Ch. 6 School Science Seeks Its Own Identity Paul Awtrey and Rachel Taulbee

Main Issues Role of the laboratory College domination of school science Development of standardized science tests Use of large-scale surveys to determine goals

The laboratory and Project Method Lab justified- * Promotes observational and inductive reasoning skills * Direct contact with physical world Project Method- * Curriculum organized to solve socially relevant problems (not teach the discipline)

Is it better to do demonstrations or individual lab work? Issues-  High cost of lab  Difficult to test effectiveness of both methods  Double v. Single Period Labs Single period- decrease cost and save time for teacher and students 7 purposes of lab work  Cookbook labs to go through the motions Harvard requirements similar to lab work

Colleges Dominate High School Curriculum High School & College offering same courses  H.S. – “College Prep” role/ practical and applied courses  College- developing an understanding/ professional preparedness Specific entrance requirements so ANYONE could prepare Herbert Roberts states we need teachers that can teach science so that “lay persons could understand it”

Applications of Science Major purpose-  Advance the discipline  teach practical applications H.S. pressured to move away from mental skill development and toward mastery of discipline and real-world application Textbooks 78% generalizations/mental skill Less than 10% practical application

Scientific Study of the Curriculum 1920’s- Rise of Standardized Testing *Shows faults of education *Are teachers doing their job? *Homogeneous grouping of students Good score= relevant material Bad score= non relevant material

Determining VALUE Interest surveys for parents and students Analysis of magazines and newspapers  Determine most relevant material  Prior knowledge needed Analysis of textbooks  Proper preparation for life outside of school?  Biology most prevalent= most important/ taught first

Concluding Points Focus moves from disciplinary study to social relevance and student interest Educators continue to struggle  Desire to meet progressive teaching methods as well as keeping the “integrity of science disciplines”  Upcoming war would soon change focus of the importance of science education