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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 306 128 SE 050 533 AUTHOR Brandwein, Paul F., Ed.; Passow, A. Harry, Ed. TITLE Gifted Young in Science: Potential through Performance. INSTITUTION National Science Teachers Association, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO ISBN-0-87355-076-5 PUB DATE 88 NOTE 407p. AVAILABLE FROMNational Science Teachers Association, 1742 Connecticut Av 'Ile, NW, Washington, DC 20009 ($24.00 hardcover ISBN-0-87355-076-5; $17.00 softcover). PUB TYPE Information Analyses (070) -- Reports - Descriptive (141) -- Books (010) EDRS PRICE MFO1 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS *Academically Gifted; Curriculum Development; *Elementary School Science; Elementary Secondary Education; Futures (of Society); Problem Solving; Science Curriculum; *Science Instruction; *Science Programs; *Secondary School Science; Teaching Methods; Unified Studies Curriculum ABSTRACT Thirty-four authors have joined to prcduce this book. Among them are natural and physical scientists, psychologists, historians, writers, scholars of curriculum and instruction, teacher educators, and teachers of the young. The contributors probe many methodologies including the place of unified concepts and processes; the interaction of the certainties of problem doing with the uncertainties of problem-solving; the hands-on approaches coupled with the brains-on ones, as well as the much needed hands-off ones. Thus, the tools of the student are strengthened with the hard-won tools of the scientist. The heart of this book opens a variety of opportunities to all who wish to help others press on with the arts of scientific investigation. Major areas of study include: how science for the gifted should be taught for the future; the purpose and principles of teaching the gifted in science; basis for planning curriculum and instruction; and personal reflections on teaching the gifted. The bibliography is structured into four parts: (1) general works (early and current studies); (2) traits of gifted individuals; (3) programs (strategies, tactics, and needed research); and (4) journals and publications of selected associations. (MVL) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document. Gifted Young in Science Potential Through Performance Paul F. Brandwein A. Harry Passow Editors Deborah C. Fort Gerald Skoog Association Editor Contributing Editc. Part IV NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, D.C. J Copyright e 1988 by the National Science Teachers Association, Washington, D C All rights reserved. This vclume may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without written permission from the publisher Requests for permission should be ad- dressed to the special publications department (address below) This book has been produced by Special Publications, the National Science Teachers Association. 1742 Connecticut Avenue, N. W, Washington, D C . 20009 Phyllis R Marcuccio. Director of Publications, Shirley L Watt, Managing Editor of Special Publications. Library of Congress Catalog Card N'imber 88-63846 ISBN Number 0-87355-076-5 Printed in the United States of America First edition Contents Invitation to Our Readers ix Part I By Way of Beginning Seeding Destiny in an Open Society Paul F. Brandwein 3 Part II Purpose and Principles 1.The Educating and Schooling of theCommunity of Artisans in Science A. Harry Passow 27 2.Probing Giftedness/Talent/Creativity: Promise and Fulfillment Abraham J. Tannenbaum 39 3.Recognizing and Fostering Multiple Talents Reflections on Yesterday's Achievements and Suggestions for Tomorrow Calvin W. Taylor, Robert L. Ellison 57 4. Science Talent.In an Ecology of Achievement Paul F. Brandwein 73 5. The Unique andthe Commonplace in Art and in Science Gunther S. Stent 105 v 0 Part III Programs: Certain Bases for Planning Curriculum and Instruction 6. The Early Environment of the Child: Experience iv. a Continuing Search for Meaning Annemarie Roeper 121 7. The Gifted in Middle School Science Steven J. Rakow 141 8. Equality, Equity, Entity: Opening Science's Gifts for Childrei. Bill G. Aldridge. Deborah C. Fort 155 9. Science CentersAn Essential Support System for Teaching Science Sid Sitkoff 179 10. Avenues to Opportunity for Self-Identified, High-Ability Secondary School Science Students Sigmund Abeles 189 1 1.North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics: The Special Environment Within a Statewide Science High School Charles R. Eilber, Stephen J. Warshaw 201 1 2. A Program for Stimulating Creativity ina Citywide High School: The Bronx High School of Science Milton Kopelman, Vincent G. Galasso, Madeline Schmuckler 209 13. Problems in the Development of Programs and Science Curriculums for Students Gifted/Talented in Areas Other Than Science Irving S. Sato 217 vi 14. School, University,Laboratory, and Museum Cooperation in Identifying and Nurturing Potential Scientists A. Harry Passow 245 15.Identifying and Nurturing Future Scientists in Other Nations Pinchas Tamir 255 16. Apprenticeshipto Well-Ordered Empiricism: Teaching Arts of Investigation in Science