On Teaching Science

Focusing on solutions specific to science and math education both for K–12 and college, this book explores how students learn in general and helps teachers develop successful techniques for the classroom

On Teaching Science is a short, practical guide to key principles and strategies that will help students learn in any subject at any level but with special focus on the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects. Though aimed primarily at current and future teachers, the ideas covered will be of interest to anyone involved in education, including parents, school administrators, policymakers, community leaders, and research scientists. The book describes how important it is to instill the notion that learning requires study and effort; presents big picture ideas about teaching; provides general suggestions for successful teaching; and includes pedagogical strategies for success in science teaching. With a combination of personal experience and research-based studies to discuss the current state of education in the United States, the author shows how it can be improved through both individual educators and systemic changes.

Jeffrey Bennett, winner of the 2013 American Institute of Physics Science Communication Award, is an astrophysicist and educator who proposed the idea for and helped develop the Voyage Scale Model Solar System—the first science-oriented exhibit approved for permanent installation on the National Mall in Washington, DC. He is the lead author of college textbooks in four subjects—astronomy, astrobiology, mathematics, and statistics—and has written critically acclaimed books for the general public including Beyond UFOs and On the Cosmic Horizon. He is also the author of children’s books, including those in the Science Adventures with Max the Dog series and The Wizard Who Saved the World. He lives in Boulder, Colorado.