Fulfilling the Promise : Biology Education in the Nation's Schools

Why are students today not learning biology, appreciating its importance in their lives, or pursuing it as a career?

Experts believe dismal learning experiences in biology classes are causing the vast majority of students to miss information that could help them lead healthier lives and make more intelligent decisions as adults.

How can we improve the teaching of biology throughout the school curriculum?

Fulfilling the Promise offers a vision of what biology education in our schools could be?along with practical, hard-hitting recommendations on how to make that vision a reality.

Noting that many of their recommended changes will be controversial, the authors explore in detail the major questions that must be answered to bring biology education to an acceptable standard: how elementary, middle, and high-school biology education arrived at its present state; what impediments stand in the way of improving biology education; how to properly prepare biology teachers and encourage their continuing good performance; and what type of leadership is needed to improve biology education. Table of ContentsFront MatterContents1. Introduction2. Where Are We Now? The Motivation for Change3. Curricular Goals for the Near Future4. Impediments to Implementing Curricular Change: Texts, Tests, andClassroom Practice5.

Impediments to Implementing Curricular Change: Training andSupport of Teachers6.

Recruiting Scientists, Teachers, Technicians, and Physicians7.

Other Modes and Contexts For Teaching Science8. Achieving National Goals: Dilemma and ResolutionExecutive SummaryReferencesAppendix A: Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Animals inPrecollege EducationAppendix B: NABT Biology Teaching StandardsAppendix C: Standards for the Preparation and Certification ofSecondary School Teachers of ScienceAppendix D: State Alternative Certification Programs (As of June1987)Appendix E: Special Science Programs and SchoolsAppendix F: Programs Targeted to Women and Members of MinorityGroupsAppendix G: Strategies for Implementing Report RecommendationsCommittee MembersIndex