21st Century Science

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21st Century Science

• John Holman, University of York

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Partners

• University of York Science Education Group
• Nuffield Curriculum Centre
• OCR
• OUP
• QCA
• Funding from Nuffield Foundation, Salters
  Institute, Wellcome Trust

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The dual mandate
The science curriculum has to provide

• The first stages of a
• training in science

• Access to basic
• scientific literacy

for a minority
for all
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More generalists .

• Numbers of GCSE entries in sciences
• 1990 916 000
• 2002 1 234 885

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.. but less specialists

• Numbers of A level entries in Chemistry
• 1990 45 968
• 2002 36 648

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Universal science education have we got it right
yet?
We have to face the awkward fact that the science
we currently teach to the many is only practised
by the few.
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21st Century Science structure
Designed to prepare for further study of science
Additional (General)
Science (Single)
Additional (Applied)
For those who may use science in their work
Core science course targeted at the needs of
future citizens
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21st Century Science structure
Science (core) 10 curriculum time Emphasis on
scientific literacy (science for citizenship)
Additional Science Ge General 10 curriculum
time
or
Additional Science Ap Applied 10 curriculum
time
for all students (1 GCSE)
for some students (1 GCSE)
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The nine Core Science modules

• Air quality
• You and your genes
• The Earth in the Universe
• Food matters

• Radiation and life
• Material choices
• Keeping healthy
• Radioactive materials
• Life on Earth

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Assessment model (Core)

• Modular assessment papers
• (a typical assessment pattern)
• June Y10 Modules 1-3 23.3
• Jan Y11 Modules 4-6 23.3
• June Y11 Modules 7-9 23.3
• C/W Data analysis 6.0
• Case study 24.0
• No terminal paper or synoptic questions.

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The nine Additional (General) modules

• G1 Homeostasis
• G2 Chemical patterns
• G3 How and why things move
• G4 Growth and development
• G5 Chemicals in the natural environment
• G6 Modelling the behaviour of electric circuits
• G7 Brain and mind
• G8 Synthesis and analysis
• G9 The wave model of radiation

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Assessment model (Additional General)

• Modular assessment papers
• (a typical assessment pattern)
• June Y10 Modules 1-3 23.3
• Jan Y11 Modules 4-6 23.3
• June Y11 Modules 7-9 23.3
• C/W Whole investigation 15.0
• Open Book Paper 15.0
• No terminal paper or synoptic questions.

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Applied modules

• A choice of three modules from
• Life care
• Products from organisms
• Scientific detection
• Harnessing chemicals
• Communications
• Materials and performance

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Assessment model (Additional Applied)

• Modular assessment papers
• (a typical assessment pattern)
• June Y10 Module 1 15.0
• Jan Y11 Module 2 15.0
• June Y11 Module 3 15.0
• C/W Whole investigation 15.0
• Work-related skills 40.0
• No terminal paper or synoptic questions.

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Future timescale

• Sept 2002 Development of resources
• July 2003 First module resources published
• Residential training meetings
• Evaluation planning
• Sept 2003 Year 10 pilot begins
• Sept 2004 Year 11 pilot begins
• Sept 2006 QCA propose to introduce new
  Programme of Study for KS 4
• 21st Century Science generally available

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Contact

• website www.21stcenturyscience.org
• York office
• Katrina Sayer kms5_at_york.ac.uk
• John Holman jsh4_at_york.ac.uk