Viewing page 3 of 42

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Day 2 notes:

Rewrite of the "commonly held beliefs" to reflect inferences from the research.


A. Attitudes

Interest in science.

1. In elementary school, both boys and girls display "natural curiosity". 

• This suggests an intervention strategy to take advantage of their natural interests.  A cross-disciplinary, relevant curriculum may hold the most promise.

2. Significant numbers of both girls and boys lose interest in science in middle school and high school.  Girls, however, are selectively discouraged....both by schools and by external influences (e.g. stereotypes help by society, parents).

• Both boys and girls would benefit by an emphasis on making them "independent learners".

• In addition, an intervention strategy is suggested which is aimed at overcoming the selective discouragement experienced by girls

3. The answer to the question "Do you like match/science?" is likely related to the students' stereotypical expectations.  A more careful framing of the question (that gets at the essentials of math/science, without triggering stereotypes) may be more useful.

4. It is often uncritically accepted that girls don't "like" science (or math) as well as boys do.

• it's important not to look on this as a "trait", but rather to look at the reasons for the choices that students make, in order to help ensure that those choices are informed ones.

• Whether or not girls feel they "belong" may affect their answer.