New way of Learning Science

US high school students need a new way to learn science. Only 21% of seniors were proficient in science knowledge.

A group of scientists and educators led by Professor William Schmidt from Michigan State University have created a new way of learning science. They have created a concept called 8+1 Science that helps students focus on understanding eight fundamental science concepts. The “plus one” represents the question of why things happen around us-another fundamental part of science. The eight concepts are: atoms, cells, radiation, systems change, forces, energy, conservation of mass and energy, and variation.

I didn’t go to high school in the US but my highschoool in Greece used both the American and British curricula.

This group of scientists created this new system in order to help students learn science and actually apply it to real-life situations. Some states are actually participating in the process to develop this new system. They want to help students learn key concepts instead of  them just memorizing facts and forgetting them a month later.

I think this could actually work. I really hope this gets put into schools because with the way things are going, students are learning less and less. They are more distracted with other things such as TV and booze and focus less on school. This will effect education as a whole. If high school students learn better than this will effect who goes to what college. Students who never thought they had a chance might be able to change the world because of this new system. I definitely think it will take a long time to get this system up and running.

What do you guys think? Do you think this could make a difference? Or will this idea just fade out and high school kids will continue going the way they are going? Or do you think that the system is just fine the way it is? How was your experience with science in high school?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120405131435.htm