Science Education in India

Rekha Koul is Dean of International Humanities and an Associate Professor at the School of Education, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. She has nearly three decades of teaching and research experience. Her expertise lies in the development, refinement and validation of questionnaires; investigations of the effects of classroom environments on student outcomes; evaluation of educational programs; teacher action research aimed at improving their environments, and curriculum evaluation. She has successfully secured many local, national and international research grants. Her publication record includes one book authored, four books edited, four book chapters and many journal articles published in peer-reviewed journals. She has delivered invited keynote addresses and also conducts teacher professional learning workshops.   Geeta Verma is Professor of Science Education at the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Education & Human Development. For over 20 years, she has worked in the field of education as a classroom teacher, researcher and teacher educator. Described as a critical, intercultural and international scholar, Geeta focuses on creating equitable, imaginative and innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning environments. Her research encompasses equity issues in science education, curriculum discourse and ethnic studies in immigrant communities. Geeta works closely with classroom teachers in the United States (and abroad), as well as in out-of-school settings to improve science curricula, pedagogical and instructional practices. Her publications record includes peer-reviewed journal articles in high-impact journals (including Journal of Research in Science Teaching), edited books, book chapters and monographs. She recently published an edited book titled, “Critical Mass in the Teacher Education Academy: Symbiosis and Diversity”. She has secured grants from National Science Foundation (NSF) and other agencies to support her work. Geeta serves as the associate editor for the Journal of Research in Science Teaching and on the review board of many journals including Cultural Studies of Science Education.   Vanashri Nargurd-Joshi is an Associate Professor at New Jersey City University, New Jersey, USA. She holds a dual appointment between the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education and Biology. She also works with high school and elementary students on a regular basis. Her expertise lies in teacher knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge development for pre-service and in-service teachers. Her research focuses on understanding the role of language in learning science content and how contextual factors affect the teaching–learning environment. She has conducted research projects in India and in the United States. Her work has been published in various peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Research in Science Teacher and International Journal of Science Education. She also enjoys writing in National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) journals such as Science and Children, Science Scope and The Science Teacher. Vanashri serves on the editorial boards of many journals including Journal of Science Teacher Education and Innovations in Science Teacher Education.

• 1. Introduction. Part 1: Overview of the field. 2. History of Education in India from Ancient to Present Times  Madhavi Tandon.- 3. Overview of science education in India Som Nath Sharma.-  4. Science Learning Environments: A case of classroom in Jammu Rekha Koul Part 2: Science Education in India: Primary, secondary, and teacher education 5. An exploration of the Elementary Science Teacher’s orientations in the context of curriculum reforms  Vanashri Nargund-Joshi.- 6. Challenges and Concerns in Indian Tertiary Education Teri Balser.- 7. Textual Texture of School Science Gurjeet Kour.- 8. Pedagogical Orientation of pre-service science teachers in India Garima Bansal, Umesh Ramnarian & David Schuster.- Part 3: Inclusivity and Access 9. Addressing diversity in Indian Science classroom Rekha Koul.-  10. Educational rights of a girl child in India Geeta Verma & Vanashri Nargund-Joshi.- 11. Empowering girls with STEM Shehrevar Davierwala.- 12. Connecting formal classroom learning to community, culture and context in India: Evidence from the field Sameer Honward.- Part 4: Looking Ahead: Technology and Innovation 13. The Changing Nature of Science Classrooms in Indian Schools: A Technology Perspective Aditi Gupta.- 14. Contextualizing “Jugaad” in Science Education in India OR “Jugaad” and Science Education in India: Opportunities for Innovation and Creativity?