Goals---Just Another
Fad Is the report, Science for All Americans
by the AAAS simply a rehash of the sixties approach to
science education? A parent objects to a "new" set of goals
for a science course. Science Education Literature Back To The Future With Science Education
by Jarry Loeppke Is the "rethink" about science education
goals and programs leading us in the right
direction? Science Timeline A timeline developed by Annette Parrott
on the developments in science, science education, and
technology Think Pieces Sample: How have the goals of the science
curriculum changed over the past twenty years? p.
105 This and other think pieces can be used
to help students reflect on the concept of change in science
currciulum development. Problems and Extensions Sample: Design a time line of events in
the history of science teaching in the last two centuries.
Plot the events on adding machine tape. A powerful way to help your students
understand changes in their profession. Readings pp. 110-111 Included are some important books (the
Pathway series) published by NSTA that help teachers
understand the NSES. On the Web p. 111 Links to key projects related to the
development of the NSES.