Blog Juice for Educational Technology

[Another Conversation Starter]

I was scanning through one of those “Which countries are doing a better job of taking tests?” reports when I ran across this in the chapter on context.

According to the National Science Foundation (NSF, www.nsf.gov/statistics), the average U.S.
citizen understands very little science. For example: 

• 66% do not understand DNA, “margin of error,” the scientific process, and do not believe in evolution.  
• 50% do not know how long it takes the earth to go around the sun, and a quarter does not even know that the earth goes around the sun.
• 50% think humans coexisted with dinosaurs and believe antibiotics kill viruses.

On the other hand, according to the NSF, the general public believes in a lot of pseudoscience. 

• 88% believe in alternative medicine. 
• 50% believe in extrasensory perception and faith healing.
• 40% believe in haunted houses and demonic possession. 
• 33% believes in lucky numbers, ghosts, telepathy, clairvoyance, astrology, and that UFOs are aliens from space.
• 25% believes in witches and that we can communicate with the dead. *

Of course we, as educators, are appalled at this.  It is our mission to prevent this kind of ignorance.

But does it really matter that half of the people around us do not know the shape of the Solar System, the function of DNA, and when the last dinosaur died.  Most of these folks are productive citizens.  They have jobs, pay taxes, and care for their children.  They do what they’re told.  They believe what they’re told.  They don’t think very much about it, but they’re busy with the day-to-day. 

Should we be concerned?  If so, why?

*Phillips, Gary W., PhD. “Chance Favors the Prepared Mind: Mathematics and Science Indicators from Comparing States and Nations.” American Institutes for Research. 14 Nov 2007. American Institutes for Research. 18 Nov 2007 <http://www.air.org/publications/documents/phillips.chance.favors.the.prepared.mind.pdf>.