The importance of scientific literacy in fostering education for sustainability: Theoretical considerations and preliminary findings from a Brazilian experience

Scientific literacy can be considered as a new demand of post-industrial society. It seems necessary in order to foster education for sustainability throughout students` academic careers. Universities striving to teach sustainability are being challenged to integrate a holistic perspective into a traditional undergraduate curriculum, which aims at specialization. This new integrative, inter- and transdisciplinary epistemological approach is necessary to cultivate autonomous citizenship, i.e., that each citizen be prepared to understand and participate in discussions about the complex contemporary issues posed by post-industrial society. This paper presents an epistemological framework to show the role of scientific literacy in fostering education for sustainability. We present a set of 26 collaborative concept maps (CCmaps) in order to illustrate an instance of theory becoming practice. During a required course for first-year undergraduate students (ACH 0011, Natural Sciences), climate change was presented and discussed in broad perspective by using CCmaps. We present students` CCmaps to show how they use concepts from quantitative and literacy disciplines to deal with the challenges posed by the need of achieving a sustainable development. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Construction of the Cognitive Dimension of the Scientific Literacy in the Students through the Costa Rican Biological Sciences Olympics

This research recognizes the cognitive contributions to the students participating in the Third Costa Rican Biological Sciences Olympics that will define the advancement and strengthening in the construction of its conceptual dimension in the scientific literacy.  This paper is based, mainly, on qualitative approach techniques (ethnographic design:  case study); however, some data are interpreted through quantitative methodologies (descriptive design with an explanatory and exploratory touch) for the analysis of a sample of 54 high school students, finalists in the category A of the Olympics, through the use of tools such as a documentary study and a survey, in July 2009.  The information generated was analyzed using elements of inferential and descriptive statistics, figures and histograms.  It was proved that there is a better cognitive management in the topics assessed, an increase in the students’ academic performance as the tests are applied, a commitment for the academic update supported by the development of several tasks for previous preparation, curriculum contributions unprecedented based on our sample, a consent to optimize student’s knowledge about Biology, which will allow the application of scientific notions to diversify and renew the knowledge, according to what is established in the principles of scientific literacy.

Learning by Doing in the Context of Modern Information and Media Literacy of Students in “Library and Information Management” in ULSIT Using the Digital Collection “Bulgarian Revival”

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness of learning by doing as a practical tool for managing the training of students in "Library Management" at the ULSIT, Sofia, Bulgaria, by using the creation of project 'Data Base “Bulgarian Revival Towns” (CD), financed by Bulgarian Ministry of Education, Youth and Science (1/D002/144/13.10.2011) headed by Prof. DSc Ivanka Yankova, which aims to create new information resource for the towns which will serve the needs of scientific researches. By participating in generating the an array in the database through searching, selection and digitization of documents from these period, at the same time students get an opportunity to expand their skills to work effectively in a team, finding the interdisciplinary, a causal connection between the studied items, objects and subjects and foremost – practical experience in the field of digitization, information behavior, strategies for information search, etc. This method achieves good results for the accumulation of sustainable knowledge and it generates motivation to work in the field of library and information professions.

Zwischen Anpassung und Widerstand: Critical Science Literacy in der Wissensgesellschaft

In der gegenwärtigen "Wissensgesellschaft" spielt wissenschaftliches Wissen eine zentrale Rolle, um gesellschaftliche Verhältnisse herzustellen oder zu reproduzieren. Ein kritischer Umgang mit (wissenschaftlichem) Wissen - eine "critical science literacy" - eröffnet Möglichkeiten des Widerstands in der Wissensgesellschaft und kann damit als demokratische Grundfertigkeit begriffen werden. Im vorliegenden Beitrag gehen die Autorinnen den Möglichkeiten einer critical science literacy im Spannungsverhältnis von Anpassung und Widerstand nach. Sie werfen einen Blick auf die historische Entwicklung der Debatte um scientific literacy - ursprünglich nur als naturwissenschaftliche Grundkompetenz gedacht, aber mit einem durchaus kritisch reflexiven und demokratischen Moment - im Kontext demokratisch-kapitalistischer Verhältnisse. Sie verstehen critical science literacy als eine auf allen Ebenen der Wissensgenerierung und -bildung verantwortungsvolle, kollektive und eingreifende Praxis in gesellschaftliche Auseinandersetzungen. (DIPF/Orig.)

