Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org

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This report is a summary of a workshop on science education and development of 21st century skills convened by the National Research Council (NRC) Board on Science Education. The workshop would not have become a reality without the generous support of the National Institutes of Health Office of Science Education and the following members of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills: Apple, Inc.; Ford Motor Company Fund; Intel, Inc.; National Education Association; Pearson PLC; and SAP (no longer a member of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills).

We thank our colleagues who served on the planning committee, each of whom brought deep and varied expertise to the process of planning the workshop. Their diverse expertise in science teacher education, curriculum development, the role of technology in science learning, child and adolescent development, and cognitive science added greatly to the success of the endeavor. Although the planning committee played an important role in designing the workshop, the members did not participate in writing this report.

We are especially grateful to the experts who quickly responded to our request for background papers: Eric Anderman, Ohio State University, and Gale Sinatra, University of Nevada at Las Vegas; Rodger Bybee, Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (retired); Douglas Clark, Arizona State University (now at Vanderbilt University); Janet Kolodner, Georgia Institute of Technology; Joseph Kracjik, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor; Maria Araceli Ruiz-Primo, University of Colorado; Christian Schunn, University of Pittsburgh; and Mark Windschitl, University of Washington–Seattle.

We also thank the many experts, including sponsors, who participated

as presenters, panelists, and discussants: Elizabeth Carvellas, NRC Teacher Advisory Council; Emily DeRocco, The Manufacturing Institute; Bruce Fuchs, National Institutes of Health Office of Science Education; Janis Houston, Personnel Decision Research Institutes–Minneapolis; Kenneth Kay, Partnership for 21st Century Skills; and Susan Koba, science consultant, Omaha.

This workshop summary has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the Report Review Committee of the National Research Council. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process. We thank the following individuals for their review of this report: Susan Albertine, LEAP States Initiatives, Association of American Colleges and Universities; Julie Bianchini, Department of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara; Norman G. Lederman, Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Illinois Institute of Technology; and Marcia C. Linn, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley.

Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the content of the report, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Jan Hustler, Partnership for Student Success in Science, San Jose State University. Appointed by the National Research Council, she was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the author and the institution.

We are grateful for the leadership and support of Michael Feuer, executive director of the NRC Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, and Heidi Schweingruber, acting director of the Board on Science Education. We also thank Patricia Harvey, senior project assistant, for her valuable contributions to the design and implementation of the workshop agenda and the writing of this report, as well as for her flawless logistical support throughout the project.

Arthur Eisenkraft, Chair

Margaret Hilton, Study Director

Planning Committee on Exploring the Intersection of Science Education and the Development of 21st Century Skills

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