ERIC Number: EJ1063970
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-May
Pages: 2
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1377
EISSN: N/A
Science for Health Literacy: It's Never Been so Important
Grace, Marcus; Woods-Townsend, Kathryn; Griffiths, Janice; Christodoulou, Andri; Byrne, Jenny; Bay, Jacquie; Godfrey, Keith; Inskip, Hazel; Hanson, Mark
Education in Science, n252 p16-17 May 2013
This article outlines a project called "LifeLab," developed by researchers at the Education School, Faculty of Medicine and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Southampton (UK), to promote a science-oriented approach to health literacy among teenagers. The main purposes of "LifeLab" are: (1) to improve youngsters' knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in relation to their health and the health of their future children; and (2) to encourage them to consider taking science post-16 and making science-related career choices. The centrepiece is a one-day, hands-on visit to a university/hospital-based laboratory, where pupils learn about the science underpinning health issues using equipment not normally available in schools. Importantly, this visit is not an isolated event, but is undertaken in conjunction with stimulating school-based lessons built into science schemes of work, by using health issues as a context for understanding key science concepts and developing associated skills. These lessons include decision-making discussions about health issues, small group science investigations, and the production of scientific posters, which are presented to parents and other local dignitaries at a twilight celebration event held at the University. Britain is certainly not alone in the struggle to combat preventable health issues, but it has fallen behind its counterparts in recent decades, and the "LifeLab" science for health literacy approach appears to be a promising way forward.
Descriptors: Science Education, Health Education, Student Attitudes, Adolescent Attitudes, Attitude Change, Health Promotion, Health Behavior, Hands on Science, Science Laboratories, Academic Aspiration, Career Choice, Science Careers, Foreign Countries
Association for Science Education. College Lane Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AA, UK. Tel: +44-1-707-283000; Fax: +44-1-707-266532; e-mail: info@ase.org.uk; Web site: http://www.ase.org.uk
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A