Robert’s
musings 1
14 March 2016
Greetings,
A Gendered
Science Controversy: Are Science Teachers Scientists?
In partial response
to Roland’s post of a discussion thread between James Davis and Mike McGarry
on 14 March 2016
As the debate/argument/discussion around “Gendered science”
between James Davis and Mike McGarry unfolded I was aware how easily I began to
agree/disagree with what was being said.
However, I have resisted the temptation to spontaneously join in, either
to add support to or challenge the validity of particular comments/statements;
or simply to express my own views/opinions on the matter. This reluctance to add
my ‘voice’ to that of James and Mike was because I didn’t need to engage in
their ‘debate’ to address Roland’s question: Interesting historical reflection,
especially the part where James points out that Science Teachers are not
Scientists. Any thoughts? However, I did take an initial interest in their
‘discussion’/argument/debate’ from the perspective of what appears to be ‘sabre’
rattling around questions of ‘honour’: and in defence of or the challenge to
what appears to be two ‘contrasting/competing’ perspectives of teaching, namely
‘natural science’/social science’.
In my attempt to better understand the nature of this
‘conflict’ between Mike and James. To try and understand their
positions/perspectives I read:
Glaciers,
gender, and science: Dr. Mark Carey
As I was not able to find the reference “objectivity”
(Daston, L., & Galison, P., (2010) suggested by James, I read instead :
200 years of science education reform: teaching science as enquiry: by
Eugene L.
Chiappetta (Chapter 2)
http://static.nsta.org/files/PB216X-2.pdf
[Copy the URL into your browser]
Having gleaned some ‘insights’ into both sides of the
McGarry/Davis controversy or difference of opinion I wondered about James’
background/biography.
I found the following informative:
Step Up -
Transforming secondary mathematics and science pre-service teacher education in
Queensland
http://www.stepup.edu.au/scientific-inquiry/
Scientific Inquiry in the Classroom
This project will deliver a learning experience that helps pre-service teachers
to understand and teach science in the same way that scientists undertake
research.
James Davis is a researcher and sessional academic at the
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. James has a background
in qualitative and quantitative research in health and science education. His
current research focuses on analogical reasoning in science teaching and
learning, the sociology of emotions in high school science classrooms, and
research applications of ethnomethodology.
James is a science educator with prior experience as a
clinical researcher in the stroke unit at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. While at
the Royal Brisbane Hospital, James managed randomized controlled drug trials in
collaboration with pharmaceutical companies, and multidisciplinary clinical
health research in collaboration with local universities. His practice of
clinical science inquiry has involved a range of qualitative and quantitative
research designs.
Likewise the
following two sites fleshed out more of the detail. The first
Step Up -
transforming pre-service teacher education: QUT
Provided a
description of the ‘Step Up’ program. The second described the interconnection
with ASTA/CONASTA 2015/16.
Step Up
CONASTA 2015 Awards
http://www.stepup.edu.au/step-up-conasta-awards/
I now turned my attention to Mike McGarry. I accepted his
‘invitation to visit the ‘website’ in anticipation of discovering aspects of his
background/biography:
“ … you might consider downloading from my “Middle School
Science” web pages on ASTA MOODLE my Biological Sciences Module 3 on
“Neuroscience and Teenage Brains” to see how I incorporate self-efficacy theory
of Albert Bandura and growth-mindset theory of Carol S. Dewck?”
Unfortunately, not being a member I was denied access.
At this
point I lost interest in the McGarry/Davis’ ‘ideological’ debate. However, I did
find ‘The Flying Circus’ sketch most apt/insightful/amusing:
Argument Clinic: Monty Python’s Flying Circus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y
In my next post I will turn my attention to
Roland’s question of interest: Science Teachers are not Scientists. Any
thoughts?
Dr. Robert