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Opportunities for Strategic Investment in K-12 Science Education. Options

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Opportunities for Strategic Investment in K-12 Science Education. Options DOCUMENT RESUME ED 284 760 SE 048 305 .AUTHOR Knapp, Michael S.; And Others TiTLB- Opportunities for Strategic Investment_in K-12_ Science_Education.. Options for the National Science Foundation. Volume 1: Problems And Opportunities. INSTITUTION Stanford Research Inst., Menlo Park, Calif. SPONS AGENCY National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO SRI-P-1809 PUB DATE Jun 87 CONTRACT SPA-8651540 NOTE 286p.; For a summary report of this study, see SE 048 304; for volume 2, see_SE 048 306. PUB TYPE Reports 7 Descriptive (141) -- Reports - Research/Technical.- (143) EDRS PRICE MF01 PC12 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Change .Strategies; *Elementary School Mathematics; *Elementary School Science; Elementary Secondary Education: Engineering Education; Federal Aid; *Federal_Government; Inservice Teacher Education; Mathematics Curriculum; Mathematics Education; Mathematics Instruction; National Programs; Science and Society; *Science Curriculum; Science Education; Science instruction; *Secondary School Mathematics; *Secondary School- Science IDENTIFIERS g.tational Science Foundation ABSTRACT Presented in.this volume is the final report of the first phase of a study designed to assess initiatives available to the National Science FoUndation (NSF) to address problems and opportunities in K-12 science education. The report begins with a discussion of .NSF'slaission in X-12 science education, followed by a review of the problems that limit the 0°1 of competent, interested science learners Up to the age of 18. The remainder of_the document is organimed as a series of_stand-alone essays, providing detailed discussions of ten opportunities for_NSF investment. These opportunities are'categorized as: (1) opportunities related to appropriate content and approaches;.(2) opportunities related to the community of professionals concerned with education in the sciences; and .(3) opportunities related to the infrastructure for education in the sciences. Each essay reviews the nature of the opportunity and rationale for NSF's involvement, NSF's programs in relation to this opportunity, and promising initiatives for NSF's investment. Appended is a table listing these promising initiatives according to the opportunity to_ which it relates, and showing estimated measures needed for each initiative over the next five years. (TW) ***************** ** * ******* ***************** ***************** Reproductions sup lied by EDRS are the best that can be made rlin the original document. ************* * *** ************************* ***** * 2OPPORTIJNITIESFORSTIZATEGIC INVESTMENTIN K42SCIENCE 2EDUCATION Options for the Na lona'Scirice Founda ion Volume 1: Problemsand Opportunities June 1987 Prepared for: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL REsouncEs INFOHMATIoN THE NATIONAL CENTER (ERIC) SCMNCEFOUNDATION This document has been reproduced as oelved from the person or organization originating it NSF ContractNo. SPA-8651540 0 Minor changes have been made fo improve SRI Project No.1809 reproduction duality. points of view Of opinions stated in this dOcu- marl do not necessarily represent official OEM positiOn or poticy Prepared by: "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCETHIS Michael S. Knapp MATERIAL HAS BEEN Mark St. John GRANTED BY Andrew A. Zucker s Margaret Needels Marian S. Stearns TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES with the assistanceof: INFORMATION CENTER(Me).' Wayne Hanrey SRI International LA) BEST COPY AVAILABLE The results of this study are reported hn three volumes: The Summary Report contains a brief overview of all fmdingsand conclusions regarding NSF's mission in K-12 science education,the opportunities for the Foundation to makea significant contribution to solving problems in 1C-12 science education, and howNSF can approach these opportunities more strategically. Volume 1 Problems and Opportunities this volume)presents full discussions of NSF's mission, the problems in K-12science education that are susceptible to NSF's influence, and the opportunities to address these problems. Essays on each opportunitypresent ui analysis of: The rationale for NSF's hivolvement. How current (or projected) NSFprogams and policies, carried out by its Directorate for Science and Engineering Education (SEE), relate to the opportuni Promishig alternative initiatives for SEE to take advantageof the opportunity. Volume 2 - Groundwork for S rategic Investment containsextended discussions of: NSF's "core or basic functions in science educationpromoting professional interchange, buildinga base of information and knowledge about science edwation, and supportinginnovation). The basis for strategic investment in K-12 scienceeducation (design of initiatives, development