Biography:Michael R. Matthews (philosopher)
Michael Matthews (born 1948 in Sydney) is an Australian philosopher of education, known for his use of history and philosophy of science to enhance science education.
Education
Matthews was educated at Waverley College, Sydney. He has degrees in science, philosophy, psychology, history and philosophy of science, and education. He was educated at the University of Sydney where he received his BSc (1967), DipEd (1968), BA (hons, philosophy and psychology, 1975), MEd (1977) and MA (hons 1985) degrees. He gained a PhD from the University of New South Wales in 1980.[1]
Career
Matthews' career began in 1969 as a high school science teacher, then a lecturer in philosophy of education at Sydney Teachers College, then appointment to University of New South Wales in 1975. His research has been concerned with the utilisation of history and philosophy of science in addressing theoretical, curricular and pedagogical questions in science teaching. He uses examples from the history and philosophy of science to enhance and broaden science students' understanding of science. For example, he argued that understanding the history of discoveries on pendulum motion would allow students to appreciate the way scientists think and make advances.[2] He has been a strong critic of constructivism in science education, arguing that the aim of science and science education is to reach the truth about reality.[1]:163-203
In 1980 he became the first independent alderman elected to Sydney City Council since World War I. He served two terms whilst continuing to teach at UNSW. During his tenure he served as Chair of the House Committee and wrote the local history book Pyrmont & Ultimo: A History (1982).[3] [1]:119-23
From 1992-93 he was foundation professor of science education at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where his claims that the science curriculum was pushing the "loony doctrine" of constructivism attracted controversy.[4] [5] In 2007 he became president of the Teaching Commission of the Division of History of Science and Technology (DHST) of the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science.
Matthews was Foundation Editor of the Springer journal Science & Education: Contributions from History and Philosophy of Science (1992-2014), the first journal devoted to research in the field of HPS and science teaching.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales.[6]
Books
- Matthews, Michael (1980). The Marxist Theory of Schooling: A Study in Epistemology and Education. Brighton: Harvester Press. ISBN 0-85527-443-3.
- Matthews, Michael (1982). Pyrmont & Ultimo: A History. Sydney: Southwood Press. ISBN 090936849X.
- Matthews, Michael (1994). History, Science Teaching: The Role of History and Philosophy of Science. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-90282-7.
- Matthews, Michael (1995). Challenging New Zealand Science Education. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press. ISBN 0-86469-237-4.
- Matthews, Michael (2000). Time for Science Education: How Teaching the History and Philosophy of Pendulum Motion Can Contribute to Science Literacy. New York: Plenum Press. ISBN 0-306-45880-2.
- Matthews, Michael (2015). Science Teaching: The Contribution of History and Philosophy of Science. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-51933-5.
- Matthews, Michael (2019). Feng Shui: Teaching About Science and Pseudoscience. Dordrecht: Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-18821-4. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030188214. Terence Hines notes this as an "important book" and, though not without its flaws, contains excellent "coverage of the historical and cultural aspects of feng shui, especially the early Western evaluations."[7]
- Matthews, Michael (2021). History, Philosophy and Science Teaching: A Personal Story. Dordrecht: Springer. ISBN 978-9-811-60557-4. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811605574.
Edited Books
- Matthews, Michael (1989). The Scientific Background to Modern Philosophy. Indianapolis: Hackett. ISBN 0-87220-075-2. https://www.hackettpublishing.com/philosophy/the-scientific-background-to-modern-philosophy.
- Matthews, Michael (2014). International Handbook of Research in History, Philosophy and Science Teaching, 3 vols. Dordrecht: Springer. ISBN 978-94-007-7653-1. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789400776531.
- Matthews, Michael (2019). Mario Bunge: A Centenary Festschrift. Dordrecht: Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-16672-4. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030166724.
- Matthews, Michael (1998). Constructivism in Science Education: A Philosophical Examination. Dordrecht: Springer. ISBN 0-7923-5033-2. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9780792350330.
- Matthews, Michael (2018). History, Philosophy and Science Teaching: New Perspectives. Dordrecht: Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-62614-7. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-62616-1.
- Matthews, Michael (2005). The Pendulum: Scientific, Historical, Philosophical and Educational Perspectives. Dordrecht: Springer. ISBN 978-1-4020-3526-5. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9781402035258.
- Matthews, Michael (2001). Science Education and Culture: The Role of History and Philosophy of Science. Dordrecht: Springer. ISBN 0-7923-6972-6. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9780792369721.
Book Chapters (some)
Matthews, Michael (2021). "Philosophical Problems with Constructivism: Some Considerations for Student-Centered Teaching and Learning". in Hoidn +, Sabine. The Routledge International Handbook of Student-Centered Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. Routledge. pp. 47-64. ISBN 9780367200527.
Matthews, Michael (2021). "The Contribution of Philosophy to Science Teacher Education". in Colgan +, Andrew. The Importance of Philosophical Thinking in Teacher Education. Routledge. pp. 121-142. ISBN 9780367777746.
Matthews, Michael (2019). "An Introduction to the Life, Achievements and Festschrift of Mario Bunge". in Matthews, Michael. Mario Bunge: A Centenary Festschrift. Routledge. pp. 1-28. ISBN 978-3-030-16673-1.
Matthews, Michael (2019). "Mach’s Educational Theory and Practice". in Stadler, Friedrich. Ernst Mach: Life, Work, Influence. Springer. pp. 553-570. ISBN 978-3-030-04378-0.
Matthews, Michael (2014). "Science, Worldviews and Education". in Matthews, Michael. International Handbook of Research in History, Philosophy and Science Teaching. Springer. pp. 1585-1636. ISBN 978-94-007-7654-8.
Matthews, Michael (2012). "Changing the Focus: From Nature of Science (NOS) to Features of Science (FOS)". in Khine, Myint. Advances in Nature of Science Research. Springer. pp. 3-26. ISBN 978-94-007-2457-0.
Journal Articles (some)
See also
- Constructivism in science education
- Hazen Prize 2010, History of Science Society "More than any other single individual, Michael Matthews deserves credit for instilling the History (and Philosophy) of Science in Science Education."
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Matthews, Michael (2021). History, Philosophy and Science Teaching: A Personal Story. Springer. pp. 1-89. ISBN 9789811605574. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811605574.
- ↑ Matthews, Michael (2000). Time for Science Education: How Teaching the History and Philosophy of Pendulum Motion Can Contribute to Science Literacy. New York: Plenum Press. ISBN 0-306-45880-2.
- ↑ "Michael Robert Matthews". City of Sydney. https://www.sydneyaldermen.com.au/alderman/michael-matthews/.
- ↑ Bell, Beverley (1995). Responses to 'Challenging NZ science education' by Michael R. Matthews. Hamilton NZ: Centre for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Research, University of Waikato. ISBN 0908851332. https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22016713.
- ↑ Seymour, Barry (23 June 1995). "The 'loony, insidious' educational doctrine that threatens teaching". Press (Christchurch NZ). https://natlib-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?vid=NLNZ&docid=INNZ7113891680002837.
- ↑ "Fellows of the Royal Society of NSW". https://www.royalsoc.org.au/about-us/fellows.
- ↑ Hines, Terence (November-December 2020). "Examining a 3,000-Year-Old Pseudoscience". Skeptical Inquirer (Amherst, New York: Center for Inquiry). https://skepticalinquirer.org/2020/11/examining-a-3000-year-old-pseudoscience/. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
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