Saturday, February 25, 2006

Bring in the "real" scientists...

Here is a piece from Inside Higher Ed talking about recommendations to get "real" scientists in K-12 classrooms. Mention is made of how scientists who have done research enough for a PhD don't want to take time away from that work to teach. I love the line about getting those in science to stop looking down their noses at classroom teaching!

What kind of incentive could possibly be given for someone who is excellent in, and intent upon, research to work in the K-12 system? Certainly it would have to be prohibitively high I would think, for all but the altruistic. And aren't those who are already interested in the fascinating issues of science learning already working in science education, or researching that area? I will have to think more about this...