3671 Why a Major Rethinking of Biology 1 Courses Is Crucial to Our Future

Saturday, February 19, 2011: 1:00 PM
102B (Washington Convention Center )
Bruce M. Alberts , AAAS/Science, Washington, DC
At all levels, science education needs to be redefined, with much less emphasis on the memorization of science facts and terms. Instead, we should be providing empowering experiences in problem-solving that take advantage of the curiosity that children bring to school and increase a student’s understanding of the world. This type of hands-on, inquiry based science education can serve as a core from which meaningful writing and reading lessons are generated.  Closely related changes in the introductory science courses in college, emphasizing “science as a way of knowing,” are the key to driving these reforms.  

Even more broadly, we must focus on making a science out of education, which means creating continuously improving education systems at all levels, based on evidence-based analyses of how people learn and what works in actual classroom settings.

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