Attempt to Improve Science Education in Liberal Arts College. Drafting of Science Minimum and its Improvement through Lecture.

1994年，该项目的参与者经过深入讨论，并对学生在高中学习的理科科目进行了考试，制定了《理科最低要求》教学大纲草案。1995年在一桥大学开设了《科学最低要求》专题讲座(半年，12场讲座)。这次讲座虽然报名人数不超过19人，但上座率还是不错的。讲座包括以下十个主题：1.数学基础、自然界的尺度、自然界中的数学、2.力与运动、3.电与磁、4.物质的元素与结构。5.化学键，6.光科学，7.能量与熵，8.生命同源性，9.生命多样性和10.地球科学。我们尝试在每堂课中引入现代教学技术、计算机辅助教学和视频，并在每堂课中进行提问，以改进传统的教师向学生口头传授科学知识的教学方法。根据问卷调查，几乎所有学生都认为这堂课很有趣，很满意，因为它强调科学的观点和自然的规律性，不同于高中科学课的主要目的似乎是获取科学知识。然而，一些学生建议，这次讲座应该包括与社会有关的更新的主题，如“信息”和“环境”，因为他们将在未来学习主要的社会科学。我们将修改我们的“科学最低标准”，以纳入他们的要求。

In 1994 draft for syllabus of "Science Minimum" was made through intensive discussion by the participant of this project and examination of science subjects students took in their high school. In 1995 "Science minimum" was lectured as special course at Hitotsubashi University (half year, 12 lectures). Though the number of student enrolled this lecture was no more than nineteen, the percentage of attendance was fairly good.The lecture consisted of the following ten themes ; 1. Fundamentals of Mathematics, Scale of Nature, Mathematics in Nature, 2. Force and Movement, 3. Electricity and Magnetism, 4. Element and Structure of Substance. 5. Chemical Bond, 6. Science of Light, 7. Energy and Entropy, 8. Homology of Life, 9. Diversity of Life and 10. Earth Science. We tried to introduce modern teaching techniques, computer aided instruction and video, and quiz in each lecture in order to improve th traditional teaching method which tends to communicate scientific knowledge only orally from teacher to student.According to questionnaire, almost all of students assessed this lecture to be interesting and satisfactory as it stressed on scientific viewpoints and regularity of nature, being different from those given in high school where main purpose of science classes seemed to acquire scientific knowledge. Several students, however, suggested that this lecture should include more recent topics related to society like "information" and "environment" as they are going to major social sciences in future. We will revise our "Science Minimum" to incorporate their request.