Comparison Of STS Education Contents Between Chinese And American High School Geography Textbooks

STS Education is one of the hottest issues in the area of science education reform. It combines science, technology and society well together in science courses. STS Education does not only emphasis the interaction of science, technology and society, but also pay attention to educating citizens who have certain science abilities. Nature Geography is a part of science education, so it is necessary to add STS Education part into the geography textbook of middle school. The STS Education in America is above the world’s average level, so there are comprehensive STS Education contents in American geography textbooks. Because of the new course reform, the STS Education contents in Chinese geography textbooks are also more various than before. The paper first clarifies the STS Education contents in high school geography textbooks, then compares the STS Education contents in the systems and texts of American and Chinese geography textbooks and includes the characteristics of the STS Education content in Chinese high school geography textbook such as paying more attention to the issues about society, lacking contents of technology using and the basic knowledge of other subjects. In the end, the paper offers the Chinese geography textbook some suggestions.