Achieving Excellence in K-12 Earth Science Education: The Critical Role of Geoscientists.
Abstract
Minnesota has a reputation for excellence in K-12 science education. When the Minnesota Legislature required new academic standards in science, the state became an attractive venue for advocates of creationism and intelligent design who were intent on parallel teaching of evolution and what they refer to as "the" alternative. This paper describes the strategies used by a well-organized movement to include ID in the science standards and provides a case study/example of the so-called Wedge Strategy from the perspective of scientists who served as members of the MN science standards committee. The paper discusses the critial role scientists played in the development of exemplary and rigorous Earth science standards now legislated in MN and concludes with recommendations for the geoscience community derived from the experiences of geoscientists and educators who served as "reluctant warriors" in the battle for standards-based geoscience education in MN and Ohio.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2005
- Bibcode:
- 2005AGUFM.U11C..07L
- Keywords:
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- 0800 EDUCATION;
- 0805 Elementary and secondary education;
- 6615 Legislation and regulations (6324);
- 6620 Science policy (0485)