Paul F. Brandwein, Evelyn Morholt, Sigmund Abe les 273 17. The Role of Content and Processin the Education of Science Teachers Joseph D. Novak 307 18. Cooperative Learning and the GiftedScience Student Roger TJohnson, David W Johnson 321 19. Necessary Writing in the Sciences Robert A.Day 331 Part IV Personal Reflections: From Gifts to Talents Dear Mr. Asimov... Dear NSTA Isaac Asimov 341 Still in My Dinosaur Phase Stephen Jay Gould 349 A Tribute to My Mentors Joshua Lederberg 353 vii I Ways of Being Rational Lorraine J. Daston 359 Today's Jacks, Tomorrow's Giants Francis J. Heyden, S. J. 363 Intimate Evolution of a Nature Lover Lynn Margulis 367 From Gifts to Talents Through General Science Robert A. Rice 371 Lessons I Have Learned Gerald Skoog 375 Letter to a Young Scientist Glenn T Seaborg 379 Part V Bibliography Evelyn Morholt, Linda Crow 385 Part VI Biographical Notes on Contributors 413 s,J viii Invitation to Our Readers We bring you this book at a critical time. Indeed, the world is gathering up its resources to face new, great, unpredictable changes. Thirty-four authors have joined to bring you this book; among them are natural and physical scientists, psychologists, historians, writers, scholars of curriculum and instruction, teachers of teachers, and teachers of the young. All have turned their scholarship, practical experience, and wisdom to probe the manner and mode by which elementary and high school students gifted in science could find opportunities to turn their intellectual resources and dispositions to contributions in science and technology. The contributors probe many methodologiesamong them, the place of unified concepts and processes; the interaction of the certainties of problem doing with the uncertainties of problem solving; the "hands-on" approaches coupled with the "brains-on" ones, as well as the much needed "hands-off" ones. Thus, the tools of the student are strengthened with the hard-won tools of the scientist. In short, the heart of this book opens a variety of opportuni- ties to all who wish to help others press on with the arts of scientific investiga- tion. Clearly, all of us in the postindustrial era are now bound to a time in which science and technology will more than ever affect cultures, nations, societies, and personal lives. Yet the coming years, in spite of the uncertainties they bring, also offer great promise to the generations of young who use the resources of the past to mold the character of the future. You, the readers of this book, are profoundly concerned with the Yr rious environments of school- ing facing teachers and students. Thus, you stand near the center of the vast trw efforts necessary to offer the widest opportunity for allteachers, administrators, parents, and those they nurture. Your overarching purpose: to fulfill the powers of the young in the pursuit of their personal and special capacities and excellences. But we do not yet know who among the young during their school years will eventually turn to a lifework in science. We do know that there are wide ix opportunities in scientific and technological work availableto the young with many interests, varied abilities, and personalities. We do know enough ofthe arts of teaching to create environments that nourish personal initiativein which the young may do works that demonstrate talentin science. And we are aware that, over the nation, teacherswhether in classrooms, inadminis- trative offices, or in the library; whetheras scientists in laboratories; whether as parents at homeare central, singly and together, to the creation of such environments. The authors of Gifted Young in Science: Potential ThroughPerformance explore the nature of work in science, in schooling, and ineducation, and thus explore in practice and in theory what is known andyet to be known. From the whole work, you, the readersfrom thevantage point of your particular situationsmay find models of the environments centralto turning general and special gifts into particular talents in science. I invite you to join the authors. For the book in handadvances your causes as teachersin whatever capacityas well as thecauses of the young particularly those young who daily engage in finding andcreating their lives and their lifework. Bill G. Aldridge Executive Director NS TA x N Part I By Way of Beginning I I By Way of Beginning: Seeding Destiny inan Open Society We are living in a world at one of its strange turning points. Indeed,a number of students of intellectual history recognize the presentas a major crisis in the history of the planet. In a curious way, weare catapulting into a new century a decade or so before its coming. Society mobilized to confront the It dustrial Revolution a hundred years or soago; we are now engaged in meeting the thrust of what has been called the Postindustrial Revolution. And as Daniel Bell* insists, on convincing data, the activity of this society will be centrally based in science and technology.' Bell's analysis, as fresh today as it was when he wrote it, proceedssome- what as follows: The preindustrial society interacts withnature; the indus- trial society with the machine.