A Love of Discovery Science Education - The Second Career of Robert Karplus

Robert Karplus, a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, USA, became a leader in the movement to reform elementary school science in the 1960s. This book selects the enduring aspects of his work and presents them for the scientists and science educators of today. In an era when `science education for ALL students' has become the clarion call, the insights and works of Robert Karplus are as relevant now as they were in the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. This book tries to capture the essence of his life and work and presents selections of his published articles in a helpful context.

1—Introduction.- 2—A Love of Discovery.- 3—Exciting Science Lessons.- 4—The Learning Cycle.- 5—Student Autonomy and Teacher Input.- 6—Central Role of Students’ Reasoning.- 7—Teaching and the Conceptual Structure of Physics.- 8—Scientific Literacy and the Teacher Development Gap: Karplus’ Challenge.- 9—The Scientist’s Science Educator: How One Young Physicists’ Life was Changed by the Example of Robert Karplus.- 10—The First Career of Robert Karplus—Theoretical Physics.- 11—The Transition Years: What A Shame, What A Waste—To Give All That Up To Work With Children And Teachers.- 12—The Second Career—Science Education.- Appendices.- Contributors Biosketches.- Memorial to Robert Karplus, 1927–1990.- It Was a Great Time ... In Memoriam ... Let Us Continue, Robert Karplus, 1927–1990.- Professional Resume.