Mike, Stuart and Alom spent a lovely day yesterday bashing out what they think should be the aims of a good science education. Here are their initial thoughts:
We believe that it is a right (and an expectation) of our society that every child receive knowledge which will help them remain fed, fit and healthy, warm, dry and secure and to be aware of their multiple-dependencies on the environment so that they do not damage the very thing that ensures their continued existence (and that of every other living thing on the planet). We should also share with them knowledge that helps them to philosophically consider their own place in the Universe.
All young people also have the right to receive the skills that will enable them to assess whether the information they receive from the media, advertisers, journalists and politicians is reliable and evidence-based.
Some young people must also be prepared for possible future science-based study and careers.
The Aims of a Science Education for all from age 11 - 16 are:
to excite and enthuse children with a sense of awe and wonder at the natural world. to convey the significance of science as a cultural activity and to make children aware of its social, political and cultural impact. to have practical experience of how scientists make observations of the natural world, come up with hypotheses and do experiments to ‘prove’ or disprove these. to allow children to understand the importance of evidence when taking decisions and to be able to judge whether the claims of the media, advertisers, politicians, journalists, etc, are evidence-based and reliable. to have enough evidence-based knowledge to be able to make informed personal judgements in order to lead healthy, safe, comfortable and environmentally sustainable lives. to have exposure to the conclusions of important scientific theories in a concrete and accessible way.
Additional aims of a Science Education for future scientists are:
to develop pupils’ understanding and experience of the scientific method, to understand its value and limits, and to enable them to apply the method. to know, understand at an abstract level, and be able to apply important scientific theories. to have a sufficiently wide knowledge of the ‘facts’ that science has collected together > to be able to progress to study science subjects at A-level
Please add your own comments here or over at the howscience wiki.