Physics in the USA

Abstract

Back in the autumn the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) launched a $5million Campaign for Physics, in support of science education reform. The aim is to improve the teaching, learning and application of the physical sciences from kindergarten through to graduate school, and it should provide an excellent opportunity for physics researchers and educators to join together to make a significant contribution to the improvement of science education in the USA. Five initiatives are planned, designed to support the teacher, engage the student, involve the scientist, and build a support structure among business, academia and government to foster ongoing cooperation. An important component in the campaign's teacher support and mentoring programmes is the proposed Physical Science Resource Centre, intended as the first central collection of the best in physical science teaching technologies, materials and procedures. It will catalogue and disseminate this information using electronic and print communications to create a national resource link among teachers, scientists and curriculum specialists. The new centre will be housed at the American Centre for Physics (the APS and AAPT headquarters) in College Park, Maryland. Still on the theme of American science, the final version of the US National Science Education Standards has now appeared, after a year of public review and comment. Contained in a 262 page volume, the standards are voluntary and are intended to bring coordination and coherence into efforts to improve science education and teacher training. The National Research Council as issuing body has stressed that the standards do not specify a science curriculum, but rather embody guidelines and criteria for judging progress towards a national vision of better science education. The largest section of the document focuses on science content standards, with guidelines specifying what students should know, understand and be capable of at various grade levels. Eight categories of content are listed: unifying concepts and processes; science as inquiry; physical science; life science; earth and space science; science and technology; science in personal and social perspectives; and history and nature of science. In addition to science content, standards are also designated for science teaching; professional development of teachers; assessment of teachers, students and programmes; science education programmes; and entire science education systems. The Standards are available from the US National Academy Press, price $19.95 plus shipping charges (tel: (202) 334 3313). An overview of the volume can be obtained through http://www.nas.edu and the entire document will be for sale via the Internet at a future date.