Dilemmas of Science Teaching

Synonyms

Classroom management; Teaching dilemmas

The term dilemma is derived from the Greek (via Latin) terms di meaning two and lemma meaning assumption or proposition. A dilemma is a situation that requires a choice between two options that are, or seem, equally unfavorable or mutually exclusive, hence, the expression, “caught on the horns of a dilemma” – when opting for one choice over another, one is stuck uncomfortably on the horn of that choice and unable to do anything about the alternative option.

In educational contexts, the dilemma idea was explored in Berlak and Berlak’s (1981) book Dilemmas of Schooling. Here, the authors examine how numerous curriculum and societal dilemmas impact on schooling. These include child as person vs. child as client, content vs. process, knowledge as given vs. problematical knowledge, learning as social vs. learning as individual, common culture vs. subgroup consciousness, equal vs. differential distribution of resources, and equal vs. ad hoc...