Scientific Literacy – Scientific Literacy – Science in the Real Science in the Real

World?World?

A Research paper and presentation for the requirements ofEC & I 840 – Seminar on Science Education Fall 2012Instructor: Warren WesselSubmitted by Patti Thurmeier

According to Jay Ingram, of The Daily Planet,

“About ten to fifteen percent of the [North] American public is

scientifically literate.” (Ingram, 2007, p 109)

Are you scientifically literate?

The most abundant animals The most abundant animals in the world are: in the world are:

a) mammals,b) fishc) insects d) birds

Stem cells are found:Stem cells are found:

a) only in humans,b) are only found in the

laboratoryc) have the ability to produce

any kind of tissue in the bodyd) none of the above

The difference between The difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear nuclear fusion and nuclear fission is that:fission is that:

a) fission is used to generate commercial electricity, fusion is not

b) fusion is used to generate commercial electricity, fission is not;

c) fission is the source of energy in stars, fusion is not

d) none of the above.

Carbon dating of old Carbon dating of old materials is possible materials is possible because:because:a) carbon is black and absorbs sunlightb) carbon is a common chemical

elementc) some isotopes of carbon are

radioactive d) none of the above.

Chemical reactions:Chemical reactions:

a) take place only in test tubesb) are always dangerousc) take place everywhere in

natured) take place only in living things

Once you burn gasoline in Once you burn gasoline in your car, the energy in that your car, the energy in that gasoline:gasoline:a) enters the environment as

heat,b) is lost foreverc) has to be replaced by drilling

for more oil d) none of the above.

How did you do?How did you do?Answers:

1.C, 2. C, 3. A, 4. C, 5. C, 6. A

The questions were excerpted from a quiz designed by physics professor James Trefil found at the following link: http://www.thestar.com/article/679050--scientific-literacy-quiz

What is Scientific What is Scientific Literacy?Literacy?

The term scientific literacy is often used synonymously with the goals of science education, but “comprises more than mastery of a specific set of scientific concepts and theories [although] there is no universal agreement about precisely what scientific literacy entails” (Hodson, 2000, p 13).

A number of interpretations A number of interpretations of scientific literacy…of scientific literacy…“the level of understanding of

scientific and technological constructs needed to function as citizens in a modern industrial society” (Miller, 2010, p 243)

“implies an appreciation of the nature, aims, and general limitations of science, coupled with some understanding of the more scientific ideas” (Jenkins in Laugksch, 1999, p 71)

“an evolving combination of the science-related attitudes, skills, and knowledge students need to develop inquiry, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, to become lifelong learners, and to maintain a sense of wonder about the world around them” - Council of Ministers of Education (Canada) in 1997 (Hodson, 2000, p 13).

a necessary requirement to be able to adapt to the challenges of a rapidly changing world encompassing the development of life skills (Holbrook & Rannikmake, 2009)

It seems to me that…It seems to me that…Most of the definitions reflect

a traditional view of learning and teaching: focusing on the mastery of a set of terms, skills, ideas and concepts.

There is also a recurring theme of the real life applications of the nature of science.

To me, scientific literacy is To me, scientific literacy is best described as…best described as…

the use of science in everyday life, knowing science as a “way of thinking, finding, organizing and using information to make decisions” (Rennie, 2005, p 10), not necessarily knowing “a great deal about science as a body of knowledge” (Rennie, 2005, p 10)

The quandry: The quandry: Scientific literacy is a concept with a

“very broad definition that few, if any, could live up to, [and] nowhere does it say how we are to achieve science literacy at the practical level” (Jurecki & Wander, 2012, p 100).

http://www.s-anand.net/blog/calvin-and-hobbes-dad-explains-science

Why scientific literacy?Why scientific literacy?

http://www.s-anand.net/blog/calvin-and-hobbes-dad-explains-science/

Large Scale BenefitsLarge Scale Benefits

https://cartoonbank.licensestream.com/LicenseStream/Portal/Index.aspx

For the For the IndividualIndividual

So where does the So where does the curriculum fit in to the curriculum fit in to the picture?picture?

Elementary Science Elementary Science Curriculum - SaskatchewanCurriculum - Saskatchewan

The aim of k-12 science education in Saskatchewan is to enable all students to develop scientific literacy encompassing Euro-Canadian and Indigenous worldviews (Ministry of Education, 2011) and subsequently for all students to understand the nature of science and science, technology, society and the environment (STSE), construct scientific knowledge, develop scientific and technological skills and develop attitudes that support scientific habits of mind.

edonline.sk.ca

Scientific literacy is a balance of knowing about the natural world, understanding scientific concepts and principles, having the abilities to use scientific reasoning and to apply scientific knowledge, therefore, science education must also balance knowledge, skills and abilities.

Creating the SparkCreating the Spark

As part of the student questionnaire in the 2006 PISA assessment, learners identified that they were most interested in learning about health or safety issues that connected to them personally, and were least interested in topics that they identified as having little or no personal relevance (Bybee & McCrae, 2011).

Using Informal Science Using Informal Science ResourcesResourcesDragonFly TVScience DailyScience NewsScience News for

KidsTime for Kids

Why?Scientific Literacy

YouTube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-elygXbo7s

Real-Life ScienceReal-Life Science

Assessment – are “they” Assessment – are “they” there yet?there yet?Pan Canadian Assessment

Program (PCAP)◦In 2010, approximately 32,000

Canadian Grade 8 students in over 1,600 schools participated

Programme for International Student Assessment◦In 2006 approximately 22,000

Canadian 15-year-olds from 1,000 schools participated across the ten provinces

On a personal note…On a personal note…

http://www.shadygrove.umd.edu/campus-services/cas/faculty-services/facdev

http://doyle-scienceteach.blogspot.ca/2010/03/science-teacher.html

Building the FoundationBuilding the Foundation

http://www.aeei.gov.sk.ca/evergreen/science/part3/portion02.shtml

From Saskatchewan Advanced Education and Employment – Adult Basic Education Science Curriculum Guide

To ponder…To ponder…

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/03/31/science-in-the-news-a-useful-tool-or-distracting-target-in-the-pursuit-of-scientific-literacy/