COSEE-China Science Education in the US Marilyn Decker

COSEE-China Science Education in the US Marilyn Decker March 8, 2010 1

What is the Status of Science Education? • One Question • Many Answers March 8, 2010 2

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Children from All Over the World • • 49 million Children Many Cultures Many Languages Small one room schools to districts with more than 2 million students March 8, 2010 4

National Science Standards In a world filled with the products of scientific inquiry, scientific literacy has become a necessity for everyone. Everyone needs to use scientific information to make choices that arise everyday. Everyone needs to be able to engage intelligently in public discourse and debate about issues that involve science and technology. And everyone deserves to share in the excitement and personal fulfillment that can come from understanding and learning about the natural world. National Science Education Standards National Academy Press 1996 March 8, 2010 5

Each State and District Sets Standards 1 Country 50 States 13, 924 School Districts March 8, 2010 6

Elements of Effective Science Instruction • Eliciting Prior Understanding – Building on what students know about the world around them March 8, 2010 Banilower, E. , Cohen, K. , Pasley, J. , & Weiss, I. (2008). Effective science instruction: What does research tell us? Portsmouth, NH: RMC Research Corporation, Center on Instruction 7

Elements of Effective Science Instruction • Intellectual Engagement – Small groups of students doing hands-on activities that make them think March 8, 2010 Banilower, E. , Cohen, K. , Pasley, J. , & Weiss, I. (2008). Effective science instruction: What does research tell us? Portsmouth, NH: RMC Research Corporation, Center on Instruction 8

Elements of Effective Science Instruction • Use of Evidence March 8, 2010 Banilower, E. , Cohen, K. , Pasley, J. , & Weiss, I. (2008). Effective science instruction: What does research tell us? Portsmouth, NH: RMC Research Corporation, Center on Instruction 9

Elements of Effective Science Instruction • Motivation – The Role of Scientists • Develop programs that engage students in your area of study • Model how you do your work • Provide opportunities for teacher and student research March 8, 2010 Banilower, E. , Cohen, K. , Pasley, J. , & Weiss, I. (2008). Effective science instruction: What does research tell us? Portsmouth, NH: RMC Research Corporation, Center on Instruction 10

Elements of Effective Science Instruction • Sense-Making – Talking – Writing March 8, 2010 Banilower, E. , Cohen, K. , Pasley, J. , & Weiss, I. (2008). Effective science instruction: What does research tell us? Portsmouth, NH: RMC Research Corporation, Center on Instruction 11

PISA Performance U. S. A. Ranks Near Bottom, Little Change in International Standing Since 2003 Subject Mathematics 2003 Rank 2006 Rank 24 th Tied for Science 20 th 19 th Rankings are for the 29 OECD countries participating in PISA in both 2003 and 2006. March 8, 2010 12 Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), PISA 2006 Results, http: //www. oecd. org/

PISA 2006 Science Of 30 OECD Countries, U. S. A. Ranks 21 st U. S. A. March 8, 2010 13 Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), PISA 2006 Results, http: //www. oecd. org/

PISA 2006 Science Compared with the 27 Participating Non-OECD Countries, U. S. A. Would Rank 9 th U. S. A. March 8, 2010 14 Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), PISA 2006 Results, http: //www. oecd. org/

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Challenges • No Child Left Behind – Science is not included in national accountability – Amount of science instruction has decreased since its passing • Standards for science vary widely from state to state • More students are needed to study science and become science teachers March 8, 2010 16

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The Leaky Bucket “Some 20 percent of all new hires leave the classroom within three years. In urban districts, the numbers are worse —close to 50 percent of newcomers flee the profession during their first five years of teaching. ” http: //www. nea. org/teachershortage March 8, 2010 18

States that Set High Standards get Good results March 8, 2010 19

Massachusetts Scores High on TIMSS Average science scores of fourth- and eighth -grade students, by country: 2007 Country Average score TIMSS scale average 500 Singapore 587 Singapore 567 Chinese Taipei 561 554 MA 571 Chinese Taipei 557 Japan Hong Kong SAR 1 554 MA Japan 548 Korea, Rep. of 553 Russian Federation 546 England 3 542 Latvia 2 542 Hungary 539 England 542 Czech Republic 539 Slovenia 538 Hungary 536 Hong Kong SAR 1, 3 530 Italy 535 Russian Federation 530 United States 3, Kazakhstan 2 4 556 533 United Germany 528 Lithuania 2 519 Australia 527 Australia 515 Slovak Republic 526 Sweden 511 Austria 526 Scotland 3 496 Sweden March 8, 2010 States 3, 4 520 525 Italy 495 Netherlands 5 523 Armenia 488 Slovenia 518 Norway 487 Denmark 3 517 Ukraine 485 20

Professional Development for Teachers makes a Difference March 8, 2010 21

Emphasis on Science • More States are beginning to Focus on Science and Engineering • K-12 and University Collaboration makes a Difference! March 8, 2010 22

President Obama Launches "Educate to Innovate" Campaign for Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (Stem) Education Nationwide effort includes over $260 million in public-private investments to move American students to the top of the pack in science and math achievement over the next decade President Obama today launched the “Educate to Innovate” campaign, a nationwide effort to help reach the administration’s goal of moving American students from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math achievement over the next decade. March 8, 2010 White House Press Release November 23, 2009 23

COSEE China Marilyn Decker mjrdecker@gmail. com March 8, 2010 24