The purpose of the paper is to present the framework and design of modules aiming to teach socio-scientific issues and the related pedagogy to pre-service teachers. Specifically, the work presented in this paper is part of the PreSEES project, a Comenius/LLP project with the main aim of engaging elementary and secondary pre-service teachers in…

Over the last three decades, public understanding of science (PUS) has been one of the foremost research topics in the Korean society where numerous social scientific conflicts have taken place. As a lead channel of risk communication, Twitter has been studied in experimental research designs or among target user groups, leaving the measurement of…

As western society becomes increasingly reliant on scientific information to make decisions, citizens must be equipped to understand how scientific arguments are constructed. In order to do this, pre-service teachers must be prepared to foster students' abilities and understandings of scientific argumentation in the classroom. This study…

The goal of this study was to understand which factors, related to school science, can interfere with engagement of students-at-risk-of-dropping-out with school science and to know what kind of activities and teaching strategies are adequate to these students. This case-study involved a chemistry-teacher and ten male students. Data was based on…

In this paper, we present data related to how a Portuguese teacher developed the module "A big problem for Magellan: Food preservation." Students were asked to plan an investigation in order to identify which were the best food preservation methods in the XV and XVI centuries of Portuguese overseas navigation, and then establish a parallel between…

Science educators express wide consensus about the importance of a modern scientific literate society. But focussing on the public understanding of science in Germany, there seems to be no general consensus, neither about how to enhance scientific literacy in the educational practice nor about what the major topics and dimensions of a modern…

Provides a collection of ideas for the promotion of a more relevant and popular science education. Includes professional components and society-needs components. (Author/MM)

Describes the dissemination and implementation of the Iowa Chautauqua Program model of professional development for advancing science education reforms within the United States and in several settings abroad. Contains 15 references. (WRM)

Argues that there is an urgent need to renew, expand, and diversify basic science education in schools. Calls for policy that endorses science education as an essential part of the general education of all young people at the primary and secondary levels, and claims that the public and private sectors must find the means to make this policy a…

Discusses the role of science education in light of the needs of developing countries. Presents the Early Learning Science Series for Africa (ELSSA) project as an example of a developing country's attempt to produce students who are scientifically and technologically literate. (WRM)

Criticizes the national curriculum in England and Wales for not giving elementary-school teachers the freedom to explore relationships between subjects, especially as they relate to scientific and technological literacy. Argues that teacher education in science and technology and teacher input into curriculum development must also be improved.…

Offers a critique of American schools to provide helpful insight to teachers, researchers, and reformers of national systems who struggle with deeply rooted cultural divisions. Contains 36 references. (DDR)

Examines situations in which science impinges on everyday life and in which school science education is of little use. Argues that relevancy goes beyond acquiring knowledge of conceptual understanding. Contains 33 references. (DDR)

Explores the views of Japanese students (N=2478) concerning the nature of science, technology, and society via a questionnaire. Discusses the results within the context of Japanese culture. (DDR)

Science lessons were created to promote scientific and technological literacy (STL) among Estonian students. Teacher interviews (n=20) and student responses (n=470) to open-ended questions were analyzed based on process, attitudinal, and instructional domains. Outcomes emphasized the need for in-service guidance for teachers' better understanding…