Is there a better way for students to learn about science? California thinks so. The California State Board of Education has approved a new set of science standards that emphasize a more engineering design-based science education, according to an article in the Daily Bruin. The move will reportedly help teachers implement instruction based on the National Research Council’s Next Generation Science Standards, which prioritize experiments and hands-on learning over memorization.
According to the article, Next Gen Science Standards include integrating engineering into all science disciplines, increasing environmental literacy, connecting concepts from different scientific fields and applying scientific concepts to real world situations. The framework reportedly encourages teachers to facilitate discussion and guide students to problem solving rather than demonstrating procedures themselves. William Sandoval, a professor at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, is quoted as saying he believes the new standards should help better prepare students for college.
Read more about the new standards here.
