aaa 3B y— e ing as the same as science rather than results of science. With that in mind, natural science could be described as a body apeigheiniaegteaiaaties knowledge obtained by control of courses and pro- to help employers, etc.: assisting in the strengthening of pre-college science programs to help high school Students graduate with skills and We are addressing the needs of Pro- based on observation and experimentation, as contrasted to speculation or the acceptance of authority. In response to the need for educational reform, the following describes changes and plans in the School of Natural Sciences. The information is meant to inform and also provoke thought and discussion. Ultimately, the goal is to gain Support for appropriate revitalization in the natural sciences. For organizations to fully accomplish what they were established to do, they must be understood. Our school is being organized to educate. However, this is a problem because there is a tendency not to to be con- continued on page 11 Weber State College COMMENT June 1984 page 4 FE =: fessional Program students and inservice teachers by establishing a Center for Science Education, effective September 1984. The Center's longterm mission is to help to graduate motivation to pursue careers in high school students with better Science; the establishment of a scientific competencies and motiva“science shop" to provide a formal tions to pursue careers in science and avenue for citizens to seek and obtain science education. answers to scientific questions arising The Center's faculty may be responfrom their daily lives. In response, it sible for: teaching of science inquiryallows natural scientists and their content courses for students pursuing students to apply their knowledge, teacher certification: undergraduate training and skills to topics of social curriculum development: superviconcern. sion of student teachers; tutorial service; development of grant proposals to enrich preservice and inservice science education: developing liason We're focusing on By Dr. Dennis M. Travis relationships with people integral to Dean, School of Natural Sciences professional development preservice and inservice science programs. education; fostering Educational reform is being called the use of enriching instructional techniques; for all across America. Many reports cerned about organizational bounrecruiting talented students: collecnote deficiencies in natural science daries, unless the Organization inting and analyzing data on the proPre-professional competencies in elementary through Programs hibits traditional work or goals. With are gress of graduates: encouraging designed for students interested in secondary schools and recommend this in mind, there are two important research and scholarship activities: specific professional careers requirrevitalization of science education at Organizational categories in the directing the annual Weber Regional ing additional education at another both the pre-college School of Natural and college Sciences. One Science and Engineering Fair; offerinstitution. The programs range from levels. category involves faculty, administra. ing of science and inservice opporPre-Agriculture to Pre-Medicine To accomplish such revitalization to tunities for elementary and seconPre-Wildlife Conservation. requires that non-scientists gain a dary school teachers; coordinating a Activities greater understanding of the same that strengthen the resource center to meet the classroom liberal arts programs help revitalize role and condition of natural sciences Our school is being and the pre-professional programs. In adlaboratory in America's education system. At the science teaching needs of elementary and secondary dition to those same time, scientists need to review pursuits, organized to educate. preschool teachers. professional advisors are interacting and reconsider the mission, goals and a in a newly formed Pre-Professional objectives of the natural sciences. To Advisory Council. Their goals include enrich and facilitate these two prohelping recruit students to facilitate cesses, non-scientists and scientists The Center's faculty tion and staff. They are organized inadmission and transfer into profesneed to develop continuing and full to personnel resources and decision will...offer help to sional schools. They are also reviewdialogue among themselves. making areas, e.g., departments, ing our curricular offerings to match elementary and secondary center, museum, committees, counthe requirements of the professional school teachers. cils. Without personnel the institudegree granting institutions, without tion and curricular offerings would losing a balance between breadth and Educational reform is being not exist. The second organization depth of education. We are also enThe School is offering Vocational focuse s on the School's called for all across five couraging the use of cooperative and Technical Education Programs to undergraduate curricular categories. educat ion opportunities where America. meet the needs of individuals seeking The curricular offerings noted below students work in a training capacity preparation for skilled job-entry or are a direct result of faculty expertise re-entry employment, as well as for and assessment of the needs and inCitizens in our society have varied career updating and occupational terests of students and society. expectations and understanding of enhancement. The Liberal Arts Programs in natural We offer two We are...establishing a the natural sciences, the precursor of science Associate of Applied Science degree s are our most highly enrolled technology, to: make us a healthier Center for Science programs and one Certificate of Skill programs. B.A., B.S._ and B.G:S. people by solving the mysteries of the Proficiency. We are considering the degrees can be earned in each of the Educa tion. afflictions that attack the human development of programs for the School's Departments. Graduates can _body and mind; nurture our free semi-conductor be employed in entry level positions industry and enterprise system; provide answers biotechnology. related to their discipline or enter _We are devloping in some aspect within the field of about the biological and physical dialogu es to consider the special graduate or professional schools. their chosen career. We are also perworld that we live in: keep us a needs of other Weber State Schools, They also have the education for suing closer liason among our faculty liberated people by protecting us e.g., Allied Health Sciences and special career ladder movement in and the faculty at the professional from the threat of military aggresTechnology. We have also submitted their discipline fields and the schools to enhance our students’ suc- a grant sion; provide new and improved opproposal to the State of Utah background for unique job mobility, cessful transition from " portunities related to satisfaction preto assist in developing high school i.e., to become entrepreneurs and professional school to professional with the quality of our leisure-time core science curricula pioneer new career directions. for vocaschool to career. activities; and to foster value systems tional/technical education To enhance the quality and value of track The School's Professional Programs with less dogmatism and with greater students. our liberal arts program, we're focusaddress the science educati on mutual needs understanding, The General Education Program is using ing on professional development proof students seeking certification to sciences’ criteria for the acceptance of required of all students who receive a grams. These assist faculty in keeping teach in elementary and secondary points of view as valid propositions. bachelor degree from Weber State current with the quickly expanding schools. These programs are integral As pervasive as the natural sciences College. The goals of the School of knowledge in the natural sciences. to the mission of the School, as emare, there is no consensus on a definiNatural Sciences general education We are forming partnerships with phasized by the many national tion of science. For example, some requirements are: a) to prepare the business, industry, and _ schools reports noting the “crisis in pre- student people see technology and engineerfor a useful contribution to (grades k-12). We are also pursuing: college science education." methods Sc senatorial of quality grams through assessment by alumni, } I C f ] é {