Sunday, July 28, 2013


Welcome, this blog is primarily intended for the benefit of  graduate students enrolled in SCIE 6020 at East Carolina University. I have, however, invited a few professional associates across the state and nation to engage in this discussion as well. I trust their comments will expand the experience of those enrolled in the course and that they, too, will be enriched by the experience. 

I greatly appreciate the opportunity given to me by the administration and faculty in the Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education at East Carolina University to serve as an instructor in this (almost) new course in the revised Masters Degree in Science Education. Professor Emeritus, Dr. Frank Crawley, has done a marvelous job of creating a compelling course. It is likely that few practicing classroom science teachers have been exposed to the range of knowledge and challenging questions that are designed into this course - which focuses on state, national and international standards for teachers, teacher preparation and student achievement in science.

My own interest in international comparisons grew out of a long study comparing Japanese and US (North Carolina) middle grades and elementary students when I was a professor of Science Education at ECU. The differences in how teachers of science were prepared in Japan and how they taught science was an eye-opener for me and others on the research team as we extended our inquiry into China and Hong Kong. I hope this course will be a useful eye-opener for you as well.

6 comments:

  1. Justin Wheeles E-Blog: http://wheeleseblog.blogspot.com/

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  2. Allison Smith
    smithscie6020.blogspot.com

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  3. Ashley Farris
    http://farrisscie.blogspot.com/

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  4. I recently came across this NYT book review that I thought might be of interest to this class:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/books/review/amanda-ripleys-smartest-kids-in-the-world.html?ref=books

    It's another take on world-class education and attitudes on education in other countries. This in particular stood out to me:

    “Why do you guys care so much?” Kim inquires of two Finnish girls. “I mean, what makes you work hard in school?” The students look baffled by her question. “It’s school,” one of them says. “How else will I graduate and go to university and get a good job?” It’s the only sensible answer, of course, but its irrefutable logic still eludes many American students, a quarter of whom fail to graduate from high school.

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  5. Jacqueline Whitbeck
    jackiewhitbeck@blogspot.com

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  6. William Davis
    http://doublehelixsci.blogspot.com/

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