Science Education in the United States: Essential Steps for Achieving Fundamental Improvement. A Report on a Meeting of Educational Leaders Hosted by the Exxon Education Foundation (New York, New York, January 17-20, 1984).

Overview & Synopsis

This report summarizes a meeting which was held to explore some of the major issues raised by the current call for science education reform, and to make recommendations regarding what steps should be taken to ensure that the needed improvements in elementary and secondary science will actually be made in schools across the country. Included are discussions of: (1) the science education improvement effort to date; (2) the need for a new conceptual framework for scientific and technological education; (3) science education goals, curricula, and materials; (4) preservice teacher education; (5) inservice teacher education; (6) the role of teachers and supervisors in improving science education; (7) harnessing educational research; (8) organizing for science education improvement; (9) science education improvement and the non-public schools; and (10) the context of science education improvement. Among the recommendations offered are the adoption of a new framework for science education based on scientific and technological literacy for all citizens, systematic efforts to develop model K-12 science curricula which would be fully supportive of the literacy goal, a reappraisal and reform of both pre- and in-service teacher education, and substantial involvement of school building-level educators in bringing about real change. (JN)