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Materials Science and Technology: A Model for Achieving National Education Goals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2013

Irene D. Hays
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In April 1991, President Bush unveiled “America 2000,” a national strategy for improving the overall performance of students in America's school system. He and the nation's governors developed the strategy as a result of the historical Charlottesville Summit, held in Virginia in 1989.

America 2000 focuses on six national education goals, three directly related to mathematics and science education. Goal 4, in particular, states that “by the year 2000, US. students will be first in the world in science and mathematics achievement.” By the Year 2000, the report of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET) Committee on Education and Human Resources (CEHR) details the federal government's strategic objectives for meeting this goal.

The primary objectives outlined in the report focus on (1) improving student performance, (2) providing a strong precollege work force, (3) ensuring an adequate pipeline for the science and engineering work force, including increased participation of underrepresented groups, and (4) improving public science literacy. I'll discuss later how a revolutionary materials science and technology curriculum developed by Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) and Northwest teachers has proved to be a model for meeting these objectives.

The FCCSET/CEHR report identified precollege as the educational level receiving the highest priority. At this level, the strategy for achieving the objectives is structured around (1) improving teacher preparation and enhancement, (2) reforming curricula, (3) organizing systemic reform, and (4) providing student incentives and opportunities.

Type
Materials Education
Information
MRS Bulletin , Volume 17 , Issue 9 , September 1992 , pp. 27 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

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References

1.Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, Committee on Education and Human Resources, By the Year 2000: First in the World (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1992).Google Scholar
2.U.S. Department of Energy, Math/Science Education Action Conference Report (Office of Energy Research, USDOE, Washington, DC, 1990).Google Scholar
3.American Association for the Advancement of Science, Project 2061: Science For All Americans (AAAS, Washington, DC, 1989).Google Scholar
4.National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, NCTM Curriculum and Evaluation Standard for School Mathematics (NCTM, Reston, Virginia, 1989).Google Scholar
5.Hays, I.D., “New Tech: Ed: The Challenge of Building Bridges Between Knowing and Doing,” Technology Focus 2(2) (Washington Technology Education Teachers Association, 1990).Google Scholar