In August 1945, the United States dropped the atomic bombs that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Seventy years later, the President Obama is imploring Congress to approve a deal to dissuade Iran from building a nuclear bomb. This is an opportune moment to reflect on the intersection of science, technology and human values. It is a […]
Tag Archives: Science and Engineering Education
What the Future of Science Education Should Look Like
While we remain the world’s leading generator of science and engineering innovation, far too many Americans lack sufficient understanding of the foundational principles of the scientific investigations and engineering designs that have improved our lives…We are not now on a pathway to success, but we could be. Published in the Washington Post, April 20, 2015. […]
How to Reframe the Education Policy Debate
Education policymakers have successfully framed the language of modern school reform to reflect specific values — “accountability,” for example, means standardized test-based accountability, and “no excuses” means that teachers are to blame if students don’t do well. To move past this limiting reform model supporters of public education will have to reframe the debate with […]
Next Steps for the Next Generation Science Standards
The National Research Council’s K-12 Framework for Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards are designed to drive dramatic rethinking and improvement of science education for all students in the United States. Now decisions at the district, state, and federal levels will determine whether the new standards will promote substantive improvement…..Five other state actions will enable […]
Arguing for Science Literacy
Students who are scientifically literate know how to argue. However, current education policies undermine rather than advance this vital academic goal. I do not mean disagreements that are resolved based on personal considerations or positional authority. For scientists, argument is all about whether claims — regarding the accuracy and generalizability of their models to explain […]
How Thinking Like an Engineer Can Help School Reform
Arguments in a democracy are natural and could be healthy, but I worry we are not making much progress when it comes to current education policy. A dose of engineering design thinking can help. Read more here: How thinking like an engineer can help school reform | The Answer Sheet Published on November 30, 2013 on […]
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