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This article explores the changing landscape of the job market and the importance of preparing high school students for the future. It examines the impact of technology, the challenges of higher education, and the need for diversity in the workforce. The article also discusses the role of science education in equipping students with the skills they need for success.
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Brennon Sapp Restructuring High School ScienceNSTA-Boston.08
Write the electron configuration for Sn. What does ACTG stand for? What particle orbits the nucleus of an atom? How many chromosomes do people have? Answer the Following WHO CARES?
Job Market • Diversity • Life Span • The Rest of the World • Social Security and Retirement • The Challenging Nature of Higher Education • The More Challenging Nature of the Job Market • The Nature of Information and Technology Why Such Change (The Future)
College Freshmen Return for Sophomore Year Source:Postsecondary Opportunity
“If you look at India, China, and Russia… even if you discount 90 percent of the people there as uneducated…you still end up with about 300 million people who are educated. That’s bigger than the U.S. work force.” Bob Herbert, New York Times Regarding Competitive Advantage
Nearly 75% of high school graduates enter college, but only 12% of these students will complete a significant college degree. (US Dept. of Ed) For students who complete high school, only six in 10 will obtain a job For students who drop out, only three in 10 will obtain a job. (Alliance for Excellence in education) Jobs?
The twelve fastest growing job markets are technology and/or related to health care. The fastest declining job markets are secretaries, typist, phone operators, tellers, clerks computer operators, farmers, and ranchers. Why? Job Market
The knowledge explosion sees the world’s knowledge base double every eighteen months, largely through technological development, traditional education functions and forms have been fundamentally challenged.” (Dr. Neville J. Scholfield, University of Newcastle) Dr. Lawrence Roberts, one of the inventors of the Internet points out, “the Internet doubles every six months”
China produced 2.12 Million college graduates last year-over half are applying for US jobs 2/3 of all science and math workers/teachers will retire in the next five years By 2010 China will graduate more PhDs in science and engineering than the United States By 2010 over half the worlds Bio-Tech graduates will live in India Business and Economy Global Concerns
How did we get information in the past? How do we get it now? How will we get it in the future? Is it more important to know information or know how to find it? Is it more important to recall information or be able to use it? How important is it to educate each and every student? Ask Yourself
Teach all the standards • Teach what standards we can fit in • Teach interesting lessons which hit standards • Teach what we want and don’t worry about the standards • Teach what we think we should-according to the textbook, our gut . . . Which Choice Should We Make?
Integrated? • Biology? • Chemistry? • Earth Science? • Space Science? • Physics? • Environmental Science? • Scientific Reasoning? • Electives? Curriculum Choices • State Standards? • National Standards? • ACT? • SAT? • Standardized Test • Student Interest • Local Curriculum • Religious Curriculum
Three Required Classes • Biology, Chemistry, & Physics • Biology, Intro to Chem & Physics, & Earth/Space • Bio-chem, Earth/Space, & Physics • Integrated Science I, II, and/or III • Electives May Include: • Chemistry • Anatomy & Physiology • Physics • Environmental Science • AP Chemistry Traditional Science • AP Biology • Astronomy • ? • ?
Science Curriculum One of the More Progressive Schools
Three and a Half Credits Required • Freshman Year • Scientific Investigations (½ credit) • Sophomore–Senior Years • at least one science per year • Core Life Science (½ credit) • Core Earth/Space Science (½ credit) • Core Physical Science (½ credit) • Elective Life Science (at least ½ credit) • Elective Earth/Space Science (at least ½ credit) • Elective Physical Science (at least ½ credit) Science Now
Ask the students where there interest lie Ask the teachers where some of their passions lie Scan the media for the more popular topics of the day (Forensics) Survey the students Write course descriptions Find teachers willing to participate Give others the old required classes What Electives Should We Have
Electives • Chemistry A & B • Anatomy A & B • Physics A & B • Environmental Science • Forensics • Zoology • Astronomy • Chemistry & Community • Oceanography/Marin Biology What Electives Do We Have? • Medical Science • Radio Technology • Horticulture • Geology • Meteorology • Anatomy for Artist • AP Chemistry • AP Biology
Two years ago • Low numbers (we needed to cut a teacher) • Students hated science (so did the teachers) • Now • Classes are full (we could hire a teacher) • Students really like science • We are having to create more classes • Teachers are enjoying class So How did we do?