Science and Mathematics Education: the way forward

Science and MathematicsEducation: the way forwardIndia International Centre, NewDelhi, 9-10 January 2013

Science teaching across the world• The evolution of science teaching• What does good science teaching look like?• How are the challenges being addressedacross the world?18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK2

What is science teaching for? (1)“Science teaching in schools …..has one aim ingeneral – namely the interpretation of natureto youth”Archer Vassall, the first schoolteacher to bePresident of the Science Masters Association,speaking in 192118/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK3

What is science teaching for? (2)• The economic argument• The utility argument• The democratic argument• The cultural argument(from Professor Robin Millar’s PresidentialAddress to ASE Conference January 2012)18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK4

The evolution of science education –the story so far…..“Young people must be taught science well sothat they will be able to understand andcontribute to solutions for the big problems thatface the world – the global challenges”or……..18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK5

• an individual economy needs a good supply ofscientists, mathematicians and engineers in order tocompete with others, or• in some countries, the requirement for scientists,mathematicians and engineers is seen as the routetowards a knowledge economy• countries or regions subject to problems associatedwith disease, climate change, famine etc needscientifically trained citizens to help solve theseproblems• there is an enthusiasm for all education, includingscience18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK6

The challenges for science education• Science is difficult to teach• Science is constantly developing• Aspects of scientific knowledge and itsapplication have ethical concerns• There is considerable inequality in the take upand interest in science from among differentgroups of young people18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK7

What does good science educationlook like?18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK8

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Annette Smith, Association for Science18/06/2013 15Education, UK

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Annette Smith, Association for Science18/06/2013 17Education, UK

What should good science teachingcontain?• Science lessons should often contain some practicalwork• Students should be engaged – questioning is veryimportant• All students must be involved in the learning – it is theteacher’s job to ensure that their teaching is inclusive• Lessons should have pace, students should be aware oftheir learning and the goals of the learning• Teaching should take place with appropriate numbersof students in a class18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK18

Hattie (2010) Top Ten of aspects thatimprove learning – all about the teacher• High expectations• Piagetan programmes• Early interventions• Teacher credibility (includes subject knowledge andclassroom management)• Provision of formative evaluation• Teacher video• Classroom discussion• SEN intervention• Teacher clarity• Provision of feedback18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK19

The top ten list applied to girls inscience• High expectations – do you expect girls to achieve asmuch as boys – and do they know this?• Piagetan programmes – have you taken account of thecognitive development differences between girls andboys?• Early interventions – do you ensure that no group fallsbehind ?• Teacher credibility (includes subject knowledge andclassroom management) – are the contexts that youchoose as examples appropriate for girls and boys?18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK20

The challenges for science education• Science is difficult to teach• Science is constantly developing• Aspects of scientific knowledge and itsapplication have ethical concerns• There is considerable inequality in the take upand interest in science from among differentgroups of young people18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK21

How is this addressed?At these levels:• Governments and policy level• Country to country• Individual classrooms18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK22

Governments and policy level18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK23

Huge importance given to tests:18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK24

And data used in inappropriateways…….18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK25

Country to country exchanges –ASE 201318/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK26

Useful comparisons of practice andpolicyNGSS Second and Final Public Draft tobe Released Tuesday, January 8Mark your calendars. The second (andfinal) public draft of the NextGeneration Science Standards (NGSS)will be released on Tuesday, January 8,at 3 p.m. Eastern.As with previous drafts, Achieve andNSTA encourage teachers to review thedraft and provide feedback online toAchieve during the comment period,which ends January 29.National Curriculum Science Event -the draft Primary Programme of Study- 5 July 2012Summary of main issues18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK27

Individual classrooms and schools18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK28

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Successful international sharing ofgood practice – Getting Practical18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK30

Positive features• Collaborative project• Meaningful practical work• Questioning the purpose of all practical work• Research programme alongside professionaldevelopment in a feedback loop, affecting thenext phase• Surprising and useful outcomes• International context – ASE Annual Conferencesharing good practice18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK31

Challenges….• Define the purpose of science education in2013 and for 2020 and beyond• Work out exactly what good science teachingand learning looks like, and how to achievethat in every classroom• Share good practice with appropriate use ofresearch data and sustainable initiatives18/06/2013Annette Smith, Association for ScienceEducation, UK32

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