Attempt to Improve Science Education in Liberal Arts College. Drafting of Science Minimum and its Improvement through Lecture.

1994 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 05680151
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Science education
• Research Institution: Hitotsubashi University
• Principal Investigator: UEDA Nozomu Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Commerce, Professor, 商学部, 教授 (00013417)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MIMURA Tetsuro Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Commerce, Associate Professor, 商学部, 助教授 (20174120) ; MIYOKAWA Kikuo Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Social Studies, Professor, 社会学部, 教授 (40078598) ; YANO Takayuki Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Commerce, Professor, 商学部, 教授 (70013696) ; NAKAJIMA Kouichi Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Economics, Professor, 経済学部, 教授 (30012876)
• Project Period (FY): 1993 – 1994
• Keywords: Liberal Arts College / General Education / Science Education / Science Minimum

Research Abstract

In 1994 draft for syllabus of "Science Minimum" was made through intensive discussion by the participant of this project and examination of science subjects students took in their high school. In 1995 "Science minimum" was lectured as special course at Hitotsubashi University (half year, 12 lectures). Though the number of student enrolled this lecture was no more than nineteen, the percentage of attendance was fairly good.
The lecture consisted of the following ten themes ; 1. Fundamentals of Mathematics, Scale of Nature, Mathematics in Nature, 2. Force and Movement, 3. Electricity and Magnetism, 4. Element and Structure of Substance. 5. Chemical Bond, 6. Science of Light, 7. Energy and Entropy, 8. Homology of Life, 9. Diversity of Life and 10. Earth Science. We tried to introduce modern teaching techniques, computer aided instruction and video, and quiz in each lecture in order to improve th traditional teaching method which tends to communicate scientific knowledge only orally from teacher to student.
According to questionnaire, almost all of students assessed this lecture to be interesting and satisfactory as it stressed on scientific viewpoints and regularity of nature, being different from those given in high school where main purpose of science classes seemed to acquire scientific knowledge. Several students, however, suggested that this lecture should include more recent topics related to society like "information" and "environment" as they are going to major social sciences in future. We will revise our "Science Minimum" to incorporate their request.