Editing Science education (section)

== Fields of science education ==
{{See also|Branches of science}}
Science is a universal subject that spans the branch of knowledge that examines the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/science|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515004254/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/science|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 May 2017|title=science {{!}} Definition of science in English by Oxford Dictionaries|website=Oxford Dictionaries {{!}} English|access-date=2018-03-21}}</ref> Science education is most commonly broken down into the following three fields: [[Biology]], [[chemistry]], and [[physics]].  Additionally there is a large body of scientific literature that advocates the inclusion of teaching the [[Nature of Science]], which is slowly being adopted into the national curricula.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=McComas |editor-first1=William F. |title=Nature of Science in Science Instruction: Rationales and Strategies |date=2020 |publisher=Springer |location=Cham |isbn=978-3-030-57239-6}}</ref>

=== Physics education ===
[[File:Free body diagram.png|thumb|Demonstrates a free body]]
{{main|Physics education}}
Physics education is characterized by the study of science that deals with matter and energy, and their interactions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physics|title=Definition of PHYSICS|website=merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=2018-04-16}}</ref>

[[Physics First]], a program endorsed by the [[American Association of Physics Teachers]], is a curriculum in which 9th grade students take an introductory physics course. The purpose is to enrich students' understanding of physics, and allow for more detail to be taught in subsequent high school biology and chemistry classes. It also aims to increase the number of students who go on to take 12th grade physics or AP Physics, which are generally elective courses in American high schools.<sup>[22]</sup>

Physics education in high schools in the United States has suffered the last twenty years because many states now only require three sciences, which can be satisfied by earth/physical science, chemistry, and biology. The fact that many students do not take physics in high school makes it more difficult for those students to take scientific courses in college.

At the university/college level, using [[appropriate technology]]-related projects to spark non-physics majors' interest in learning physics has been shown to be successful.<sup>[23]</sup> This is a potential opportunity to forge the connection between physics and social benefit.

=== Chemistry education ===
{{main|Chemistry education}}
Chemistry education is characterized by the study of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances and the transformations that they undergo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemistry|title=Definition of CHEMISTRY|website=merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=2018-04-16}}</ref>[[File:Festival of Science in Samara.jpg|thumb|Children mix different chemicals in test tubes as part of a science education program.]]

Chemistry is the study of chemicals and the elements and their effects and attributes. Students in chemistry learn [[The periodic table of the elements|the periodic table.]] The branch of science education known as "chemistry must be taught in a relevant context in order to promote full understanding of current sustainability issues."<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Jegstad|first1=Kirsti Marie|last2=Sinnes|first2=Astrid Tonette|date=2015-03-04|title=Chemistry Teaching for the Future: A model for secondary chemistry education for sustainable development|journal=International Journal of Science Education|volume=37|issue=4|pages=655–683|doi=10.1080/09500693.2014.1003988|bibcode=2015IJSEd..37..655J|s2cid=94241435|issn=0950-0693}}</ref> As this source states chemistry is a very important subject in school as it teaches students to understand issues in the world. As children are interested by the world around them [[chemistry]] teachers can attract interest in turn educating the students further.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Azmat|first=R.|title=Manufacturing of High Quality Teachers for Chemistry Education at Higher Secondary Level in Current Era|journal=Pakistan Journal of Chemistry|volume=3|issue=3|pages=140–141|doi=10.15228/2013.v03.i03.p08|year=2013}}</ref> The subject of chemistry is a very practical based subject meaning most of class time is spent working or completing experiments.

=== Biology education ===
[[File:Biology_lab.jpg|thumb|Picture of a Biology lab taking place]]
Biology education is characterized by the study of structure, function, heredity, and evolution of all living organisms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.byui.edu/advising/career-and-major-exploration/major-to-career/biology-education|title=Major to Career: Biology Education|website=byui.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-04-22}}</ref> Biology itself is the study of living organisms, through different fields including morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, origin, and distribution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dictionary.com/browse/biology|title=the definition of biology|website=Dictionary.com|access-date=2018-04-16}}</ref>

Depending on the country and education level, there are many approaches to teaching biology. In the United States, there is a growing emphasis on the ability to investigate and analyze biology related questions over an extended period of time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.csun.edu/science/ref/curriculum/reforms/nses/|title=National Science Education Standards|website=csun.edu|access-date=2018-04-16}}</ref> Current biological education standards are based on decisions made by the Committee of Ten, who aimed to standardize pre-college learning in 1892.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Vázquez|first=José|date=2006|title=High School Biology Today: What the Committee of Ten Did Not Anticipate|journal=CBE: Life Sciences Education|volume=5|issue=1|pages=29–33|doi=10.1187/cbe.05-07-0087|issn=1931-7913|pmc=1635139|pmid=17012187}}</ref> The Committee emphasized the importance of learning natural history (biology) first, focusing on observation through laboratory work.

=== Nature of Science education ===
Nature of Science education refers to the study of how science is a human initiative, how it interacts with society, what scientists do, how scientific knowledge is built up and exchanged, how it evolves, how it is used. It stresses the empirical nature and the different methods used in science. The goals of Nature of Science education are stated to be to help students evaluate scientific and pseudo scientific statements, to motivate them to study science and to better prepare them for a career in science or in a field that interacts with science.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bugingo |first1=Jean Bosco |last2=Yadav |first2=Lakhan Lal |last3=Mugisha |first3=Innocent Sebasaza |last4=Mashood |first4=K. K. |date=2022 |title=Improving Teachers' and Students' Views on Nature of Science Through Active Instructional Approaches: a Review of the Literature |journal=Science & Education |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=29–71 |doi=10.1007/s11191-022-00382-8|bibcode=2022Sc&Ed..33...29B |s2cid=252527538 }}</ref>