An Urgent Call for Academic Chemists To Engage in Precollege Science Education
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Kristen L. Cacciatore [2] ; Hannah Sevian [1]
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[1] University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Boston
City of Boston, Estados Unidos
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[2] Science Department, East Boston High School, United States
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- Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 88, Nº 3, 2011, págs. 248-250
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
The International Year of Chemistry (IYC) provides a tremendous opportunity for academic chemists to engage in achieving several of the stated objectives of the IYC through involvement in K−12 (precollege) science education. Relevant IYC objectives include increasing the public appreciation and understanding of chemistry in meeting world needs, encouraging the interest of young people in chemistry, and generating enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry. Academic chemists are uniquely positioned to support these efforts given their extensive personal knowledge of chemistry and their understanding of the skills and knowledge students need to be successful in scientific research and coursework at the college level. These efforts promise to benefit academic chemists in several ways, including reinforcing their own excitement about science as they deliberately engage in inspiring K−12 students to enjoy science more; improving K−12 students’ readiness for college coursework; and enhanced public understanding of the purpose, goals, and benefits of scientific research and the need for public funding of this research. Academic chemists can engage with K−12 science improvement efforts in myriad ways, including outreach and internship programs for high school students, developing and implementing programs that help secondary science teachers increase their content knowledge and research skills, and participating in policy initiatives around science education reform, among others.
