Science Education

The Mission of the Program

Overall Mission

The Science Education Program is committed to improving science curriculum and instruction at all levels, preschool through college and beyond. The program is determined to expand knowledge of teaching and learning, to disseminate this knowledge and to put existing knowledge to use in various educational settings. The Science Education Program has the same tripartite mission as the University at large: teaching, research and service.

Teaching

The teaching mission of the Program is in graduate and undergraduate degree programs and in other specialized instructional activities. As a program, faculty are committed to a strong undergraduate and graduate program.

A significant component of undergraduate teaching is the education of beginning teachers. Our goals are to provide opportunities for experiences that allow teachers to enter education settings with the highest probability of success and effectiveness and, for the longer term, to provide them with the cognitive tools and attitudes needed to continue their professional development. In graduate instruction we strive to provide practicing professionals opportunities to improve their competence and effectiveness and to develop as educational researchers and as leaders in science education. To accomplish these goals we strive to maintain a solid research base for our graduate and undergraduate curricula.

To implement these goals the Program views as one of its tasks the development and evaluation of model academic programs for teachers and other educators. The product of these efforts are knowledge about the preparation of teachers, teacher educators and other professionals and evaluative information about these models. This makes the education of those in our profession, as we view and practice it, a research endeavor rather than solely the operation of programs.

Research and Development

Contributions to education through research and development are an important part of the Science Education Program mission. We believe that through the research efforts of our faculty and students, we will expand the knowledge base in science teaching and learning.

The development of models for teaching, learning, and curriculum materials is a major commitment. These efforts should include plans to put this knowledge into practice; the translation of research results into effective educational practice and the encouraging of experimentation and innovation must be recognized as essential elements in the improvement of science education.

Service

The Program is strongly committed to service at the local, regional, national, and international levels. We seek out and assume leadership responsibilities at all levels to enhance the status of the education profession.