| Science education is a floundering element of the | | | | The Center in Education Policy found in 2007 that |
| United States educational system. Educators and | | | | some school districts have increased the amount of |
| science advocates are calling for change in the way | | | | time they spend on math and reading education by |
| this subject is taught to teachers and to students. | | | | more than two hours per week. This increase is in lieu |
| Science lesson plans are lacking due to the scarce | | | | of time for science, social studies, music and art. |
| amount of resources available. When media options | | | | Science lesson plans are being cut to make room for |
| are made available, these plans can be given new life. | | | | other subjects. |
| Those educators focused on science have argued | | | | Is Change Coming? |
| that math and reading tests mandated by the federal | | | | More and more educators and policy makers are |
| government are taking valuable class time away from | | | | recognizing the loss in science education and are trying |
| the necessary instruction science students so | | | | to make a change. The National Science Teachers |
| desperately need. There is hope that the new science | | | | Association (NSTA) announced a $43 million, five-year |
| testing under the NCLB will renew a healthy focus on | | | | program to create a national Center for Science |
| this topic in the classroom. | | | | Education (CSE). |
| The nation is facing a growing issue in terms of | | | | This initiative is expected to promote science literacy |
| science performance as 82 percent of the nation's | | | | and produce the next generation of standards in |
| senior class performed below the proficient level on | | | | science education. The CSE will also create a |
| the 2000 National Assessment of Educational | | | | state-of-the-art facility to allow science educators |
| Progress. These disappointing results indicate this | | | | throughout the country to participate in leadership and |
| problem is bigger than once thought. There is hope, | | | | content-based learning opportunities. |
| however, as teachers become more proficient in their | | | | Programs are popping up all over the country that are |
| creation of science lesson plans and media sources | | | | designed to improve the science education available to |
| are readily available to enhance the curriculum. | | | | students today. With such programs in place, teachers |
| It Starts in the Classroom | | | | can hope to create science lesson plans that deliver |
| UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science and West Ed | | | | value, even if time in the classroom is limited. |
| conducted a study in the spring of 2007 which found | | | | Teachers can also improve upon these science lesson |
| that 80 percent of teachers in San Francisco | | | | plans with the use of educational videos designed to |
| elementary schools spend 60 minutes or less on | | | | introduce students to new concepts and methods for |
| science education each week. One has to wonder | | | | conducting scientific experiments and research. Not |
| how these teachers can expect their students to | | | | every student will find the subject of science engaging, |
| excel in a subject that is given so little time. | | | | but these videos can go a long way to grab their |
| This situation is going on along with the loss in the arts. | | | | interest by taking the subject to a whole new level. |