The photograph of Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan at the 1925 trial of John T. Scopes (the science teacher accused of breaking the state law against teaching evolution) is surely one of the icons of the history of science education. What are some other icons of the history of science education? In this activity you will work with a collaborative group to explore one of the phases of science education (as identified in this chapter) in order to identify the icons of that phase.
Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan at the Scopes Trial
Materials
Procedures
1. The class will inquire into the various phases of the history of science education. The questions in the chart below are designed to be used to explore any phase in the history of science education.
Phases
of Science Education History Inquiry
Questions I. Roots of Modern
Science Education, 1900 - 1930. II. Progressive
Education and Science, 1930 - 1950. III. The Golden Age
of Science Education, 1950 - 1975. IV. Textbook
Controversies and the Back-to-Basic Movement, 1975 -
1983. V. A Nation At Risk,
and the 1980s, 1983 - 1990. VI. Science
Education for All: Toward the Year 200 and
Beyond. What social forces
influenced science education? What reports or
commissions impacted the goals of science
teaching? What were the
desired goals of science teaching? What was the focus
of the science curriculum?
2. Each team should choose a different period in science education history to investigate. The team's task is to assemble icons---images, representations, articfacts,pictures---of the period under investigation. The icons can be presented on a large poster, or as a series of individual exhibits.
Minds On Strategies
1. What are some icons of science education? Compare the icons from the different periods of science education history. How has science education changed?
2. What are the important issues in science education today?
3. What are some of your predictions of science education for the year 2061?