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
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.
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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 education – The Economic Consequences of Investing in Science Education – Middle School Engineers – Lego Learning – The Importance of Science Education – Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids
Categories: Education, K-12, Science, Students, Universities
Tags: experiment, science education, teachers
2 Responses to “MythBuster: 3 Ways to Fix USA Science Education”
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August 29th, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
Absolutely right. And it needs fixing. Not just an American problem but UK, Aus and Europe as well.
June 15th, 2013 @ 1:38 am
A fun song on fundamentals of experimenting to the scientific method…