Science Education Research Community Research Articles

Scientific literacy: Its real origin story and functional role in American education

AbstractIt has been widely accepted in the science education research community that scientific literacy as a concept and phrase was introduced by Paul deHart Hurd in 1958. Recent research into the origins of the phrase, however, has shown this to be incorrect. Its first published use can be traced back, in fact, to 1945, and the phrase was frequently invoked in popular and research publications throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Exploring the historical circumstances of the phrase's introduction into popular discourse, it is argued, reveals that despite the rhetorical power and widespread adoption of the idea, scientific literacy (as others have pointed out) has proven to be little more than an empty slogan that offers no substantive guidance for thinking about the goals of science education. This essay argues that rather than continue to cling to the idea, the field of science education can more productively consider the most relevant and appropriate goals of science teaching by dispensing with the concept altogether.

How Undergraduate Students Learn Atmospheric Science: Characterizing the Current Body of Research

Abstract Educators can enrich their teaching with best practices, share resources, and contribute to the growing atmospheric science education research community by reading and participating in the scholarship of teaching and learning in atmospheric science. This body of scholarship has grown, particularly over the past 15 years, and is now a sizable literature base that documents and exemplifies numerous teaching innovations in undergraduate atmospheric science education. This literature base benefits the entire atmospheric science community because graduates of atmospheric science programs are better prepared to enter the workforce. This literature base has not yet been examined, however, to see how well the evidence supports education practices in the atmospheric science education literature. In this study, we characterized that evidence and show that the majority of papers we reviewed share education innovations with anecdotal or correlational evidence of effectiveness. While providing useful practitioner knowledge and preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of numerous innovative teaching practices, opportunities exist for increasing readers’ confidence that the innovations caused the learning gains. Additional studies would also help move conclusions toward generalizability across academic institutions and student populations. We make recommendations for advancing atmospheric science education research and encourage atmospheric science educators to actively use the growing body of education literature as well as contribute to advancing atmospheric science education research.

Quantum Physics Education Research over the Last Two Decades: A Bibliometric Analysis

Quantum physics is an essential field of science education research, which reflects the high relevance of research on quantum physics and its technologies all around the globe. In this paper, we report on a bibliometric analysis of the science education research community’s scientific output in the area of quantum physics in the period from 2000 to 2021. A total of 1520 articles published in peer-reviewed physics and science education journals were retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus databases to conduct bibliometric analysis. This study aims to provide an overview of quantum physics education research in terms of scientific production, preferred publication venues, most involved researchers and countries (including collaborations), and research topics. The main findings point to a continuous increase in research output in the field of quantum physics education over the last two decades. Furthermore, they indicate a shift regarding the research foci. While formerly mainly papers on the teaching of quantum physics content were published, recently, an increase in the relevancy of empirical studies on the teaching and learning of quantum physics can be observed.

‘I loved exploring a new dimension of reality’ – a case study of middle-school girls encountering Einsteinian physics in the classroom

ABSTRACT In recent years, the science education research community has become increasingly interested in the learning domain of Einsteinian physics (EP). While the literature has provided accounts of how EP education can impact secondary and undergraduate students’ attitudes and engagement with physics, we still lack such research with younger students. This exploratory case study addresses this need and adds to our knowledge of how middle-school girls’ experience EP in the classroom. We report on an EP programme run with 39 girls (14–15 years) in an independent day and boarding school in Australia. Based on a phenomenographic analysis of focus group interviews and open-ended questionnaires, we document the range of students’ experiences of EP. The analysis revealed three categories of description that correspond to a personal, scientific, and holistic way of experiencing EP. These experiences influence the girls’ perception of and orientation to physics by increasing interest in physics, challenging traditional stereotypes, and showing future possibilities such as career paths in science. Our findings inform a discussion about improving instructional practices in science classrooms to realise the full potential of EP education. Furthermore, our study adds to a growing body of research that aims to foster middle-school girls’ interest in physics.

