NC Science Blogging Conference - Teacher Resource

While attending the NC Science Blogging Conference on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007 in Chapel Hill, one question was asked by a participant: How do teachers know what they are teaching is accurate? That question made me think about the idea of science literacy. As I was going through my email account's spam folder, I ran across this National Science Teachers Association email. Why this email ended up in my spam folder is a different story. In an effort to help science teacher current on crucial themes in the science field, this organization makes a concerted effort to inform its members of what is the truth. When asked at the conference, my mind went blank. Also, high school chemistry teachers can join the American Chemical Society. They have a secondary educational division and a Kids Site

Teaching Science in the 21st Century: Part 5 in a Series from NSTA Reports

The fifth installment in NSTA Reports’ series is titled “Teaching the Nature of Science: Five Crucial Themes”. Written by Nancy Moreno, the piece begins “Many candidate races and ballot initiatives in the November 2006 United States elections highlighted science-related issues and debates. Stem cell research, alternative fuels, and climate change were topics considered in regional and national discussions. To understand and choose among conflicting viewpoints, voters needed to possess two aspects of scientific literacy: (1) comprehending science concepts and (2) understanding how science builds knowledge. Unfortunately, statistics compiled by the National Science Foundation indicate little headway in improving the second aspect of science literacy—understanding the nature of science. In 2004, for example, only 23% of adult respondents could correctly 'explain in their own words what it means to study something scientifically' (NSB 2006)."

This series offers opinion pieces by many of the leaders in science education today. To read the fifth installment in the series, visit http://www.nsta.org/main/news/stories/nsta_story.php?news_story_ID=53152. To find out more about the book by the same name that inspired the series, visit http://store.nsta.org/showItem.asp?product=PB195X.

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