Charles Darwin goes to school: the role of cartoons and narrative in setting science in an historical context

Science education is under revision. Recent changes in society require changes in education to respond to new demands. Scientific literacy can be considered a new goal of science education and the epistemological gap between natural sciences and literacy disciplines must be overcome. The history of science is a possible bridge to link these `two cultures` and to foster an interdisciplinary approach in the classroom. This paper acknowledges Darwin`s legacy and proposes the use of cartoons and narrative expositions to put this interesting chapter of science into its historical context. A five-lesson didactic sequence was developed to tell part of the story of Darwin`s expedition through South America for students from 10 to 12 years of age. Beyond geological and biological perspectives, the inclusion of historical, social and geographical facts demonstrated the beauty and complexity of the findings that Darwin employed to propose the theory of evolution.

Qualified intervention/qualifying formation

An education promoting scientific literacy (SL) that prepares the citizens to a responsible citizenship has persisted as an argument across discussions on curricula design. The ubiquity of science and technology on contemporary societies and the ideological requirement of informed democratic participation led to the identification of relevant categories that drive curriculum reforms towards a humanistic approach of school science. The category ‘Science as culture’ acquires in the current work a major importance: it enlightens the meaning of scientific literacy. Looking closely to the French term, culture scientifique et tecnologique, turns science simultaneously into a cultural object and product that can be both received and worked at different levels and within several approaches by the individuals and the communities. On the other hand, nonformal and informal education spaces gain greater importance. Together with the formal school environment these spaces allow for an enrichment and diversification of learning experiences. Examples of nonformal spaces where animators can develop their work may be science museums or botanical gardens; television and internet can be regarded as informal education spaces. Due to the above mentioned impossibility of setting apart the individual or community-based experiences from Science and Technology (S&T), the work in nonformal and informal spaces sets an additional challenge to the preparation of socio-cultural animators. Socio-scientific issues take, at times, heavily relevance within the communities. Pollution, high tension lines, spreading of diseases, food contamination or natural resources conservation are among the socio-scientific issues that often call upon arguments and emotions. In the context of qualifying programmes on socio-cultural animation (social education and community development) within European Higher Education Area (EHEA) the present study describes the Portuguese framework. The comparison of programmes within Portugal aims to contribute to the discussion on the curriculum design for a socio-cultural animator degree (1st cycle of Bologna process). In particular, this study intends to assess how the formation given complies with enabling animators to work, within multiple scenarios, with communities in situations of socio-scientific relevance. A set of themes, issues and both current and potential fields of action, not described or insufficiently described in literature, is identified and analysed in the perspective of a qualified intervention of animators. One of these examples is thoroughly discussed. Finally, suggestions are made about curriculum reforms in order, if possible, to strongly link the desired qualified intervention with a qualifying formation.

Conceções e práticas de ciência de educadores de infância

Dissertação apresentada à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências da Educação Especialidade em Didáctica das Ciências da Natureza

Task Force on the Physical Sciences Report and Recommendation

Ireland has positioned itself to take advantage of technological change by encouraging the inward investment of high-tech industries and by providing a highly-educated workforce to sustain and enlarge them. Employment of science, engineering and technology graduates at all levels has been a hallmark of the modern Irish economy, as the educational sector responded to the mix of skills demanded by industry. An outstanding record of graduate output has contributed to the phenomenal growth in Irish-based technology. In an era of rapid technological change, the goal of "scientific literacy for all" has become a primary objective of a general education. Science is one of three literacy domains, along with reading and mathematics, that is included in measures of educational achievement by the OECD.

