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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Indeed.  I love your final question and I think you've already given the
framework of an answer.  All of our exhibits will support the learning of
essential concepts such as evolution to the extent that they engage visitors
in the process of science inquiry (as defined by the National Science Ed
Standards) and foster metacognitive awareness of that process and also to
the extent to which they engage visitors in the understanding of natural
processes and systems, not just the naming of artifacts or phenomena.

Dave Smith

On 5/29/07, Bill Schmitt < [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
>
> Dave,
>
> From my perspective we not only have a lack of effective teaching about
> evolution but a lack of setting up situations where students learn "how
> the
> world works" through age-appropriate reasoning about experiences in the
> natural world.   A part of the evolution problem could be solved if we
> just
> created all science learning in ways that kids began to know things of
> value
> because of the way they approach the natural world.  At its best, this
> kind
> of learning helps kids develop a sense that nature is a reliable source of
> information that can be trusted to help explain how the world
> works.  Maybe
> then we would start to produce citizens that have enough understanding
> that
> they would start to be able to recognize unreasonable explanations.
>
> Thus anything we teach and learn about in science can eventually
> contribute
> to all science literacy that supports any of the big ideas in
> science.  That
> is, of course, if we teach rather than preach.
>
> So a big question I have for all of us is: What is it about an exhibit
> that
> explores weather or a demonstration to explore electricity that will help
> kids be able to reason about evolution?
>
> Bill Schmitt
>

-- 
David L. Smith
Allentown, PA
[log in to unmask]

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