Science for All

Chapter 2

Science for All

Science for All

How to Read This Chapter

• To provide practical ideas for meeting the learning needs of all students we explore Science for All from four vantage points: global thinking, multicultural education, feminist perspective, and exceptionalities among adolescent learners.

• Focus on any one of these themes individually, but you will see that these ideas are interrelated.

• You will want to return to this chapter from time to time to review some of the ideas, and follow up on some of the Web sites found in the Gazette.

Science for All

Invitations to Inquiry

• What is the implication of the theme “science for all?” Is this a reality in today’s schools? What needs to be done to make this a reality?

• Should global thinking be incorporated into the philosophy and objectives of school science? How should this be accomplished?

• What are some specific strategies science teachers might use to infuse global thinking into the science curriculum?

• How can science be made accessible to all students? How can schools overcome barriers to equitable opportunities for all students to achieve in science?

• What are some approaches that science educators can use to infuse equity and multiculturalism into the science program?

• What is the nature of a feminist perspective on science education?• What are some strategies to encourage females in science courses and careers?• How does the concept of the “at-risk student” compare to the concept of the “at-promise

student.” • How would you approach the teaching of science for the education of physically

impaired, learning disabled, gifted and talented, and at-risk students?

Science for All

Chapter 2 Map

Science for All

“Science for All” means:

• Each learner is unique.

• All students can learn.

• There is enormous diversity among learners, and this diversity should be respected and accepted.

• School science should be designed to meet the needs of all students.

• School science should be inclusive, not exclusive. Those who have been traditionally turned away from science should be encouraged to come in.

Science for All

Perspectives of Science for All

• Global Thinking• Multicultural science

education• Gender• Exceptionalities

Science for All

Jigsaw Science for All

• Join one of four teams– Global thinking– Multiculturalism– Gender– Exceptional students

• Use the inquiry questions provided on the next slide, and the resources in the chapter to prepare a multimedia or 3-panel low-tech report to support a presentation on your team’s topic.

• Role play an international conference on the theme “Science for All”.

Science for All

Jigsaw Science for All

• Global Thinking• Should global thinking be incorporated into

the philosophy and objectives of school science? How should this be accomplished?

• What are some specific strategies science teachers might use to infuse global thinking into the science curriculum?

• Multicultural Science Education

• What are some approaches that science educators can use to infuse equity and multiculturalism into the science program?

• Gender Issues• What is the nature of a feminist perspective

on science education?

• What are some strategies to encourage females in science courses and careers?

• Exceptional Students• What should the nature of science teaching be for

students with exceptionalities?

• How does the concept of the “at-risk student” compare to the concept of the “at-promise student.”

• How would you approach the teaching of science for the education of advanced (gifted and talented), and struggling (at-risk) students?

Science for All

Perspective #1: Global thinking• Perspective consciousness: An awareness of

an appreciation for other images of the world. Students can learn to understand how people in Eastern, as well as in developing nations conceptualize the world. Global thinking will enrich the activities of students by involving them with a world that is multicultural.

• State of planet awareness: An in-depth understanding of global issues and events, including the identification of the important global problems facing the planet, and what it will take to get them solved.

• Cross-cultural awareness: A general understanding of the defining characteristics of world cultures, with an emphasis on understanding similarities and differences.

• Systemic awareness: A familiarity with the nature of systems and an introduction to the complex international system in which state and non-state actors are linked in patterns of interdependence and dependence in a variety of issue areas.

• Options for participation: A review of strategies for participating in issue areas in local, national, and international settings. Technology-related systems of communication enable all students to communicate with people in remote places.

• Thinking as a Citizen—Scientist: An ability to integrate the habits of mind of science with public decision-making.

Science for All

Global Perspective

• If you were from one of these countries:– Ghana– Iraq– Russia– Argentina

• Which would be the most serious problems (top 2 or 3) facing you and your fellow citizens?

• War Technology• Water Resources• Population Growth• World Hunger• Terrorist Activity• Extinction• Hazardous Substances• Human Health• Air Quality

Science for All

Inquiry 2.1: Exploring Global Thinking

• Using the problem cards shown on next slide, create an international context by joining a team to rank order the seriousness of the 12 problems from the standpoint of citizens of an assigned country.

• Follow the procedures outlined in the inquiry. Join with other member to create an international forum on global problems.

Science for All

Global Problem Cards

Science for All

Internet Projects & Global Thinking

• GLOBE• Global Thinking

Project• American Forum for G

lobal Education

Science for All

Multicultural Science Education

• Association for Multicultural Science Education

• Talent Development Programs at Johns Hopkins University.

• Effective Teaching Practices

Science for All

Talent Development Program• Overdetermination of success: Multiple

activity approach is put into place, any one of which may lead to enhanced student outcomes. Differentiating instructional practices lead to opportunities to learn for a wide range of students.

• Promotion of multiple outcomes: Academic success must be placed in the context of economically and personally valued skills, broad-range intellectual competence, social/emotional proficiency, community and social responsibility, cultural empowerment, and positive life transformations.

