Getting Unstuck: Strategies for Escaping the Science Standards Straitjacket

In their well-intended efforts to provide schools with K-12 science curricula related to scientific research, space science education and public outreach (EPO) providers who work with K-12 education sometimes view national and state science standards as constraints to be circumvented. In this article, I call for a broader view of the science standards and discuss how EPO providers can support the goals that the standards articulate. Several strategies are proposed to escape this “standards straitjacket:” focusing on inquiry, promoting effective teaching, making connections to other science fields, developing partnerships with experts, and broadening the EPO audience beyond the K-12 schools. ©2006 Sandra Laursen. Copyright assigned to the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.

Contents

• WHAT IS THE STANDARDS STRAITJACKET?
• ESCAPING THE STRAITJACKET
  • A.Individual Attitude Adjustment: Relax and Take a New View of the Standards
  • B.Loosening the Bindings: Strategies for Working with K-12 Science Education
  • C.Springing Free: Working with Nonschool Audiences
  • D.Getting Help: Envisioning New Roles for Funders and Institutions
• CONCLUSIONS
• • Notes
• Acknowledgments
• REFERENCES