Description

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Ourpredilection for premature acceptance and assertion, ouraversionto suspendedjudgment, are signs that we tend naturally to cut short the process oftesting. We are satisfied with superficial and immediate sho- visioned applications. . . . Science represents the safeguard ofthe race againstthese natural propensities and theevilswhich flow fromthem. . . . It isartificial (an acquired art), notspontaneous; learned, notnative. To this fact is due the unique, the invaluable place of science in education. (Dewey 1916, p. 189) Some, with a more narrow focus, maintain that if we want students to learn and become competent in science, then they must be taught something about the nature of science. For instance, Frederick Reif in a recent publication, has said: Alltoo often introductory physics courses 'cover' numerous topics, but theknowledge actually acquired by students is often nominal ratherthan functional. If students are to acquire basic physics knowledge. . . It is necessary to understand better the requisite thought processes and to teach these more explicitly. . . . if one wants to improve significantly students' learning of physics. . . . It is also necessary to modify students' naive notions about the nature of science. (Reif 1995, p. 281) Curriculum documents in the US (especially Project 2061 and the National Science Standards), Canada (especially Science for Every Student), and Europe (particularly those from UK, Denmark, and Spain) are giving increased prominence to students understanding the nature of science.

About the Author

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William F. McComas is a Distinguished Professor and the inaugural holder of the Parks Family Endowed Professorship in Science Education at the University of Arkansas. He is editor of The Language of Science Education and co-author of a new account of The Scopes Monkey Trial. McComas was a Fulbright Fellow at Dublin City University, has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and currently serves as the Editor of the American Biology Teacher. He is the recipient of accolades such as the ASTA Outstanding Mentor and Outstanding Science Teacher Educator awards, and the Ohaus Award for innovations in college science teaching. Bill is particularly proud of the students whose dissertations he chaired, 15 of whom are now professors of science education.