How Do 4th through 12th Grade Science Textbooks Address Applications in Engineering and Technology?

Abstract

Selected elementary (Grades 4 through 6) and secondary (Grades 7 through 12) science textbooks were examined for their treatment of engineering and technology relative to the national science and mathematics standards in the areas of connections to technology and society.Elementary textbooks were found to have significant connections between science concepts and technology and society; however, the treatment was often superficial and/or indirect.Activities were mostly teacher-directed with little opportunity for designing, making, and testing things.Connections to mathematics concepts were rare.Secondary textbooks made use of extensive technology in lab work and provided students with many connections between science concepts, technology, and society.They did a better job of presenting mathematics concepts in word problems, and some engineering and design projects were fostered.The major concern found with both elementary and secondary texts was the glaring lack of solid connections to mathematics.

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