Model Conceptions in Science Education Research: features and trends

Abstract: Despite the ubiquity of models in science education, there are several different conceptions about their nature in the scientific community. We sought to investigate understandings about them conveyed in the recent research in science education. To this end, we have reviewed papers published on models and modelling between 2010 and 2019. Our analysis revealed that these different notions on the concept of model could be represented in three main trends: Concrete, Construct and Mathematical. In addition, we found that these studies: are predominantly empirical in nature; involve frameworks arising mainly from science education research itself, but with a considerable influence from Philosophy of Science and cognitive sciences; encompass Physics, Biology and Chemistry domains in relatively similar frequencies, but decreasing in this order. Another outcome of this study was the emergence of different scenarios regarding the journals consulted, revealing the existence of different thought styles in science education research community.

Using a Simple Pendulum Investigation to Develop Students’ History and Nature of Science Knowledge

Within physics education research (PER), inductive teaching strategies (e.g., inquiry-based teaching) have long been a goal. Yet others do not seem to be convinced that consensus exists with respect to the goals of physics education and identify three possible goals as: (1) to teach practical, factual knowledge, (2) to develop deep understandings of fundamental principles, and (3) to promote appreciation and use of scientific methods. Of course these three goals are not mutually exclusive, and many in the science education research community argue that developing an understanding of the nature of science (NOS) to be a worthy goal as well.

Computational thinking in higher education: A review of the literature

AbstractComputational thinking is of growing interest to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education research community. Calls from national agencies look to increase computation in STEM education. This review identifies key areas for future study by reviewing recent empirical studies that investigate computational thinking in teaching and learning contexts within higher education. Using a systematic process, this review identified four different databases for peer‐reviewed research articles using keywords. Results were evaluated against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies were analyzed for types of methods, target population, the role of computational thinking, pedagogical designs used, and significant findings of the study. This process resulted in a final set of 13 studies. The results indicate that computational thinking research in higher education is growing, yet there are opportunities for more research. The findings of this study highlight the need for more concrete definitions and implementations of computational thinking within higher education spaces.

Kimya Öğretmenlerinin Pedagojik Muhakemelerinin Öğretim Döngüsü Boyunca Değerlendirilmesi

Being regarded as a part of pedagogical content knowledge, science education research community has not reached a consensus about the ways how to measure pedagogical reasoning. As an early attempt to address that issue, the aim of this research is to evaluate chemistry teachers’ pedagogical reasoning during planning-teaching-reflecting parts of a lesson related to nature of equilibrium in chemical reactions. Data on pedagogical reasoning that underlies teachers’ instructional decisions and teaching actions were collected by pre- and post-observation interviews and stimulated recall interviews. Responses that teachers gave to interview questions were analyzed by evaluation criteria suggested to measure pedagogical reasoning, and results were scored accordingly. Results of this research show that the extent of chemistry teachers’ pedagogical reasoning is nearly 50 percent. As planning is the part that contributes the most to that value, reflecting is the part that contributes the least. Pedagogical reasoning dimensions in teaching and reflecting decreased from curriculum saliency to students’ understanding of science. However, pedagogical reasoning dimensions in planning did not show an important change. The lowest score gained by participants was students’ understanding of science dimension, and the highest one was the dimension of curriculum saliency. Recommendations for chemistry teacher education and pedagogical content knowledge and pedagogical reasoning research are presented.

A vision for the next phase of JRST

A vision for the next phase of JRST

Introduction to the special issue: A critical examination of the Next Generation Science Standards

Introduction to the special issue: A critical examination of the Next Generation Science Standards

