ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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One way I would state things is that it is not about what we want people to learn but that we "want them to WANT to learn".  Our society has some screwed up issues with the value of being educated at many levels.  From the beginning (billy is a smarty pants) to the end (Just another egg head professor)

OK, I'm verging on a rant here...pardon me.

Erich Rose

Erich Rose Design
807 The Living End
Austin, TX 78746
512-626-9930; [log in to unmask]




On Jul 22, 2010, at 5:51 AM, Eric Siegel wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> I dunno, charlie.  Lots of people are passionate about lots of "useless information," like baseball scores, tv plots, engine configurations on their favorite cars, best brand of jeans "how white my shirts can be" (rolling stones, satisfaction).   So what makes these more interesting than scientific "useless information."?  I really don't know.  Maybe from an evolutionary perspective, being conversant with the former is more likely to result in reproduction than the latter?
> 
> E
> 
> On Jul 22, 2010, at 12:32 AM, Charlie Carlson wrote:
> 
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>> *****************************************************************************
>> 
>> Hi All,
>> 
>> So I've enjoyed this exchange, and think I was a little high on caffeine and short on time this morning.  Here's a reprise, apologies for the incoherence, and hopefully this is clearer:
>> 
>> At the most simple and basic level, the likelihood of there being much complete understanding about a particular subject like "evolutionary theory" is related to "the need to know".  In all cases it becomes a question of attention, interest, and application––that's human nature, and probably life's as well (to extend the metaphor).  
>> 
>> There's  no particular reason for anyone to know anything except for of a compelling "need" to know.  Broadly, "Evolution" is an irrelevant topic for most people––particularly its "Theory."  There are many, many other things to know that are more immediately  important––you name it.  What am I going to eat, who am I going to mate, etc. etc..
>> 
>> Knowledge about evolution is relegated to mostly useless, most of the time, as are many other subjects we typically learn in school.  This status may not be good, but it isn't necessarily a bad thing, most of the time.  It is unfortunate, much to the chagrin of those of us that depend upon teaching "useless" information for a living (like all of us that work in the science education profession).  But for the average person involved in day to day decision making, it probably doesn't make too much difference, most of the time.
>> 
>> For example, thinking about what we do and don't need to know.  There are a host of every day topics we don't need to know about.  For instance, we don't need to know much about gravity, nor particularly very much about the earth, or universe to survive, almost in spite of our profound and increasing knowledge.  It can all be pretty local and specific.  
>> 
>> Many, many rules have been invented to handle features of the environment and social order, and  the things we really need to know are typically hardwired into us. We either have the basics or learn them very early in life.  It can be said, life doesn't fool around when it comes to important stuff.  All organisms exhibit these same basic characteristics.  These characteristic extends to humans.
>> 
>> Humans, and all other organisms, compete for a "place in the sun."  We assign value to things deemed important that give us an edge over nature, other humans, material objects, social order, etc., and we do it endlessly.  Religions, social structure, and culture provide us with these tools.  Our interactions create endless complexity.  We create, solve, explore, rationalize every situation.  Ultimately, our behaviors provide us a method of coarsely to finely sifting the environment to find or create those nuggets wisdom and insight that give advantage.  This typically translates to reproductive success.
>> 
>> As a suggestion with specific reference to teaching evolution, the methodology for making a given intellectual subject relevant is to demonstrate its intimate and unshakeable connection with personal survival and success. For example pick almost any medical topic that directly affects, or potentially affects people, and they will learn about it, talk and write conjecture about it, and hypothesize about it excruciating detail.  If we were to make evolutionary theory as compelling, everyone would know it in detail.
>> 
>> We're particularly adept at debating and all sorts of stuff.  New opportunities are usually more intriguing than old ones.  Our world is filled with these explorations and obsessions, and they can account for a good part of our behaviors.
>> 
>> As a thought exercise, imagine that if every mother in the world intimately knew that the survival of her progeny depended upon a their knowledge of "the theory evolution," there would be no question about us knowing "the theory of evolution."  We would all know it, backwards, forward, sideways, and upside down to some degree, and we'd be "schooled" on it endlessly, informally, and formally.   I guarantee it!  Knowledge and understanding becomes a question of need to know, and where it resides on our list of priorities.  Increase this connection, and the awareness and usefulness will follow. 
>> 
>> 
>> (The true is: We, in fact, probably all do know the theory of evolution.  We just don't know that we do, and we really didn't know we knew this until 150 years ago––this is a process of "self-discovery" fit for another essay.)
>> 
>> Enjoy,
>> C
>> 
>> 
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> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
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