The U.S. and Science Education
The Need for Science Education:
For economic prosperity and national security
For a functioning democracy
As preparation for work and life
Low Levels of Scientific Literacy
Stagnant and declining levels of scientific literacy.
California ranks 49th in 8th grade science literacy and only 21% of
seniors are considered proficient in science (NCES, 2011).
Trends are not distributed equally.
Caucasian and Asian American outperformed African Americans &
Latinos. Youth from high-income households scored higher than
their peers from low-income households.
Science Education in Out-of-School
Growing recognition of the role that nonformal education plays in
youth science learning.
“out-of-school science-learning experiences are fundamental to supporting
and facilitating lifelong science learning” (Falk & Dierking, 2010, p. 492)
Key reports highlight the need for science education out-of-school.
National Research Council. (2009). Learning science in informal environments:
People, places, and pursuits. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12190/learning-science-in-informal-environments-people-places-and-pursuits
National Research Council. (2015). Identifying and supporting productive STEM
programs in out-of-school settings. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/21740/identifying-and-supporting-productive-stem-programs-in-out-of-schoolsettings
Time spent in and out of classrooms
LIFE Center. (2005). The LIFE Center's Lifelong and Lifewide Diagram. This diagram was originally conceived by Reed Stevens and
John Bransford to represent the range of learning environments being studied at the Learning in Informal and Formal Environments
(LIFE) Center (http://life-slc.org). Graphic design, documentation, and calculations were conducted by Reed Stevens, with key
assistance from Anne Stevens (graphic design) and Nathan Parham (calculations).
UC ANR and Science Literacy
Join the ANR Science Literacy Program Team!
ANR professionals who meet to collaborate, hear updates regarding the 4-H SET Initiative, and discuss
emerging topics in youth science education and the direction of 4-H science programs.
Chairs: Martin Smith and Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty
Next Meeting: Monday, October 5, 2015, 10:00am-5:00pm,
part of the ANR Joint Strategic Initiative Conference, Sacramento, CA.
Links between Initiatives and 4-H
Potential for connection between all of the initiatives and scientific literacy.
ANR Initiative
4-H Thematic Area
Water Quality, Quantity, and Security
Water Education
Sustainable Food Systems
Agriculture & Gardening
Science Literacy
Science & Engineering Education
Sustainable Natural Ecosystems
Environmental Stewardship & Natural Res.
Enhance the Health of Californian’s and
CA’s Ag Economy
Healthy Families and Communities
Nutrition
Youth Development / Thrive
Ensure Safe and Secure Food Supplies
Bio-security, Pre-harvest Food Safety
Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases
Bio-security
Green Technologies
Renewable Energy
4-H Science, Engineering, and
Technology (SET) Initiative
• 4-H has been doing
science education for
100 years.
• Renewed
commitment in 2008
with the formation of
the SET Initiative
4-H SET Leadership Team
Andrea Ambrose
Interim Director of Development, ANR Development Services
Kelley Brian
Youth, Families, and Communities Advisor
Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty
County Director & 4-H Youth Development Advisor
Emily Schoenfelder
4-H Youth Development Advisor
Martin Smith
Associate CE Specialist, Youth Curriculum Development, UC Davis
Steven Worker
4-H Science, Engineering, and Technology Coordinator
4-H SET Plan-of-Action
Goal #1: Improve youth science literacy in, and attitudes for, agriculture,
natural resources, and nutrition through educational programming that use:
1. High quality curricula identified and developed based on UC ANR initiatives
2. Staff, volunteer, teen, and other educators prepared using research-based
professional development strategies
3. Strategies designed to meet the needs of youth audiences
4. Partners to strengthen programming
Goal #2: Advance the research-base of youth nonformal science education
through:
1. Developing and implementing new 4-H SET programs
2. Evaluating existing and new 4-H SET programming
3. Conducting new applied research
4. Sharing outcomes
Goal #3: Support the first two goals through effective resource development.
Learning Outcomes
Read the full paper:
http://californiaagriculture.ucanr.edu/lan
dingpage.cfm?article=ca.v069n02p92
I. Science
Content
Based on issues relevant to
citizens; in California this is
outlined by the UC ANR
Strategic Vision 2025:
agriculture, plant science,
water, animal science,
renewable energy, natural
ecosystems, etc.
Opportunities to engage in
authentic, community-based
activities related to the
IV.
science; e.g., service
learning, citizen science
Contributi
n through
Applied
Participati
n
Positive attitudes towards science
improves motivation to learn and
use science
Ancho
r
Points
III. Interest
and
Attitudes
II.
Reasoning
Skills needed to
understand and evaluate
scientific information;
Asking questions,
using models,
conducting
investigations,
analyzing data, using
math, constructing
explanations.
Outcomes:
 Four anchor points of scientific literacy
 Positive youth development
Learning Environment:
 Experiential learning
 Inquiry-based learning
 Youth development practices
 Sequential learning opportunities
 Supporting the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
 Opportunities for evaluation
Program Resources
4-H SET Initiative
http://4h.ucanr.edu/Projects/SET/Initiative/
4-H Science-Ready Checklist
http://4h.ucanr.edu/files/200214.pdf
Experiential Learning Check-Off List
http://www.ca4h.org/files/73510.docx
4-H Program Framework
http://www.ca4h.org/files/146514.pdf
4-H National Youth Science Day
http://www.4-h.org/4-h-national-youth-science-day/
Professional Development
Tools of the Trade II: Inspiring Young Minds to be Science, Engineering, and
Technology Ready for Life!
– http://www.ca4h.org/Projects/SET/SETResources/ToTII/
– 22 hour training guide for afterschool line staff
Experiential Learning – 3 module introduction
http://www.experientiallearning.ucdavis.edu/default.shtml
Online Course: Using Inquiry-based learning to Support 4-H Science
– 3, 20-minute videos
– http://www.4-h.org/
Curricula
To find curricula, search:
California 4-H
http://4h.ucanr.edu/Resources/Curriculum/FREE/
My4H.org and National Directory of 4-H Materials
http://www.4-h.org/my4-h
4-H MALL
http://www.4-hmall.org/