MythBuster: 3 Ways to Fix USA Science Education

Posted on August 29, 2008  Comments (2)

MythBuster Adam Savage: 3 Ways to Fix U.S. Science Education

Let students get their hands dirty.
It’s really difficult to absorb things just by being told about them—I know I don’t learn well that way. If students could get their hands dirty in science class they’d be more likely to internalize information. You can lecture about the surface tension of water, but it’s not as effective as conducting an experiment with a needle and a single beam balance. Jamie and I are in touch with a lot of teachers from industrial engineering programs, and one of them told us he thinks our show has helped shift the emphasis from the strictly theoretical to a more hands-on approach.

2. Yes, spend more money on science.

3. Celebrate mistakes.
A good scientist will tell you that being wrong can be just as interesting as being right. The same holds for our show. We love hearing from fans who challenge our conclusions—especially kids.

Related: Report on K-12 Science Education in USA (2006)posts on science educationThe Economic Consequences of Investing in Science EducationMiddle School EngineersLego LearningThe Importance of Science Education – Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids

2 Responses to “MythBuster: 3 Ways to Fix USA Science Education”

  1. Anonymous
    August 29th, 2008 @ 8:32 pm

    Absolutely right. And it needs fixing. Not just an American problem but UK, Aus and Europe as well.

  2. Test it Out, Experiment by They Might Be Giants » Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog
    June 15th, 2013 @ 1:38 am

    A fun song on fundamentals of experimenting to the scientific method…

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