The Emergence of the Laboratory Method and the Displacement of Natural Philosophy by Physics in American High School Textbooks (1860-1900).

dc.contributor.author Speidel, Markus G.
dc.contributor.department Education
dc.date.accessioned 2019-05-28T19:52:26Z
dc.date.available 2019-05-28T19:52:26Z
dc.date.issued 2018-05
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10125/62360
dc.subject History
dc.subject Science
dc.subject Education
dc.subject America
dc.subject NGSS
dc.subject Textbooks
dc.subject Teachers
dc.title The Emergence of the Laboratory Method and the Displacement of Natural Philosophy by Physics in American High School Textbooks (1860-1900).
dc.type Thesis
dcterms.abstract Advocating for the laboratory method was a distinguishing feature of textbooks as physics displaced natural philosophy in American schools during the second half of the nineteenth century as the dominant tradition of teaching physical science. This dissertation examines digital editions of textbooks in common use during the period to tell the narrative of this emergence and transformation. I contend that the transformation from the tradition of natural philosophy to that of physics succeeded less because of the agency of individual actors, but because schools were responding to the perceived needs and changing realities of their societies. Understanding the how this transformation occurred, however, requires examining the contributions made by individual actors. Teachers frequently look to textbooks for guidance, even if they do not follow them entirely. This dissertation examines the changing series of textbooks published during the period from the middle of the 19th century to its end, and compares the instructions given to teachers in the introductory sections to trace the evolution of physical science instruction over time. The significance of this dissertation lies in its contribution to our evolving understanding of science education and what leads to educational change.
dcterms.description Ph.D. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 2018.
dcterms.language eng
dcterms.publisher University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
dcterms.rights All UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
dcterms.type Text
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