California Science Educators Conference 2003

For immediate release:

Cal State L.A. Educator Discusses
Successful Science Learning

Los Angeles, CA – Paul Narguizian, assistant professor of education in Cal State L.A.’s Division of Curriculum and Instruction, believes that the history of science instruction is one of the “critical elements” necessary for successful science teacher education programs.

His talk at the upcoming California Science Educators Conference—“The Role of the History of Science in Science Learning”—will take place on Saturday, October 11, at the Long Beach Convention Center. Teachers are better prepared to teach science when they understand the history of their discipline, argues Narguizian, who says the background makes science teachers more effective in engaging their students.

“The story of science is compelling,” says Narguizian. “It’s not abstract, and students connect to science in an immediate and personal way.”

Narguizian received his B.A. and M.S. in biology from CSU Northridge, where he researched the effects of ionic strength and pH on O-Phospho-L-Serine and Poly-L-Lysine beads in cell adhesion modeling. He earned his Ed.D. on science education from the USC, where his research centered on “The History of Science in Secondary School Biology Textbooks in the United States: A Content Analysis” (dissertation).

His areas of interest include school environment, curriculum, learning and instruction with a specialization in science education. His expertise is in middle school and high school science instruction and curriculum development and design issues associated with science education. He has research and publication interests in the nature, philosophy and history of science to science instruction, science literacy issues, informal science learning in museums and natural field settings, and models for the assessment of science learning.

Narguizian teaches elementary and secondary science methods courses for teacher credential candidates and master’s courses in elementary science education. In addition to his teaching duties, he is the Master of Arts coordinator for the Elementary Science Education Option in the Division of Curriculum and Instruction at Cal State L.A.

Sponsor of the California Science Educators Conference, the California Science Teachers Association (CSTA) seeks to: promote and support all aspects of effective science teaching, including new technologies and instructional strategies; encourage the natural curiosity of learners at all levels; increase scientific literacy and the application of science to everyday life; promote science as a vehicle for lifelong learning for all citizens; and assume a leadership role in advocating for science education and creating an understanding of the value of science.