of strategies and strate& capacity). Volume 2 also includes a discussion of study methods,a summary of NSF's 30-year history of funding hi K-12 science education,and three commis- sioned papers (regarding NSF's role in mathematicseducation, computer science education, and efforts toserve minority students in science THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION IN K-12 SCIENCE EDUCATION: OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRATEGIC INVESTMENT Summary Report May 1987 By: Michael S. Knapp Marian S. Stearns Mark St. John Andrew Zucker Prepared for: The National Science Foundation NSF Contract No. SPA-8651540 SRI Project No. 1809 CONTENTS Page Synopsis of Volume 2 xiii Preface Acknowledgments INFTRODUCHON Clarifying NSFs Educational Mandate at the K-12 Level 2 An Interpretation of NSF's Educational Mandate 3 Contrasting Views of NSF's Contribution to the Scientific and Engineering Pipeline. 4 Other Important Science Learning Goals 8 Motivation and Performance of Today's Science Learners 10 National Problems That Limit the Pool of Science Learners . 11 Content and Educational Approaches 12 Qualified Teachers and a Strong Profession 13 The linfrtructure" of Science and Mathematics Education 14 Differences by Educational Level 15 The Larger Context for National Problems in Science Educa ion 17 Identifying Opportunities for NSF 17 NSF's Urdque Capabilities in Science Education 18 What Makes NSF's Involvement Opportune? 21 The Universe of Opportunities 23 Categories of Opportunity . 23 Opportunities in Strategic Perspective 24 References 26 PART ONE: OPPORTUNITIES REIATED TO APPROPRIATE CONTENT AND APPROACHES . Appropriate Content and Approaches 31 The Opportunities at a Glance 32 CO S Cc AO- Page OPPORTIINTrY 1 = TO RECONCEPTUALL- MATHEMATICS CONTENT AND ASSOC1A _ ATPROACHES . 35 Rethinking K-12 Mathematics . 35 Content and Approach: ie Guiding Them 38 Elementary School. 38 Middle and Secondary Schools 41 NSF and the Search for Appropriate Content and Approaches in K-12 Mathematics Education Past and Present NSF Investments in Rethinking the Mathematics Curriculum 47 NSF's Past Investments hi Historical Perspective 47 Current and Projected NSF (SEE) Investments = 49 Promising Initiatives 52 1.1 Dtwelop Comprehensive Prototypes for Middle and 1-Egh School Mathematics 53 1.2 Develop National Standards for Mathematics Education, K-12 54 1.3 Develop Software Tools for Learning Mathema K-12. 55 References 57 OPPORTUNITY 2a - TO RETHINK THE APPROACH TO, AND SETTINGS FOR, EI EMENTARY SCIENCE EDUCATION 61 The Importance of Science osure at an Early Age 61 Barriers to Science Experience in the Schools 63 The Nature of the Opportunity for NSF 66 NSF's Past and Current Investments in Elementary Science Education 68 CONTES (Continued) Page Promising Initiatives 71 2a.1Support Studies and Research on the Mission for, Constralzts on, and Possibilities for Enhancing the Science Learning of Younger Children = 71 2a2 Support Large-Scale Field Experiments with Alternative Approaches to School-Based Elementary Science Education 72 References 77 OPPORTUNITY 2b - TO RECAST 111E CONTENT OF MIDDI F AND HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE CURRICULA 81. Recasting the Content of Middle and High School Science 81 Broadening the Curriculum- Some Guiding Themes = 85 NSF and the Search for Appropriate Content. 88 Past and Present NSF (SEE) Investments in Relation to ThisOpportunity 90 NSFs Past Investments in Curriculum Improvement = 91 NSFs (SEE's) Current Investment Aimed at Rethhiking Middle and High School Science Content 95 The Likely Yield of Current and Projected Investments . 98 Promising Initiatives 99 2b.1Support National Task Forces with a Mandate to Redesign High School and Middle School Science Curricula 100 2b.2 Fund Field-Based Experimentation with Alternative Conceptions of Science Education 102 References 105 CONTENTS (Continued) OPPORTUNITY 3 - TO MATCH SCIENCE AND MATIMMATICS EDUCATION TO THE DIFFERENT NEEDS IN A DIWRSE STUDENT POPULATION 109 The Nature of the Problem and the Opportunity for NSF 109 NSF (SEE) Programs and Policies in Relation to This Opportunity 113 Promising Initiatives. .. 116 3.1 Mount a Targeted Experiential Program for Secondary Students from Underrepresented Groups = 117 3.2 Fund Research Focused on Underrepresented Groups in Science Education 118 3 Develop Curriculum Materials and Instructional Methods for Selected Groups 119 3.4 Promote Exemplary Models for Servh3g Students from Underrepresented Groups 120 References 123 FART MO: OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY OF PROFESSIONALS CONCERMD WITH EDUCATION IN THE SCIENCES 125 The Professional Commum 125 The Opportunities at a Glance 127 OPPORTUNITY 4- TO BOLSTER THE "SUPPORT CADRE" SERVING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACDERS 129 Defining the Opportumfox- NSF 129 What Science and Mathematics Teachers Need. 130 Three Scenarios for NSFs Response to Teachers' Needs.
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