Evolution of Science Education

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) - was the first permanent organization formed to promote the development of science and engineering at the national level and to represent the interests of all its disciplines.

The Industrial Revolution shaped science curriculum. Labratory studies were introduced at this time.

College Board was created to expand access to higher education.

World War II brought about the need for practical sciences, such as: aviation, photography, and electricity.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."

Low-quality education in the U.S. was seen as the main cause for this event. This began the trend of science curriculum reform.

The National Defense Education Act provided $887 million to boost science education, including doubling funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), a federal agency that supports research, teacher training and curriculum development.

NAEP is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. Bascially, the creator of the nation's report card.

President Gerald R. Ford signed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, which allowed the U.S. to convert to using the metric system.

A report was released informing people that the U.S. was falling behind in the international economic and industrial competitions because the educational system is weak. This second was of science curriculum reform focused on turning learning from a passive approach to an active approach.