Teaching socioscientific issues: classroom culture and students’ performances |
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Authors: | Tali Tal Yarden Kedmi |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Education in Technology and Science, Technion, Haifa, 32000, USA |
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Abstract: | The “Treasures in the Sea: Use and Abuse” unit that deals with authentic socioscientific issues related to the Mediterranean
was developed as part of a national effort to increase scientific literacy. The unit aimed to enhance active participation
of the learners and encourage higher order thinking in class by applying teaching methods that reduce the unfamiliarity felt
by students. This was expected through an explicit use of a variety of teaching and assessment-for-learning methods, suitable
for Science for All students. Our main goal was to examine the culture of Science for All classes in which the unit was enacted.
In order to address the main learning objectives, we monitored students’ performances in tasks that required the higher order
thinking skills of argumentation and value judgment, which are central constituents of decision-making processes. We show
that while socioscientific issues were discussed in whole class and small group sessions, and students’ argumentation improved,
there is still a long way to go in applying a thinking culture in non-science major classes. We suggest that science teachers
should shift from traditional content-based and value-free approach, to a sociocultural approach that views science as a community
practice and the students as active participants in decision-making processes. |
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Keywords: | Science for all STS Socioscientific issues Citizen science Assessment for learning |
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