Purposeful Science Education: Teaching for Purpose Through State Science Standards

• In Event: Diverse Perspectives in Research on Moral Development and Education

Abstract

Science teachers teach science and learning about science may also inspire transdisciplinary human lessons, such as those related to developing a purpose in life. In the research we will share, we utilized qualitative document analysis to search for links between purpose in life and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for middle school science. We identified promising intersections between science content and purpose in life, including social learning about scientists, attention to interdependence, and practice in skills of inquiry that may support purpose development. We discuss our findings in terms of their significance for middle school science teachers and their adolescent students in an increasingly contested curricular space and propose purposeful sensemaking of disciplinary curriculum standards.

Authors

• Brandy P Quinn, Texas Christian University
  Presenting Author

• Morgan Jansing, Texas Christian University
  Presenting Author