TITLE:
Science as a Human Endeavour: Outlining Scientific Literacy and Rethinking Why We Teach Science
AUTHORS:
Alison J. Sammel
KEYWORDS:
Science Education, Science as a Human Endeavour, Nature of Science, Scientific Literacy, Emancipatory Education
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.5 No.10,
June
19,
2014
ABSTRACT: What does it mean
to be scientifically literate? Historically, dominant understandings of
scientific literacy focus on science content acquisition. However, new
understandings imply more genuine and authentic interactivity between science
content knowledge/skills and understanding of the economic, sociocultural,
religious, ecological, ideological, political and temporal connections upon
which the science is based: this is the task of Science as a Human Endeavour.
This paper presents a snapshot of what Science as a Human Endeavour is, its
purpose and factors to consider. Science as a Human Endeavour doesn’t just
necessitate that we change our teaching practices: it forces us to rethink the
teaching and learning of science and the reason why we are doing it.