Millar, R. (2006) Twenty First Century Science: Insights from the design and implementation of a scientific literacy approach in school science. International Journal of Science Education, 28 (13). pp. 1499-1521. ISSN 0950-0693
Abstract
Although the term “scientific literacy” has been increasingly used in recent years to characterise the aim of school science education, there is still considerable uncertainty about its meaning and implications for the curriculum. A major national project in England, Twenty First Century Science, is evaluating the feasibility of a more flexible science curriculum structure for 15-year-old and 16-year-old students, centring around a core course for all students with a scientific literacy emphasis. Over 12,000 students in 78 schools have followed this course since September 2003. The development of a detailed teaching programme is an important means of clarifying the meanings and implications of a “scientific literacy” approach. Questionnaire data from teachers at the end of the first and second years of the project (N = 40 and N = 51) show a strongly positive evaluation of the central features of the course design. Teachers perceive the scientific literacy emphasis as markedly increasing student interest and engagement. Key challenges identified are the language and reasoning demands in looking critically at public accounts of science, and the classroom management of more open discussion about science-related issues.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > Education (York) |
Depositing User: | York RAE Import |
Date Deposited: | 08 May 2009 14:25 |
Last Modified: | 08 May 2009 14:25 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09500690600718344 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/09500690600718344 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:6452 |