SARS-2/COVID-19 has been the most traumatic worldwide social experience of, at least, the past fifty years. The pain and suffering both individually and collectively as many people around the world have suffered the illness and in a way, too many death has been superlative. The economic collapse has been, as well, individually as collectively devastating. No doubt about it.
We should not minimize the devastation but we must, also, see the opportunities. We must not be defeated in our spirit or our souls. We must keep finding ways to make things better and to help our society to improve. This is where science education in particular and education, in general, play an important role. This is a unique opportunity to innovate. To innovate how we teach and how we learn. We can't continue in the XXIst century teaching based on XXth century methods and programs. Institutions of learning have to be transformed radically to meet the needs of our society today. In many ways, large research universities have made changes but in a way, these changes are insignificant compared with the task at hand. Some small Liberal Art Colleges are not surviving due to the demands of this new paradigm.
As I think, Yogi Berra said: "The future ain't what it used to be". We can't use the past to guide us without analyzing when and how history will repeat or transform. Some have said (Couros. 2015 page 12) that we are living in a "Printing Press" moment which can be a strong metaphor as there are more than changes in the system of production there are elements of change in the mentality of the citizenry. The new iGeners born and raised in the midst of the information technology age aka the internet are being educated following pre-internet methodologies even though educators are using information obtained there. Education is more than the information provided, information that can be obtained at a minimum cost. What education institutions must provide today is the nurturing of curiosity. The atmosphere and platform for individuals to create and innovate. Guided by experienced individuals who can help, mentor, and direct. This is the new role of the professorship in higher education.
Science has always been about curiosity. This is why teaching science is so apt for the changes in education. For many years teaching has worked against curiosity in the name of curricular content. Teachers are used to replying to students' inquiries with "wait a moment I have to cover this topic we talk about it later" and "the later" never comes! Curiosity is delicate, easy to break and nullify, it is imperative for teachers to nurture creativity through reinforcing curiosity.
