| Abstract Detail
Teaching Section Gerber, D. Timothy [1], Brunsell, Eric [2]. Reducing Plant Blindness in K-12 Life Science Standards: A comparison of National and State content standards. Plant blindness, a lack of appreciation for and understanding of plants (Wandersee and Schussler), has received considerable attention by botanists with the intent of increasing exposure to plants in life science curricula. With increased pressure for school districts to align life science curricula to State and National Standards, one avenue for increasing K-12 students’ exposure to more plant biology would be to increase botanical concepts within standards during science curriculum revisions. This is especially important now as development of the “next generation” State and National Standards are under consideration and as “core ideas” in science education (science anchors) are being developed. In addition, a review of other national life science standards could help inform those who develop US National, State, and local Standards where plants fit into the curricula of other countries. Awareness of the inclusion of plants across National standards from multiple countries could be helpful in incorporating plants into US Standards. The purpose of our presentation is to identify where plant-related terms are specifically used within life science content standards through comparisons of (1) the US with Wisconsin State Life Science Standards and (2) the US content standards with science outcomes in Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence. Results from these comparisons suggest as botanists we should be cognizant of how frequently plant-related terms are included in national, state, and local Life Science Content Standards to ameliorating plant blindness.
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601, USA
2 - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Education Studies, 1725 State St, La Crosse, WI, 54601
Keywords:
plant science education
Life Science Content Standards.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 31
Location: Council Chambers/SUB
Date: Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
Time: 8:30 AM
Number: 31003
Abstract ID:180 |
