Science in the School Curriculum Chapter 5 Science in the School Curriculum Science in the School Curriculum

How to Read This Chapter The chapter is divided into sections on the curriculum for middle and high school science in the U.S., followed by a section on science education in Australia, Chile, China, Ghana, Japan, Russia and Turkey. You can focus on each section separately depending on your interests. You might, for example take a look at a description of science education in a country of your interest and compare it to your knowledge of science education in the U.S. Inquiry activities are designed to help you investigate various curriculum projects and curricula at the middle and high school level. Science in the School Curriculum

Invitations to Inquiry What is meant by the term curriculum? What should be the nature of the elementary, middle and high school science curriculum as outlined by the National Science Education Standards? What was the influence of school science curriculum reform projects of the 1960s and how do they differ from the current era of science curriculum reform? What are the characteristics of exemplary middle and high school science programs? How does the science curriculum of the United States compare with the science curriculum in other nations? Science in the School Curriculum

Science in the School Curriculum Chapter 5 Map Science in the School Curriculum

Science Standards (NSES) Educate students who: Are able to experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world; Use appropriate scientific processes and principles in making personal decisions; Engage intelligently in public discourse and debate about matters of scientific and technological concern; and Increase their economic productivity through the use of the knowledge, understanding, and skills of the scientifically literate person in their careers. Science in the School Curriculum

Inquiry 5.1 Science Curriculum Patterns Compare the K-12 curriculum pattern of two districts in your state, or two different countries. Use the chart on the next slide to organize your material. Use the procedures in Inquiry Activity 5.1 to complete your research. How do patterns of curriculum compare? To what extent is the “layer cake model” implemented in the districts? What makes one curriculum better than another? Science in the School Curriculum

Inquiry 5.1: Science Curriculum Patterns Level Goals Courses Text materials Elementary Middle School High School Science in the School Curriculum

Organization of Content Standards Unifying concepts and processes Science as inquiry Physical science Life science Earth and space science Science and technology Science in personal and social perspectives History and nature of science Science in the School Curriculum

The Middle School Science Curriculum Influential Projects IPS ESCP ISCS Middle School Movement Curriculum Patterns Exemplary Programs BSCS Science & Tech. Investigating Earth Systems Earthscope Interactions in Physical Science Science in the School Curriculum

The High School Science Curriculum Contemporary Patterns Reform Projects PSSC Physics Project Physics CHEM Study & CBA BSCS Standards Exemplary H.S. Science Curricula BioCom Insights in Biology ChemCom Active Chemistry Active Physics Conceptual Physics Science in the School Curriculum

Science in the School Curriculum Activities Used in Middle and High School Science What activities do you think middle school science and high school science teachers use while teaching? Identify the five most frequently used activities, and the five least used activities from the lists below. Check your results by consulting the next slide. Middle School Work in groups Do hands-on/lab activities Follow instructions in activity Read non-text material Read from science text Watch science demo Record, represent data Answer text questions Use math as a tool in problem solving Write reflection in a journal Watch audiovisual presentations Listen and take notes during teach presentation Work on extended science project Design own investigation Use computers as a tool (data analysis) Participate in field work Take field trips Prepare written science reports Make formal presentation to the class High School Work in groups Do hands-on/lab activities Follow instructions in activity Read non-text material Read from science text Watch science demo Record, represent data Answer text questions Use math as a tool in problem solving Write reflection in a journal Watch audiovisual presentations Listen and take notes during teach presentation Work on extended science project Design own investigation Use computers as a tool (data analysis) Participate in field work Take field trips Prepare written science reports Make formal presentation to the class The lists are from Weiss, I. R. Report on the 2000 National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education, p. 63 Science in the School Curriculum

Science in the School Curriculum Science Activities Reported by Teachers that Students Take Part in at Least Once a Week Activity Middle School Activities % of teachers reporting High School Activities Work in groups Do hands-on/lab activities Follow instructions in activity Read non-text material Read from science text Watch science demo Record, represent data Answer text questions Use math as a tool in problem solving Write reflection in a journal Watch audiovisual presentations Listen and take notes during teach presentation Work on extended science project Design own investigation Use computers as a tool (data analysis) Participate in field work Take field trips Prepare written science reports Make formal presentation to the class 80 65 70 32 46 42 51 56 36 19 54 7 13 11 3 16 9 71 20 28 43 72 52 15 21 86 4 2 24 6 Science in the School Curriculum

Exemplary Middle and High School Science Materials Middle School Middle School Science and Technology Geology Is Investigating Earth Systems Wildlife Inquiry Through Zoo Education Sci-Math Informal Science Study High School Biology: A Community Context Insights in Biology Active Chemistry Active Physics Conceptual Physics Using the material in the text, select one curriculum package, and determine the goals, curriculum, and the context in which the teaching materials are used. You might also consult the EDC curriculum center at http://www2.edc.org/cse/work/k12dissem/materials.asp. Science in the School Curriculum

Inquiry 5.2: Exploring Science Curriculum Materials Using the curriculum evaluation chart assess two science text books. To what extent are the Standards met in the curriculum? Is the science-as-inquiry theme evident in the curriculum materials? Science in the School Curriculum

Science Curriculum: A Global Perspective The science education community extends beyond the boarders of any country and is an active force throughout the world. We live on a planet that some describe as a global community. Technology supports communication of educators from countries as far apart as Australia and the Russia. What is the education of students in other countries about? When do students begin studying science in other nations? What is the nature of the science curriculum in other countries? We asked colleagues from other countries to write brief descriptions of the curriculum and teaching issues in Australia, Chile, China, Ghana, Japan, Russia, and Turkey. What are the issues in other countries, and how do these help inform us about our own issues? The authors have based their writing on personal experiences with the culture. In most cases they were born, educated and worked as science teachers in the country they described. Science in the School Curriculum

Science in the School Curriculum Australia Chile China Ghana Japan Russia Turkey Science in the School Curriculum

Global Science Education Activities What are the science education programs like in some other countries, in addition to the ones described here? You might want to investigate science education in Mexico, France, Great Britain, Hungary, or the Philippines. Prepare a brief report by creating a poster report for the country you choose. What are some of the differences and similarities between U.S. science education and science education in Australia, Chile, China, Ghana, Japan and, Russia? Make a chart identifying the variables that you will use to make comparisons, how each country fared on the variable. Find websites to help you learn more about science education in any of the countries described in the Art of Teaching Science. Science in the School Curriculum