Thinking About Science

Bob Tinker

What would you select as the essence of science that you would like to convey to the next generation? What characterizes science? What makes scientists want to devote their professional lives to science?

Of course, there are many responses to these questions, but most scientists would agree that the excitement of exploring the unknown, of discovering something new, of adding to the storehouse of knowledge, is central to their vision of science and their own motivation.

Given this, you might conclude that discovery and exploration would play an important part in science education. Unfortunately, the excitement of exploration has been effectively squeezed out of most science education at all levels. In the rush to put more science into science education, to prepare students for the next exam, the essence of science has been largely ignored. Science education has developed into a separate entity divorced from science and scientists. From kindergarten through college, students rarely do science, they rarely participate in the creative act.

Citation: copyright 1993, Robert Tinker, all rights reserved

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