Blueprints for Reform Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education

by American Association for the Advancement of Science

• ISBN13: 9780195124279
• ISBN10: 0195124278
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-07-30
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

What would it cost the education system to adopt policies that emphasize science literacy for all students? How can we ensure that tests measure what educators, parents, and others want them to? How can universities set admissions policies that motivate K-12 institutions to produce scienceliterate graduates? Project 2061 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science believes that serious efforts to reform the K-12 curriculum in this country require an understanding of the whole of education. To gain this kind of perspective, Project 2061 commissioned experts to preparereports on a dozen areas of the education system that would have implications for the implementation of the reforms defined in their earlier volumes Science for All Americans and Benchmarks for Science Literacy. Blueprints for Reform is a summation of those reports offering teachers, parents,policymakers, business leaders, and others a starting point for their exploration of the education system and its response to reform. Blueprints for Reform includes discussions of equity, assessment, teacher education, policy, finance, school organization, curriculum connections, family and community, research, materials and technology, and business and industry. A chapter is devoted to each of these topics providing anoverview of the issue and some recommendations on how to move forward. The idea behind this strategy is to bring current research together in one place so anyone working in the area of science education and reform can have complete access to the latest information, methods, and debates. To spark the kind of thoughtful debate that can lead to meaningful change, Blueprints for Reform also has an on-line component providing summaries of the chapters in the book, as well as a database of bibliographies and science- and education-related topics. Through Blueprints On-Line, anyonewith a stake in improving science education can share experiences with peers, find information on interrelated facets of the education system, or air their views on how best to go about systemic change. Blueprints for Reform offers a bold new examination of the current system to determine whatchanges are desirable and possible in science education, and how best to ensure our children are prepared for life in the twenty-first century.

Author Biography

American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international organization, including over 140,000 scientists, engineers, science educators, policymakers, and others interested in science and technology.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	VII	(4)
INTRODUCTION	XI
PART I: THE FOUNDATION	1	(98)
EQUITY	7	(34)
POLICY	41	(20)
FINANCE	61	(18)
RESEARCH	79	(20)
PART II: THE SCHOOL CONTEXT	99	(84)
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION	105	(18)
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS	123	(18)
MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY	141	(20)
ASSESSMENT	161	(22)
PART III: THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE	183	(82)
TEACHER EDUCATION	189	(20)
HIGHER EDUCATION	209	(18)
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY	227	(20)
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY	247	(18)
RESOURCES	265	(18)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS	283	(9)
INDEX	292