Science in the News in the Classroom
Developed for:
High school teachers of physics, chemistry, biology, and/or Earth science.
Format:
A one-day workshop (six hours long).
Goal:
To learn how to help students be lifelong critical consumers of science information regardless of its source. Where do people get most of their understanding of science once they have left school? How do they decide what is real and what is hype? A recent study indicates that more than 65 percent of the population relies on television and newspapers as their major source of new information in science. Because individuals often use this information in making personal, professional, and political (public policy) decisions, it is essential that students acquire the necessary skills to evaluate media presentations on science topics.
Content:
Participants will be introduced to and will investigate:
- Strategies for helping students develop skills for analyzing the credibility of reports.
- The kinds of information presented and the modes of presentation used by several different sources.
- Approaches to using the media as springboards or contexts for developing conceptual understandings in science.
Features:
The workshop will provide opportunities for participants to:
- Examine examples of science news from physics, chemistry, biology, and Earth science.
- Compare reports from several different sources.
- Identify criteria for evaluating reports about science.
- Evaluate the credibility of mass media reports.
- Identify the knowledge about scientific concepts and the nature of scientific research necessary for evaluating science news.
- Identify the reading and critical assessment skills necessary for evaluating science news.
To learn more about this opportunity, contact us at highschool@edc.org.
