“Ponder & Wander”: Science Education in the Common Core Era

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Countless education news articles comparing US test scores to those from other countries say American students are “slipping” in math and science.  They don’t perform well on tests; they miss questions involving higher-level thinking; they have a false sense of confidence about their knowledge and abilities. So what’s going wrong?

Arguments about why the scores are low include reasonable questions about socioeconomic status and its impact on student achievement; the value of what is measured on standardized tests; and whether No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and the Common Core Standards have hurt more than they’ve helped, by creating a test-prep-based curriculum in America’s public schools.  Some say our students need better foundational skills in mathematics and science – others argue that we’ve squelched creativity and innovative thinking by “teaching to the test.”

An article in this month’s Scientific American pointed out that we may be neglecting students with real scientific aptitude, and failing to develop their enthusiasm, at the same moment that we are bemoaning the low test scores and lack of student interest in STEM subjects. The authors (experts on gifted education Rena F. Subotnick, Paula Olszewski-Kubilius and Frank C. Worrell) argue that science students need encouragement, strong guidance, and real-world challenges – and the time and opportunity to, as many educators say, “ponder and wander,” engaging meaningfully with content and exploring connections.

More attention and funding are needed for students with science aptitude, they argue, and failure to engage those students is hurting our chances of “forging new generations of scientists and innovators.” Students who are “thriving in enriched environments (think math and rocketry clubs)” need to be guided and challenged just as much as struggling students do, but are too often seen as self-sufficient and left to their own devices.

Please share your thoughts about best practices in your school, district, or state. Are talented, motivated STEM students falling through the cracks and failing to develop to their full potential? How is your school working to ensure students are excited about STEM classes and supported well in their learning? Are clubs and other extracurricular activities keys to student success? What about time in labs or on field trips? What resources are most valuable to STEM educators as they uncover and nurture students’ talents?