From an article on astrobiology:

High school courses have traditionally been compartmentalized into biology, chemistry, physical or earth science, and perhaps physics or an elective such as astronomy or oceanography. This may, in the best of cases, prepare students for the “almighty test,” but does it really prepare students for scientific literacy and logical decision-making? In many cases, the current educational system is failing to prepare students even for its own tests because students’ interest and engagement in science is waning. They see no connection between what is taught in textbooks and what they value in their own lives.

Science in the real world is integrated and problem-based. We need to “hook” students. We need to offer a course so inherently interesting, and, yes, even mysterious, that students will open their minds and let us insert a gentle wedge to begin the learning process.

I always wanted to be interested in science but, sadly, just about the only time science classes were really interesting was when the teacher and class got way off topic. Not that I was always bored but science classes never went as far as I wanted them to.

The article suggests that teaching astrobiology might be the way to get people interested in science. Maybe but if they taught it in public schools it would be as dry and unexciting as everything else. What needs to change is teaching methods. Make students feel like participants, not like passive vessels into which dry facts are poured.

Via Alien Life