Engineering better science education

Thanks to Stephen Pompea and Pedro Russo for their comprehensive overview of science education activities (Physics Today, September 2021, page 26). The authors mention in passing that the evaluation innovative projects was included studies educational transformation. It would be interesting learn what found evaluations others may have been performed. NSF alone spends some $1 billion on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education, so it is important assess effects those had appreciation competence.I constructed a small observatory my town operated with NASA support over 20 years. opportunity increase awareness astronomy community enjoyable.11. P. Foukal, Eos Trans. AGU 95, 63 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1002/2014EO070004 But experience raised concerns about current emphasis education. For one, I surprised find while there are many Web focused specific topics like building model solar system or rocket, one resource elementary middle school teachers might most need—a introduction at level—seems overlooked. only such general colleagues were able time an excellent textbook by Jay Pasachoff22. J. Pasachoff, Science Explorer: Astronomy, Prentice-Hall (2000). wasn’t available anymore, although revised edition has since appeared. An experienced teacher working me commented currently popular Web-based resources students relatively narrow makes difficult present subject cohesively.Another concern impact too curriculum changes teachers. Our daughter teaches third grade, wonders how enthusiasts frequently revamping curricula understand much work goes into handling 25 rambunctious kids sometimes-difficult parents. Attrition serious problem, finding out they need master yet another way teach math could last straw some.It hear from whether covered past addressed future.ReferencesSection:ChooseTop pageReferences <<CITING ARTICLES1. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014EO070004, Google ScholarCrossref2. Scholar© 2022 American Institute Physics.