Reform of Science and Math Education at New York University

纽约大学提议为非理科学生开发一项新的科学和数学教育计划。“科学探究的基础”（FSI）是一门数学/科学课程，最初是为纽约大学的文科学生开发的，将适应其他本科生群体的需求。这个项目的推动力是需要让这些非科学家对科学行为有一个基本的了解，并熟悉定量分析推理，这将使他们能够在一个高度科技的世界中作为负责任的公民有效地发挥作用。项目目标是：1)提高非理科生，特别是学生教师的科学技术素养，他们作为一个群体，对科学教学的准备严重不足；2)促进整个机构的改革，让来自不同本科专业预科课程的大学教师就科学在本科教育中的作用进行富有成效的对话；3)制定一个与一系列学生团体和教育机构相关的示范项目。目前，FSI的课程包括物理、生物和数学科学三门课程。每门课程都是模块化和跨学科的，每个模块都从几个科学领域汲取知识，并说明科学推理的本质。该项目将修改课程，以适应不同学生群体的兴趣、准备水平和学习计划。项目成果将包括教学材料，包括讲师讲座文本、学生研讨会练习和为一系列受众量身定制的基于计算机的教育材料。其目的是通过与公立高等教育系统、小型文理学院、主要是黑人学院和教师培训项目的机构合作，输出纽约大学的经验。该项目的模块化、灵活性以及可获得的已出版课程材料意味着该课程易于携带，易于适应学生群体和培训计划。

New York University proposes to develop a novel program of science and math education for nonscience students. The "Foundations of Scientific Inquiry" (FSI), a math/science curriculum which was initially developed for NYU's liberal arts students, will be adapted to meet the needs of other undergraduate student bodies. The impetus for this project is the need to give these nonscientists a basic understanding of the conduct of science and a familiarity with quantitative, analytical reasoning that will allow them to function effectively as responsible citizens in a highly technological world. Project objectives are to: l)Improve the scientific and technical literacy of nonscience students, particularly student teachers, who as a group are seriously under prepared for science teaching; 2)Catalyze institution-wide reform and engage university faculty from diverse undergraduate preprofessional programs in a productive dialogue about the role of science in undergraduate education; 3)Develop a model program relevant to a range of student bodies and educational institutions. The FSI curriculum presently consists of a 3-course sequence that integrates physical, biological and mathematical sciences. Each course is modular and interdisciplinary, with each module drawing from several areas of science and illustrating the nature of scientific reasoning. This project will modify the curriculum to suit the interests, levels of preparedness, and programs of study of diverse student bodies. Project outcomes will include teaching materials, including instructor lecture texts, student workshop exercises, and computer-based educational materials tailored to a range of audiences. The intent is to export the NYU experience through institutional partnerships with the public higher education system, small liberal arts colleges, predominantly black colleges, and teacher training programs. The modular, flexible nature of the project and the availability of published curricular materials mean that the curriculum is easily portable and easily adapted to the student body and training program.