• Integrity-based social ethos: This mandates that educational stakeholders hold high expectations for themselves and others; take responsibility for and ownership of educational process and outcomes, emphasize voice and choice among participants in the process; and draw on existing knowledge, competencies, and understandings to encourage students’ optimal development.

• Co-construction: The co-construction process entails respecting the social and cultural dynamics of students, families, teachers, and other school personnel that affect learning to ensure that these stakeholders have authentic input in the learning process.

Science for All

Effective Teaching Practices• Culturally responsive teaching :

emphasizes everyday concerns of students, such as family and community issues, in the curriculum. Developing learning activities based on familiar concepts helps facilitate learning and helps students feel more confident about their work.

• Cooperative learning: Helps students come to complex understanding by discussing and defending their ideas with peers in small groups. Cooperative learning (a) provides opportunities for students to communicate with each other, (b) enhances instructional conversations, (c) decreases anxiety, (d) develops social, academic, and communication skills, and (e) enhances self-confidence and self-esteem through individual contributions and achievement of group goals.

• Instructional conversation: A teaching practice that provides individual students with opportunities for extended discourse with the teacher in areas that contain value as well as relevance for students.

• Cognitively guided instruction: emphasizes the development of learning strategies and teaching techniques that foster students’ monitoring of their own learning.

• Technology-enriched instruction: The use of multimedia technology connects school learning with the “real” world. Using the Web to create telecommunication networks is effective in that students can communicate with peers and adults through the Internet.

Science for All

Inquiry 2.2: Images in Textbooks

• What do images portrayed in science textbooks tell us about multicultural issues?

• Examine one or more textbooks using the Multicultural Textbook Evaluation Checklist.

Science for All

Gender Issues

• In the U.S. women comprise about half of the work force but only 9% are employed as scientists and engineers.

• Only 12% of students enrolled in high school technology programs are female.

• In a recent NAEP science study, girls continue to score below the national mean on all science achievement items, and express negative attitudes toward science.

Science for All

Successful Teaching Practices• Content and Activities. Barbara Smail

has suggested that science classes need to provide more experiences which she calls "nutritive" to provide a balance to the "analytical/instrumental" activities which she suggests characterize most school science

• Social Arrangements: Another strategy that appears to enhance female’s interest in science, and contributes positively to academic performance is altering the work arrangements in the classroom. There is considerable evidence that cooperative, mixed ability group processes enhance learning and cognitive development in some circumstances

• Confidence Building: Skolnick, Langbort and Day have described strategies that teachers can implement to build confidence in the ability to solve science and (mathematics) problems. Strategies include:

– Success for each student

– Tasks with many approaches

– Tasks with many right answers

– Guessing and testing

– Estimating

• Sex-role Awareness: One-way of discovering that students perceive science roles as masculine is have students draw pictures of scientists. In one study, only 10% of rural American boys and twenty-eight per cent of the girls drew women scientists. In order to help students see new possibilities the teacher must take an active role in awareness-enhancing activities so that the options are multiplied for students. Skolnick, Langbort and Day suggest two categories of strategies:

– Content relevance

– Modeling new options

Science for All

Raising achievement and increasing science career choices of females and minorities:

• Teachers competent in subject matter who believe students can learn

• Emphasis on applications and careers in science and math

• Integrate subject areas with hands-on/tech opportunities

• In-school and out-of-school learning experiences

• Remove inequities of gender and race

• Program elements support women and minorities

Science for All

Inquiry 2.3: Transforming Science Teaching Practice

• Read Brenda Capobiano’s paper: “Encouraging Girls in Science Courses and Careers”.

• Meet in small groups to discuss the experience of the three teachers in this study.

• Discuss possible pedagogical changes you and your teammates could make in your teaching

• Identify actions and strategies that interest you relative to multicultural and gender issues.

Science for All

Exceptional Students in the Science Classroom

Exceptional Students

Learning Disabilities

Physically ImpairedMotor/Orthopedic,Visually, Hearing

Advanced Learners

Science for All

Barriers and Bridges

Advanced Learners: Barriers to Learning

Struggling Learners: Bridges to Learning

Mentally lazy?“Hooked on success”?Perfectionists?Fail to develop self-efficacy?Fail to develop study/coping skills?

Student’s positives

Plan “relevant” activities

Focus on big ideas

Teach Up--higher levels

Use Multiple abilities and a differentiated instructional approach

Science for All

Advanced & Struggling Learners

Advanced Learners Struggling Learners

Want to work alone…not team playersWork ethicDon’t want helpAfraid to failBored

Real life exploration

Activities

Allowing success

Creating homogeneous groups

Variety

Science for All

Chapter 2: Problems and Extensions

• If you were a school board member, what actions would your district take to ensure that all females, minorities, and students with disabilities have opportunities to achieve in science?

• Identify action steps for:– Culturally Responsive Teaching

– Gender Equity

– Students with Disabilities

– Strategies for Advanced Learners