Why Do We Teach Science?

In this eBook, we explore the question why do we teach science? The reasons for teaching science are not as clear as one may think. Much of the reform going on right now does not address the question directly. What one has to do is examine the goals of a particular curriculum or reform report, and then infer what the authors would say if asked, why do we teach science in the first place? In Part I, we use a model developed by R. Stephen Turner to explore four arguments including the economic argument, the democratic argument, the skills argument, and the cultural argument. In part two of the book, we raise the question, what do we teach? To answer this question, we suggest two Visions for teaching science, a traditional vision and a humanistic vision. In the new Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards we find that there appears to be a conflict between the desire to standardize the curriculum and foster innovation. In the third part, we explore how do we teach science? Insights are drawn from humanistic learning, engineering, native science, and experiential learning to draw a picture for the need to re-think how we teach science.

Translation is very human.

Content is relevant to current reform. Well developed view on humanistic learning. Challenges traditional education.