Characterization and Application of Educational Virtual Environments for Science Teaching in Secondary School

This work describes the characteristics of a representative set of seven different virtual laboratories (VLs) aimed for science teaching in secondary school. For this purpose, a 27-item evaluation model that facilitates the characterization of the VLs was prepared. The model takes into account the gaming features, the overall usability, and also the potential to induce scientific literacy. Five of the seven VLs were then tested with two larger and highly heterogenic groups of students, and in two different contexts – biotechnology and physics, respectively. It is described how the VLs were received by the students, taking into account both their motivation and their self-reported learning outcome. In some cases, students’ approach to work with the VLs was recorded digitally, and analyzed qualitatively. In general, the students enjoyed the VL activities, and claimed that they learned from them. Yet, more investigation is required to address the effectiveness of these tools for significant learning.

Executive Order Number Seventy Four, June 26, 2011

This act applying to strong science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education is essential to prepare the young people of Iowa for a competitive, global economy; and scientific literacy is also the foundation of being a good citizen.

Statistics in science and in society: From a state-of-the-art to a new research agenda

Statistics occupies a prominent role in science and citizens' daily life. This article provides a state-of-the-art of the problems associated with statistics in science and in society, structured along the three paradigms defined by Bauer, Allum and Miller (2007). It explores in more detail medicine and public understanding of science on the one hand, and risks and surveys on the other. Statistics has received a good deal of attention; however, very often handled in terms of deficit - either of scientists or of citizens. Many tools have been proposed to improve statistical literacy, the image of and trust in statistics, but with little understanding of their roots, with little coordination among stakeholders and with few assessments of impacts. These deficiencies represent as many new and promising directions in which the PUS research agenda could be expanded.

Dinâmicas de inquiry no estudo de perturbações a um estado de equilíbrio químico

Educational institutions are not being effective, because they do not give individuals what they need to integrate into postmodern society, nor produce citizens that postmodern society needs. Shortcomings include the scientific literacy and cognitive domain levels attained, with an aggravating waning interest in science among pre-university students. We present an inquiry module, an inquiry dynamic, as an education resource for the study of perturbations of a chemical equilibrium state by pre-university or university students of basic chemistry, to contribute to the relevance and popularity of science, potentiation of science literacy and development of cognition. Here we describe an investigation with pre-university students.

Identifying reasons for failure in biomedical research and publishing

The regular assessment of Brazilian scientific output means that individual university departments need to constantly improve the quantity and quality of their scientific output. A significant proportion of this output involves the work of Master’s and Doctoral students, but getting this work published in a suitable journal can often prove to be a challenge. Although students’ lack of fluency in English is a contributing factor, many of the problems observed have an early origin in the formulation of the research problem and its relevance to current research trends in the international literature. In short, more time needs to be spent in the library and less in the laboratory, and more effort needs to be made in teaching students basic research skills such as the effective use of bibliographic databases like PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus.

Die Natur der Naturwissenschaften verstehen

Ein angemessenes Verständnis der Natur der Naturwissenschaften stellt eine zentrale Kompetenz naturwissenschaftlicher Grundbildung („Scientific Literacy“) dar und ist im Rahmen des Kompetenzbereichs Erkenntnisgewinnung in den nationalen Bildungsstandards in den naturwissenschaftlichen Fächern verankert. Schülerinnen und Schüler sollen demnach in der Schule Lernerfahrungen über die Grundzüge und Grenzen naturwissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisgewinnung und naturwissenschaftlichen Wissens erlangen. In dieser Arbeit liegen vier Studien vor, die sich mit Aspekten des Verstehens der Natur der Naturwissenschaften von Schülerinnen und Schülern in der Sekundarstufe I beschäftigen. In der ersten Studie, die die Entwicklung eines quantitativen Messinstruments im Blick hat, wird die Kompetenzstruktur theoretisch modelliert und empirisch überprüft. Faktorenanalytisch nachweisbare Dimensionen sind die Herkunft, Sicherheit, Entwicklung, Rechtfertigung und Einfachheit naturwissenschaftlichen Wissens, der Zweck der Naturwissenschaften und die Kreativität von Naturwissenschaftlern. Die zweite Studie nimmt den Entwicklungsaspekt des Naturwissenschaftsverständnisses in den Fokus. Lernende zeigen sowohl im längsschnittlichen Vergleich eines Schuljahres als auch im querschnittlichen Vergleich verschiedener Jahrgangsstufen einen Zuwachs hin zu höheren Klassenstufen auf. Jüngere Lernende zeigen bereits angemessene Ansichten, allerdings sind die Konzepte älterer Schülerinnen und Schüler als stabiler anzusehen als die Ansichten der Lernenden in jüngeren Jahrgangsstufen. In der dritten Studie wird die Kontextabhängigkeit des Naturwissenschaftsverständnisses untersucht. Es kann ein Zusammenhang berichtet werden zwischen den selbst berichteten Kenntnissen der Jugendlichen und ihrem Naturwissenschaftsverständnis sowie zwischen den berichteten Vorstellungen zu spezifischen Kontexten und allgemeinen Vorstellungen über die Natur der Naturwissenschaften. Abschließend wird die Bedeutung des Naturwissenschaftsverständnisses für den Erwerb wissenschaftsmethodischer Kompetenzen in den Blick genommen. Zusammenhänge zwischen den Konstrukten deuten auf inhaltliche Schnittstellen sowie Unterschiede im Kompetenzerwerb hin. Aus den Befunden lassen sich Folgerungen für eine adäquate Vermittlung von Kompetenzen des Naturwissenschaftsverständnisses ableiten. Dimensionen der Natur der Naturwissenschaften sollten sich kumulativ aufbauend in das Curriculum integrieren sowie in Bezug zum forschenden Lernen und der Vermittlung von Fachkonzepten explizit reflektiert werden.

