Science Education in the 21st Century
Event Type: Seminar
Date: March 06, 2008
Time:
04:30PM
Venue:
CC-3-3550
Abstract:
Guided by experimental tests of theory and practice, science has advanced rapidly in the past 500 years. Guided primarily by tradition and dogma, science education
meanwhile has remained largely medieval.
Research on how people learn is now revealing how many teachers badly misinterpret what students are thinking and learning from traditional science classes and exams.
However, research is also providing insights on how to do much better. The combination
of this research with modern information technology is setting the stage for a new approach that can provide the relevant and effective science education for all students that is
needed for the 21st century.
I will discuss the failures of traditional educational practices, even as used by
"very good" teachers, and the successes of some new practices and technology that characterize this more effective approach, findings from cognitive science.
Speaker:
Carl Wieman
Speaker Bio:
Carl Wieman is a recipient of the Nobel Prize in
Physics, the National Science Foundation’s Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award in 2001, the Carnegie Foundation’s U.S. University Professor of the
Year Award in 2004, and the American Association of
Physics Teachers’ Oersted Medal in 2007. He conducts research on problem-solving skills and student
beliefs about physics, and has worked on a variety of
research and innovations in teaching physics to a
broad range of students.
Description:
Event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested. Please RSVP to Anthea
Gabriel at 617-287-7587 or
anthea(dot)gabriel(at)umb(dot)edu.
