Looking Ahead Science Education
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER’S SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Looking Ahead: Science Education for the Twenty-First Century
A report from the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor
April 2011
Science Education for the 21st Century
Office of the Prime Minister’s Science Advisory Committee PO Box 108-117, Symonds Street, Auckland 1150, New Zealand Telephone: +64 9 923 1788 Website: www.pmcsa.org.nz Email: csa@pmcsa.org.nz ISBN 978-0-477-10336-7 (paperback) ISBN 978-0-477-10337-4 (PDF)
Page ii
Science Education for the 21st Century
Contents
Letter to the Prime Minister Looking Ahead: Science Education for the Twenty-First Century
1. 2. 3. 4. Preamble The purpose of science education in the school years Primary school education Secondary schools 4.1. Objectives and life skills 4.2. Pre-professional science education 5. Equity 6. Final remarks
v 1
1 3 4 5 5 6 7 8
ANNEX A: Inspired by Science
1. Introduction 2. A brief history of science education 2.1. Evolution of the curriculum 2.2. Purposes of science education 2.3. In summary 2.4. Notes to Section 2 3. Engagement and achievement in science 3.1. What is engagement? 3.2. What is achievement? 3.3. Assessment tools 3.4. Achievement 3.5. Engagement 3.6. Opportunities to learn science 3.7. In summary 3.8. Notes to Section 3 4. Young people, schooling and science in the 21st century 4.1. Changes in society, work and young people 4.2. Changes in the purposes of schooling 4.3. New theories of learning 4.4. Changes in science 4.5. Notes to Section 4 5. Considering the options 5.1. Scenario 5.2. Advantages and disadvantages 5.3. A way forward 5.4. Notes to Section 5 6. Appendix 1: achievement data
A-9
A-10 A-11 A-11 A-15 A-19 A-20 A-25 A-25 A-26 A-27 A-27 A-30 A-32 A-35 A-36 A-39 A-39 A-40 A-41 A-43 A-44 A-46 A-47 A-49 A-50 A-50 A-51
Page iii
Science Education for the 21st Century
ANNEX B: Engaging Young New Zealanders with Science - Priorities for Action in School Science Education
1.
Looking Ahead: Science Education for the Twenty-First Century
A report from the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor
April 2011
Science Education for the 21st Century
Office of the Prime Minister’s Science Advisory Committee PO Box 108-117, Symonds Street, Auckland 1150, New Zealand Telephone: +64 9 923 1788 Website: www.pmcsa.org.nz Email: csa@pmcsa.org.nz ISBN 978-0-477-10336-7 (paperback) ISBN 978-0-477-10337-4 (PDF)
Page ii
Science Education for the 21st Century
Contents
Letter to the Prime Minister Looking Ahead: Science Education for the Twenty-First Century
1. 2. 3. 4. Preamble The purpose of science education in the school years Primary school education Secondary schools 4.1. Objectives and life skills 4.2. Pre-professional science education 5. Equity 6. Final remarks
v 1
1 3 4 5 5 6 7 8
ANNEX A: Inspired by Science
1. Introduction 2. A brief history of science education 2.1. Evolution of the curriculum 2.2. Purposes of science education 2.3. In summary 2.4. Notes to Section 2 3. Engagement and achievement in science 3.1. What is engagement? 3.2. What is achievement? 3.3. Assessment tools 3.4. Achievement 3.5. Engagement 3.6. Opportunities to learn science 3.7. In summary 3.8. Notes to Section 3 4. Young people, schooling and science in the 21st century 4.1. Changes in society, work and young people 4.2. Changes in the purposes of schooling 4.3. New theories of learning 4.4. Changes in science 4.5. Notes to Section 4 5. Considering the options 5.1. Scenario 5.2. Advantages and disadvantages 5.3. A way forward 5.4. Notes to Section 5 6. Appendix 1: achievement data
A-9
A-10 A-11 A-11 A-15 A-19 A-20 A-25 A-25 A-26 A-27 A-27 A-30 A-32 A-35 A-36 A-39 A-39 A-40 A-41 A-43 A-44 A-46 A-47 A-49 A-50 A-50 A-51
Page iii
Science Education for the 21st Century
ANNEX B: Engaging Young New Zealanders with Science - Priorities for Action in School Science Education
1.