NAEP Reveals Shallow Grasp of Science

[Kim Lightle]

From Education Week -- June 19, 2012

Elementary, middle, and high school students failed to demonstrate a deep understanding of science concepts when they performed activity-based science tasks and investigations, concludes a study released today from the first national assessment of both hands-on and interactive computer-based science activities. Read the complete story here.

As part of the 2009 science assessment, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) administered two types of innovative science tasks that invited students to put their science knowledge into practice: Hands-on Tasks (HOTs) and Interactive Computer Tasks (ICTs). These tasks were administered to students at grades 4, 8, and 12 nationally. The report Science in Action: Hands-On and Interactive Computer Tasks From the 2009 NAEP Science Assessment at Grades 4, 8, and 12 presents the findings from this special probe assessment.

In addition, three of the HOTs and all nine of the ICTs administered as part of the assessment have been released on the Nation’s Report Card website. Try the tasks for yourself and view data about student performance on each of the tasks.