U.S. Department of Education: Promoting Educational Excellence for all Americans

A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

How can laboratory research in cognitive and developmental psychology contribute to science education.(and vice versa)?

 
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Slide 15

"Engineering" vs "Science" in science education

Bohr -- Science of Educational Research: (the following text is red)

  • Goal: new knowledge about learning & its causes.
  • Mantra: "What is the mechanism?"
  • Procedures:
    • systematic, theoretically motivated;
    • "clean" treatments
    • controlled experiments, randomization;
    • pre tests & post tests; etc.

Edison -- Engineering of Educational Outcomes: (the following text is red)

  • Goal: new effects, improved learning.
  • Mantra: "Make it work!"
  • Procedures:
    • Application of new, empirically verified, techniques
    • some theory, some hunch,
    • multiple changes, complex, uncontrolled interactions, etc.