Name:Pallavi
Posting #: 4
Topic: Education
Title of Article: Public Gets Glimpse of Science Standards
Author: Erik W. Robelen
Publication Name: Education Week
Publication Date: May 11, 2012
Length of Article: 1272 words
There has been a recent ambitious effort to refocus the science standards of the K-12 curriculum in many states throughout the United States. Organizers of this efforts are searching for ways to create a stronger foundation for children in all fields of science. Their priority is to provide essential knowledge while also ensuring that students utilize their scientific knowledge in "real life" situations. The idea behind the new science standards is to create a new curriculum that focuses depth rather than breadth. Meaning that the instructors who approve of this standard will teach one topic in more depth rather than teach many topics in less depth. Organizers feel that important for an instructor to go more in depth on one topic rather than cover many topics through the course of one school year. So far twenty-six states, including California, Maine, South Dakota, and Georgia, are "lead state partners" in this effort and they have collaborated with many experts and professionals about the new standard. However, evolution and climate changes are two scientific topics that obstruct the new science standard for being passed. These two topics have been political flashpoints for many years which may cause the new standard to be rejected by certain states.
Many organizations have played a role in the creating the new standard. The National Research Council,National Science Teachers Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Achieve, are the core contributors of this effort. They have collaborated and have created the foundation of the new standard. They have set a goal to complete the draft of the science standard and incorporate the program in to school all over the U.S by next fall. Many teachers around the country have seen the benefits of this program and have already approved of it. They feel that it is of greater importance for a student to understand one topic thoroughly rather than partial understand a wide range of topics. Organizers state that this new science standard will significantly improve the proficiency level of the students in grades K-12 and will better prepare them for higher education.
Posting #: 4
Topic: Education
Title of Article: Public Gets Glimpse of Science Standards
Author: Erik W. Robelen
Publication Name: Education Week
Publication Date: May 11, 2012
Length of Article: 1272 words
There has been a recent ambitious effort to refocus the science standards of the K-12 curriculum in many states throughout the United States. Organizers of this efforts are searching for ways to create a stronger foundation for children in all fields of science. Their priority is to provide essential knowledge while also ensuring that students utilize their scientific knowledge in "real life" situations. The idea behind the new science standards is to create a new curriculum that focuses depth rather than breadth. Meaning that the instructors who approve of this standard will teach one topic in more depth rather than teach many topics in less depth. Organizers feel that important for an instructor to go more in depth on one topic rather than cover many topics through the course of one school year. So far twenty-six states, including California, Maine, South Dakota, and Georgia, are "lead state partners" in this effort and they have collaborated with many experts and professionals about the new standard. However, evolution and climate changes are two scientific topics that obstruct the new science standard for being passed. These two topics have been political flashpoints for many years which may cause the new standard to be rejected by certain states.
Many organizations have played a role in the creating the new standard. The National Research Council,National Science Teachers Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Achieve, are the core contributors of this effort. They have collaborated and have created the foundation of the new standard. They have set a goal to complete the draft of the science standard and incorporate the program in to school all over the U.S by next fall. Many teachers around the country have seen the benefits of this program and have already approved of it. They feel that it is of greater importance for a student to understand one topic thoroughly rather than partial understand a wide range of topics. Organizers state that this new science standard will significantly improve the proficiency level of the students in grades K-12 and will better prepare them for higher education.
Knowledge in "real life" situations is definitely important and student should be prepared for what could possibly happen in the future. It's better to be over-prepared than lacking in intelligence. I don't know if all teachers should go more in depth in their lessons. Some classes are taken as introductory classes for a reason. Going too deep might just confuse students, and I know a primary example of that is physics. I agree that the science departments need to be improved and I'm happy that so many organizations, like National Science Teachers Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Achieve, and others, are helping to heighten the new standard.
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