Many changes have already been implemented, but full adoption of the new curriculum awaits completion of the Phelps Science Center. Within the constraints of the existing building, Exeter science teachers have brought scientific inquiry to the forefront of the classroom and made hands-on laboratory work their primary teaching tool.
Courses now focus on topics that lend themselves to laboratory work and field investigation.
Teachers stress the comprehension and application of scientific concepts through laboratory experiments, rather than rote memorization of facts from a textbook. In addition, technology is placing more investigative tools directly in the hands of teachers and students, greatly enriching the laboratory experience. In short, Exeter students are learning science by practicing science, an energizing new approach for teachers and students alike.