ERIC Number: EJ760013
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Mar
Pages: 18
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 0
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8326
Beyond the "Decorated Landscapes" of Educational Reform: Toward Landscapes of Pluralism in Science Education
Mueller, Michael P.; Bentley, Michael L.
Science Education, v91 n2 p321-338 Mar 2007
Perhaps, we are at the fork in the road when it is imperative that we consider whether the pursuit of pluralism in science education is a worthwhile endeavor in light of recent educational reforms that seem to decorate the true aim of education. The "decorated landscapes" of educational reform concentrate on economic growth and do little to promote the conservation of Earth's natural environments that sustain life itself. Here we renew a discussion of a 300-year pursuit in the United States toward educational landscapes that contribute to students' lives. We connect with scholars who have pursued the pluralistic landscapes of culture in an attempt to make education more authentic and democratic and with scholars who have pursued an education for the conservation of the Earth's natural environments. We argue that these two educational domains are and necessarily should be reflective, reliant, and reciprocal of each other if we wish to truly engage students in scientific literacy--the authentic, relevant, and meaningful science education experiences that contribute to a person's existence. Finally, we offer recommendations which aim to focus on the many meaningful landscapes that contribute to pluralistic life in science education.
Descriptors: Educational Change, Economic Progress, Science Education, Conservation (Environment), Environmental Education, Scientific Literacy, Teaching Methods
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Subscription Department, 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774. Tel: 800-825-7550; Tel: 201-748-6645; Fax: 201-748-6021; e-mail: subinfo@wiley.com; Web site: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/browse/?type=JOURNAL
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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