Choice: The dragon slayer of student complacency

摘要

The topic of this issue of Science Scope stems directly from the "Connecting to Students' Interests and Experiences" section of A Framework for K-12 Science Education (NRC 2012). According to the Framework, "A rich science education has the potential to capture students' sense of wonder about the world and to spark their desire to continue learning about science throughout their lives" (p. 28). Therefore, developing and sustaining student opportunities for wonder, interest, and enthusiasm is critical to any exemplary science program, especially one addressing middle-level students, whose attention spans last as long as a glass of cold lemonade on a 100° day, and who constantly ask their teachers, "Why do we have to do this?"