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

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.