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Defining Scientific Literacy

Defining Scientific Literacy. Scientific Literacy. not easy to define Dewey all the way down to... current reform movements several types cultural or nominal (recognition of terms) functional (use of scientific/technical terms)

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Defining Scientific Literacy

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  1. Defining ScientificLiteracy

  2. Scientific Literacy • not easy to define • Dewey all the way down to... • current reform movements • several types • cultural or nominal (recognition of terms) • functional (use of scientific/technical terms) • conceptual/procedural (concepts/processes) • multidimensional (nature of science, social context, differentiates science from other ways of knowing)

  3. Common Elements • content knowledge • facts • vocabulary • concepts • skills • manipulative • intellectual • dispositions • attitudes • behaviors

  4. What is worth knowing? • personal needs • societal needs • global needs

  5. How should one think? • logically • independently • objectively • skeptically • critically • rationally

  6. Benefits of Scientific Literacy: • develop effective solutions to problems • foster intelligent respect for nature • avoid being prey to dogmatists • assess use of new technologies

  7. Most Americans aren’t scientifically literate. • Only 6.9% of Americans are according to Jon Miller - NIU. • 1990 telephone survey (94% have phones). • 2033 individuals interviewed.

  8. Familiarity withFacts, Vocabulary & Concepts • O2 comes from plants 85% • plate tectonics 77% • light faster than sound 48%

  9. Familiarity Continued • earth orbits the sun 48% • humans and dinosaurs not concurrent 47% • evolution as a concept 45%

  10. Familiarity Continued • atom-electron (smaller) 41% • lasers work with light 37% • universe began with a Big Bang 32% (36% got 6 or more correct)

  11. Scientific literacy surveys... • Only 6.9% of US populace is scientifically literate at the lowest level - recall. • Studies in ‘79, ‘85, ‘88, ‘90 show no significant changes.

  12. Current Standings of Scientific Literacy • Ranking Luxemborg (8%) Italy Great Britain Germany Denmark/US (6.9%) Ireland Netherlands Belgium Canada Greece France Spain E. C. (European Average) Portugal (1%) • Note that South Korea and Japan are not even on the list!

  13. The Outlook: • In the US 40 - 50 year olds are the most scientifically literate: • those 60 - 70 have low rate. • those 20 - 30 have low rate. • In foreign countries scientific literacy decreases with age. • Implications are profound.

  14. The Problems: Science teachers not oriented toward scientific literacy emphasize: • answers over questions • memory over thought • recitation over argument • reading over doing

  15. The Problems: Teaching practices: • little metacognition going on • teaching versus learning • training versus educating • failure to determine essential content • teaching topically, not thematically • focusing on low-order skills • poor assessment skills/programs • emphasizing breadth over depth

  16. The Problems: Science & math voluntary • most pupils take biology in HS • 45% take chemistry in HS • 23% take physics in HS • 10% take no algebra • 6% take calculus

  17. The Problems: • The minorities, girls, and non-college-bound students are under-represented • Personal relativism has become a societal problem

  18. We are all responsible for... the current state of affairs • breadth over depth • seatwork over activity • memorization over critical thinking • recitation over well-reasoned argument making necessary changes.

  19. Help is available... • NRC -- National Science Education Standards • AAAS -- Project 2061 • NSTA -- Scope, Sequence, and Coordination • ISBE -- Illinois Learning Standards

  20. National ScienceEducation Standards Scientific literacy requires “knowledge and understand-ing of scientific concepts and processes ... for personal decision making, participating in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity.”

  21. Project 2061: Science for all Americans “The scientifically literate person is one who is aware that science, mathematics, and technology are interdependent human enterprises with strengths and limitations;

  22. understands the key concepts and principles of science; is familiar with the natural world and recognizes both its diversity and unity;

  23. and uses scientific knowledge and scientific ways of thinking for individual and social purposes.”

  24. Illinois Learning Standards “Science is the quest for objective truth. It provides a conceptual framework for the understanding of natural phenomena and their causes and effects.

  25. Among the purposes of the study of science is the development of students who are scientifically knowledgeable, understand that modern technological growth is an outcome of the scientific enterprise;

  26. knows the difference between objective fact and subjective values, and can apply scientific thinking and information in problem solving and decision making.”

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