SCIENCE IN THE HOME

Turning kids onto Science and Developing Scientific Literacy

Tuesday 8th June 2010

When I push down on the top rod, the one on the side pops out. What might be happening inside to make this happen?

ALICE•PEAC student

•Top of the class for both maths and English

•Highly motivated

•Accepted into a special Science programme for High School

RICKY•Class ratbag!

•Near bottom of class in literacy and numeracy

•Not engaged in learning

•All standard academic measures – really weak

Smart doesn’t always = normal!

Sir Isaac Newtonb.1642 d. 1727

•Codified the laws of Universal Gravitation•Inventor of the infinitesimal calculus•Inventor of the reflecting telescope•Explored and identified key properties of light

Henry Cavendishb.1731 d. 1810

•Recognised the elemental nature of Hydrogen•Calculated the density of the Earth – to within 10 %•Introduced the concept of voltage and other important electrical facts

J.B.S Haldane (and Dad!)

b.1892 d. 1964•Calculated the effects of compressed gases on the body•Synthesised Darwin’s theories into a modern interpretation

The Role of Science To provide a framework with which to make sense

of the world around us To systematically collect and organise facts

according to a set process To look for patterns and connections within the

natural world and propose interpretations to explain them

To interpret natural phenomena through the rigorous examination and testing of empirical evidence

To constantly re-examine current thinking and modify understandings as new information becomes available

Some Statistics...

Only 53% of adults could say how long it took for the Earth to travel once around the Sun.

Just 59% of adults knew that the earliest humans did not live at the same time as the dinosaurs.

Only 47% of adults could even approximately guess the % of the Earth’s surface covered by water.

Only 21% of ALL adults surveyed scored all three questions correctly.

A 2007 study by Michigan State University determined that just 28 percent of American adults could be considered scientifically literate. In February 2009, the California Academy of Sciences released the findings of a survey which found that most Americans couldn’t pass a basic scientific literacy test. The findings:

At a recent Harvard University orientation for new students, an informal poll found that less than 10% of the students knew why it is hotter in Summer than Winter.

How do we stack up?

Australia scored above the OECD average and we came 7th overall out of 58 countries (USA was 35th!)

15 year old students from OECD and non OECD countries – Scientific Literacy (2006)

BUT….The bar for ‘minimum’ standards for scientific literacy isn’t very high!

Another ‘Australian only’ study conducted by the University of NSW found that only 20% of the BEST Year 12 students would be considered scientifically literate if measured by adult standards.

What is Scientific Literacy?Scientific literacy relates to the ability to think scientifically and to

use scientific knowledge and processes to both understand the world around us and to participate in decisions that affect it.

Increasingly, science and technology are shaping our lives. Scientific literacy is considered to be a key outcome of education for all students by the end of schooling – not just for future scientists, given the growing centrality of science and technology in modern societies.

The skill of being able to think scientifically about evidence and the absence of evidence for claims that are made in the media and elsewhere is vital to daily life.

It does not mean having to be a professional scientist!

Why is Scientific Literacy Important? Knowledge = empowerment :The power and freedom to

make informed personal decisions on matters that matter! Active citizenship – having the skills and knowledge to

participate in local/national/global decision making Critical evaluation – having the tools and confidence to

‘weigh up’ the truth (or otherwise) of often spurious or sensationalist media pronouncements

Applications – skills that are transferrable Exploration and discovery is hardwired - questioning and

finding out is a joy! Connection – part of being a well rounded, well educated

person: see ‘the bigger picture’ Human rights – it is a fundamental right of every citizen to

be scientifically literate

What can you do?

Model, Model, Model A love of learning (in general). Delight in discovery. Attitude towards Science in society – and scientists Model persistence and resilience – and instil both in

your child Model cooperative skills and how to deal with

conflict or disappointment Speak positively about your own school experiences ‘Think aloud’ – question things verbally and ponder

possible answers Model openness to new ideas, points of view and

model your preparedness to change your view or opinion based on new evidence

What can you do?

Engage and Involve Do some home investigations with your kids – they crave

your time and participation Teach them the value of asking questions – and ask

questions yourself...constantly. (including those without ‘black and white’ answers)

Regular visits to library and have a range of books, magazines, newspapers around the house. Speak about them, model reading them, etc

Seek your child’s opinion and teach them how to justify their opinion

Acknowledge your ignorance of some things – but together, find out the answer

Model healthy scepticism and not accepting things on ‘face value’

What can you do?

Engage and Involve (cont.) Speak about well publicised Science news

around the dinner table Don’t be afraid to bring up contentious issues

– model a balanced point of view Find out their hobbies and interests – kids

want DESPERATELY to share their ‘inner world’ with you

Model scepticism but not cynicism Plan some family outings that involve some

type of discovery, exploration and can generate discussion

What shouldn’t you do! Lecture Force children to engage – no better way to turn them

off! Buy heaps of expensive ‘sciencey’ toys and leave them

to it Make learning new things seem a grim, arduous task Discuss things using ‘all’ statements and stereotypes Be afraid of your own science knowledge – it is your

modelling of ‘enthusiasm for finding out’ that will help your child

Make every family activity an educational experience – do a variety of things; some purely for FUN!

Give up if your child is initially reluctant to engage or rolls their eyes at you – be patient, be persistent and they will start to come around

Place too much emphasis on answers – they are, of course, important, but the QUESTIONS, and the journey to find out the answer are the real gold nuggets!

‘The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful. If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living.’Jules Henri Poincare

References

Bill Bryson: A short history of nearly everything Black Swan Books 2003

Carl Sagan: Cosmos Random House 1980, 2002

Carl Sagan: Shadows of forgotten ancestors Ballantine Books 1993

http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/index.php

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~macinnis@ozemail.com.au/scifun/miniexp.htm

http://www.easy-kids-science-experiments.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/index_flash.shtml

http://childparenting.about.com/od/learningenrichment/a/sciencefair.htm

http://wupcenter.mtu.edu/education/ed3510/2006/NSTA-Parent_Involvement_in_Science_Educ.pdf

http://www.acer.edu.au/enews/2005/02/comparing-results-from-pisa-and-timss

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/discovery-videos.htm

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/discovery-videos.html

http://www.parentsconnect.com/articles/learn_to_love_school.jhtml

Finally.....the last word...

Go to YouTube.com and type in:Crazy Sprinkler Lady(it plays for 2.00 minutes)

This is the kind of thing we need to combat!