These facts are what allow you to make informed decisions. Democracy and capitalism both work only as well as the population is able to make good choices. I'd say science literacy is actually very important.
Re:Science Knowledge Quiz
by techiferous on Tuesday October 27, 2009 @01:03PM
(#905787)
I'm arguing relative importance, so I'm not saying that the facts aren't important. What I'm saying is that understanding the scientific method and having decent critical thinking skills are more important. Science is more than a bag of facts.
Re:Science Knowledge Quiz
by tokenadult on Tuesday October 27, 2009 @11:05AM
(#905505)
I don't care what you know--tell me why you know it.
What kind of answers would you be looking for from well educated students?
Re:Science Knowledge Quiz
by techiferous on Tuesday October 27, 2009 @01:09PM
(#905795)
Well-educated students would be able to visit a site like this: http://creation.com/ and realize that their conclusions are flawed because their methods are wrong: http://creation.com/about-us#what_we_believe They would be able to clearly and persuasively articulate why the conclusions are incorrect.
If we teach science as a collection of facts that you believe because the authority (your teacher) said so, then we aren't preparing students to think for themselves.
Beyond the basics, people don't need science facts as much as they need science thinking. In other words, we need to be teaching people the philosophy of science: science as a method of acquiring knowledge.
I don't care what you know--tell me why you know it.