ERIC Number: EJ912348
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0269-2465
EISSN: N/A
Do Children Really Take Note of Science in the News?
Jarman, Ruth; McClune, Billy
Primary Science Review, n98 p10-13 May-Jun 2007
For ten days in August 2006, Pluto was rarely out of the news as members of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) deliberated on its planetary status. For the members of the "News in Science Education" group, based at Queen's University, Belfast, this offered a great opportunity for educators to explore a number of interesting and important questions. This article reports the findings of a survey conducted in two primary schools in Northern Ireland. This was part of a larger study that explored, by questionnaire, the knowledge and response of pupils in primary, secondary and post-compulsory education to a science issue reported in the news. The authors explored children's knowledge of the recent news story about Pluto and their reactions to it. The authors suggest that three important messages emerge from this primary school study. First, many children do appear to take note of science in the news. Second, the authors note that, just as when children learn science in formal education settings they may pick up misconceptions, so when they learn science in informal settings such as watching television at home they may pick up misconceptions. Third, the authors acknowledge that just over half of those participating in the primary study were not aware that (or more properly why) Pluto was in the news. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Science Activities, News Reporting, Foreign Countries, Misconceptions, Science Instruction, Elementary School Science, Questionnaires, Knowledge Level, Mass Media, Television Viewing, Astronomy
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 - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (Belfast)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A