Some subscribers to Phys-L might be interested in a recent post
"Changing the Culture of Science Education at Research Universities
#2" [Hake (2011)]. The abstract reads:
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ABSTRACT: In response to my post "Changing the Culture of Science
Education at Research Universities" [Hake (2011)], Math-Teach's
Robert Hansen wrote: "If you want to fix education you don't start at
the end. . . . .You start at the beginning."
Similarly, according to a report in "Inside Higher Ed" by Stephanie
Lee (2009), Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation,
said: "The quality of math and science learning at colleges and
universities ultimately begins with solid instruction at the K-12
level. While higher education remains strong, it is clear it cannot
continue without a strong foundation."
In response to Gregorian, "Steve" in a comment on Lee's report
"Mobilization for Math and Science Education" wrote: "From experience
I know that the quality of math and science learning at colleges and
universities ultimately DOES NOT begin with solid instruction at the
K-12 level, IT BEGINS WITH THE QUALITY OF MATH AND SCIENCE LEARNING
AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. For far too long higher education has
'passed the buck' by not producing qualified teachers."
RIGHT ON, STEVE, consistent with the NSF's (1996) report "Shaping the
Future" and Don Langenberg's <http://bit.ly/gRxINE> incisive:
"ALTHOUGH WE IN HIGHER EDUCATION ARE VERY SKILLFUL AT IGNORING THE
OBVIOUS, IT IS GRADUALLY DAWNING ON SOME OF US THAT WE BEAR A
SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SAD SITUATION [the
state of K-12 education]."
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". . . I know from both experience and research that the teacher is
at the heart of student learning and school improvement by virtue of
being the classroom authority and gatekeeper for change. Thus the
preparation, induction, and career development of teachers remain the
Archimedean lever for both short- and long-term improvement of public
schools."
Larry Cuban (2003) in "Why Is It So Hard To Get Good Schools?" (page 1)
REFERENCES [URL's shortened by <http://bit.ly/> and accessed on 04 March 2011.]
Cuban, L. 2003. "Why Is It So Hard To Get Good Schools?" Teachers
College Press, publisher's information at <http://bit.ly/gSn3P2>.
Amazon.com information at <http://amzn.to/gvxHIb>. Note the "Look
Inside" feature.
Hake, R.R. 2011a. "Changing the Culture of Science Education at
Research Universities," online on the OPEN! AERA-L archives at
<http://bit.ly/eqw6ow>. Post of 4 Mar 2011 08:04:14-0800 to AERA-L,
Net-Gold, and PhysLrnR. The abstract and link to the complete post
were transmitted to various discussion lists and are also online on
my blog "Hake'sEdStuff" at <http://bit.ly/hnkAuJ> with a provision
for comments.
Hake, R.R. 2011b. "Changing the Culture of Science Education at
Research Universities #2," online on the OPEN! AERA-L archives at
<http://bit.ly/gZSf8W>. Post of 6 Mar 2011 15:16:50 -0800 to AERA-L &
Net-Gold. The abstract and link to the complete post were
transmitted to various discussion lists and are also online on my
blog "Hake'sEdStuff" at
<http://bit.ly/dYSgww> with a provision for comments.