A Resolution
of Secondary School Science Teachers
WHEREAS, the improvement of
science education and the enhancement of society’s understanding and
appreciation of science in order to create a more informed citizenry are
responsibilities of the Ohio Academy of Science (OAS); and
WHEREAS, scientific knowledge is gained through a
deductive and intuitive method of investigation based on continuous
experimentation, observation, and measurement inspiring evolving explanations
of natural phenomena, among educators and those they influence; and
WHEREAS, the ability to accurately teach science and
the nature of scientific knowledge is obtained not only by being aware of the
nature of science, but by gaining further awareness of research fundamentals
through experience; and
WHEREAS, many science educators in Ohio’s secondary
schools do not have research experience, and therefore may not be able to
adequately teach students about the fundamentals of science and of the
scientific process; and
WHEREAS, we expect music teachers to have firsthand
knowledge of those instruments they teach and coaches to have playing
experience in their respective sports; and
WHEREAS, while classroom based study and inquiry may
provide a familiarization with the basic instruments of scientific endeavor,
meaningful scientific research experiences that foster a greater appreciation
and understanding of principles through hands-on experience can be found
throughout society in the form of corporate and governmental studies and
investigations; and
WHEREAS, to the Academy, a research experience means a
continuous, multi-week immersion into the given field. This may take the form
of an internship or employment in an academic, governmental or industrial
environment dedicated to research. This may include laboratory, product
development, manufacturing, or supervised field work where the primary
objective is to acquire new information or knowledge so as to test a hypothesis
and/or solve a business, governmental, or industrial problem or need.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Academy asserts that in order
to improve science education, secondary school science educators need to have
meaningful research experience in order to more completely and accurately teach
students about the nature and practice of science. To this end the public will
be better prepared to understand science and scientific issues in a society
where science is increasingly playing larger roles in our daily lives; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the OAS believes certification requirements for science educators should be revised to require meaningful research experience, and that colleges and universities should require students pursuing degrees in science education to obtain this research experience for the completion of their degree program.
Approved on February 28, 2000 by the Executive Committee of The Ohio
Academy of Science.
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