Science education is a field that looks into teaching science to those who are not members of the scientific community. Subjects that are taught deal with life, earth and space and the information that is passed onto students through this course is intended to help them through in their entire high school education. Individuals belonging to various age groups can take up science education such as children, adults and also college students.
Various types of methodologies are used in the process of science education. These methodologies are borrowed from various branches of science such as anthropology, cognitive science, computer science and cognitive psychology. In the United States, the National Standards sets the standards for this education. The unique aspect about this standard is that it is more inquiry-based, than something that makes use of direct instruction. It is on the whole, found to be an effective model for teaching science, even though there are elements in that that some feel are a bit controversial.
One type of science education is informal education, wherein students learn outside their formal school curriculum. Such education is imparted through community-based programs. The media is a strong instrument in imparting informal science education and such information can be passed along through videos, various types of visuals and also print medium. Examples of informal education through media are TV programs such as Dragonfly TV, Bill Nye the Science Guy, The Magic School Bus and NOVA and that offered by community-based programs are Afterschool Programs and 4-H Youth Development programs.
Informal education plays an important role in imparting knowledge on science because it spread awareness in an informal setting, along with interesting visual aids and context-based voice-overs that make the subject easy-to-understand. It is an effective means for imparting science to people, without taking them into complex issues, while giving an overall understanding on the subject.