Subjektive Theorien von Lehrkräften bezüglich fremdsprachenintegriertem Physikunterricht

Das Leben in modernen Großstädten in Deutschland und Europa fordert heute mehr denn je sprachliche Kompetenzen von uns, wie sie vor einigen Jahrzehnten noch kaum erahnt wurden. Nicht selten findet man sich in einem Gewirr aus Sprachen wieder und realisiert schnell, dass die Europäische Union zumindest kulturell längst in unserem Alltag angekommen ist. Das Gespräch mit Touristen und Wahldeutschen aus aller Welt findet vorzugsweise auf Englisch statt, der Lingua Franca. Und hieraus ergibt sich ein großes Problem, eine zentrale Aufgabe der Schulbildung in dieser sich zunehmend globalisierenden Welt des einundzwanzigsten Jahrhunderts. Das Erlernen einer Sprache allein genügt nicht mehr, um die notwendigen Bürgerkompetenzen im kontemporären Europa zu erlangen. Die Sachfächer erweisen sich tendenziell immer mehr als gordische Knoten der Kompetenzorientierung, wenn sich etwa die Frage stellt, ob Schüler das dort erlangte Wissen auch wirklich international nutzbar machen können. In dieser Arbeit soll zunächst kurz auf einige grundlegende Merkmale und Ausprägungen bilingualen Unterrichts aufmerksam gemacht werden. Danach sollen im theoretischen Teil dieser Arbeit drei grundlegende Säulen eines bilingual ausgerichteten Physikunterrichts entworfen werden. Mithilfe empirischer Evidenz soll darauf aufbauend gezeigt werden, wie Sachfach und Sprache miteinander wechselwirken und welchen Einfluss die Sprache auf den Wissenserwerb hat (siehe Kapitel 3.1). Im folgenden Teil steht dann die Frage im Mittelpunkt, was mit Physikunterricht generell erzielt werden soll (siehe Kapitel 3.2). Der theoretische Teil wird schließlich mit der Betrachtung personeller Einflüsse durch die Schüler und Lehrer selbst abgerundet (siehe Kapitel 3.3). Auf der Grundlage dieser theoretischen Überlegungen, erfolgt schließlich die Analyse der im Zuge der Arbeit durchgeführten Lehrerinterviews. Mit der Formulierung der Forschungsfragen in Kapitel 4 sowie der genaueren Beschreibung der Untersuchungsmethodik in Kapitel 5, folgt in den Kapiteln 6 und 7 die Auswertungsmethodik sowie die Präsentation der so gewonnenen Ergebnisse. Im Kapitel 8 werden die Ergebnisse nochmals diskutiert und in Bezug auf die Forschungsfragen interpretiert. Schließlich fasst Kapitel 9 die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung zusammen und Kapitel 10 liefert ein Fazit der gesamten Arbeit.