Is it a hopeless situation?

No! There are many researchers and teachers whoa re finding ways to improve student knowledge, skills and values. Below are just a few of which I am aware. (Of course the categories are artificial as students create knowledge, refine skills and alter their values in all of the curricula/ methodologies.)

Knowledge

• Tutorials in Introductory Physics- worksheets that are conceptual in nature and use significant cognitive conflict to help students reconcile new information with existing knowledge
  
• Interactive Lecture Demonstrations- traditional, passive demonstrations are replaced with ones where students make predictions before the demonstration. Predictions are compared to quantitative data that is collected with computer interfaced probes

Skills

• Investigative Science Learning Environment (ISLE)- a curriculum that replicates the scientific process
• Workshop Physics- traditional lecture/ lab structure is replaced with a curriculum that places the students at the center of knowledge creation as there is minimal lecture
• Modeling- Students are guided through the development of models via a learning cycle
  
• Physics by Inquiry- laboratory based modules

Values

• Learning How to Learn Science- metacognition and epistemology are explicitly addressed through various activities
• Physics and Everyday Thinking- an inquiry curriculum that includes learning about learning and reflection activities