Are "traditional" high school science teachers doing a disservice to students by neglecting to tell the truth about science?
This Chemistry Matters video clip shows REAL chemists doing REAL chemistry and it is not as straight forward and dull as too many high school students perceive chemistry to be. This misconception of science having clear solutions, being routine, and irrelevant to every day life that students too often have when they leave their high school chemistry classroom (or sadly by the end of the first quarter of their chemistry course) needs to end. Science teachers need to make it a priority to incorporate the truth about science and what it has to offer to their students and potentially future scientists.
The nature of science is discussed in this video by numerous chemists who all address important concepts. High school science educators should discuss these nature of science concepts in the classroom (preferably on a regular basis). Just a few of the nature of science (NOS) concepts mentioned in this film include; collaboration, curiosity, creativity, interesting (science is not a 9-5 job), and that being a scientist is similar to being a musician (composing explanations and/or advancements).
Yes, learning the basics about science can be challenging and dry to many. However, it is an educator's challenge/duty to incorporate the real aspects of science into the learning of the basics and applications of science and engage students in science the way REAL scientists do. Now we (science educators) know what needs to be done, so how do we do it?
Additional Chemistry Matter Video Clips
Article related to presenting science in an interesting and thought-provoking fashion:
Backus, Lisa. (2005). A Year Without Procedures. The Science Teacher. Vol 72(7),
pages54-58.
Broad suggestions for implementation of science content:
Student-centered learning
Guided Inquiry (esp. labs)
Active Mental Engagement
Higher-order thinking (HOTS)
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