In the maw of the Ouroboros: an analysis of scientific literacy and democracy

This paper explores the concept of scientific literacy through its relation to democracy and citizenship. Scientific literacy has received international attention in the twenty-first century as demonstrated by the Programme for International Student Assessment survey of 2006. It is no longer just a concept but has become a stated and testable outcome in the science education research community. This paper problematizes the ‘marriage’ between scientific literacy and democracy, particularly the idea that scientific literacy is a presupposed necessity to proper citizenship and awareness of the role of science in modern society. A perusal of the science education literature can provide a history of scientific literacy, as it exists as a research category. Through Gilles Deleuze’s notion of the Dogmatic Image of Thought and its relation to a Spinozist understanding of individuation/Becoming, it is argued that scientific literacy is not a recent invention and is problematic in its relation to democracy. This article is thus intended to act more as vehicle to move, stimulate and dramatize thought and potentially reconceptualise scientific literacy, than a comprehensive historical analysis. The concept of scientific literacy has undergone specific transformations in the last two centuries and has been enacted in different manifestations throughout modernity. Here the analysis draws upon Deleuze’s reading of Michel Foucault and the notion of the Diagram related to Foucault’s oeuvre, and is specifically using Foucault’s notion of rationalities as actualized threads or clusters of discourse. The obvious link between science and democracy is an effect of specific rationalities within the epistemological field of science, rather than intrinsic, essential characteristics of science or scientific literacy. There is nothing intrinsic in its function for democracy. Through a case study of the work of Charles W. Eliot and Herbert Spencer and the modern enactment of scientific literacy in contemporary science education, this paper shows the cultural and historical contingencies on which the relation between scientific literacy and democracy has been constructed through a rationality this article calls the Man of Science. The mythical Ouroboros will be used as a Fresh Image of Thought to explore the movements and folds within the discursive formation of Scientific Literacy, the rationality of the Man of Science, and their relation to democracy.

A Forum for the Science Education Community's Continual Self‐Renewal

A Forum for the Science Education Community's Continual Self‐Renewal

Emergent themes from recent research syntheses in science education and their implications for research design, replication, and reporting practices

This article draws upon the experiences of four recent efforts to synthesize the findings of quantitative studies in science education research. After establishing the need for research syntheses in advancing generalizable knowledge and causal effects research in our field, we identify a set themes that emerged in the process of conducting these syntheses. These themes include that many impact study designs were not conducive to quantitative synthesis, reporting practices of studies were often insufficient for inclusion in research synthesis, and very few replications were performed. These findings have the potential to limit the advancement of knowledge and discovery in science education research. We recommend that the science education research community pay closer attention to existing reporting standards and guidance, as well as consider the merits of a stronger commitment to study registration, replication, and data sharing. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 53: 1216–1231, 2016

Discourse Analysis of Science Teachers Talk as a Self-reflective Tool for Promoting Effective NOS Teaching

Teaching the Nature of Science (NOS) in elementary schools and in higher education institutions has become thefocus of the science education research community because there is a need to redefine teaching methods andpractices. Studies have shown that elementary teachers’ views and attitudes towards teaching the NOS are not alwayscompatible with the current acceptable theoretical framework identified by the research community. Researchers andscholars have proposed a variety of approaches in pre-service and in-service teacher training so that teachers changetheir beliefs, views and attitudes towards teaching the NOS. Amongst these there are two major trends, the implicitand explicit training approaches. Literature review has shown that the later is relatively more effective. Our proposalconcerns the use of an explicit strategy to enable teachers analyse their own discourses in cooperation withresearchers and reflect on their own views on aspects concerning teaching the NOS. The proposal is based on theassumption that the critical reflection on the ways people construct meanings may enable the exploration ofalternative ways to communicate actions during science lessons. An empirical example of this discourse analysisoriented in explicit approach is presented and a proposal of possible series of discourse analysis oriented in actionsfor promoting more effective NOS teaching is discussed.

On the ‘Fabric’ of our global science education research community: The art and science of writing for theJournal of Research in Science Teaching

On the ‘Fabric’ of our global science education research community: The art and science of writing for the<i>Journal of Research in Science Teaching</i>

Editor's Note: JAESE's Initial Aim, Scope And Business Model

It is my professional privilege and personal pleasure to welcome you to the first issue of the new Journal of Astronomy &amp; Earth Sciences Education. This journal is the direct result of the discipline-based science education research community coming together to explore new publishing options and business models to better connect theory, research, and practice of teaching and learning to improving Earth sciences science education at all levels, K-to-grey (kindergarten to senior citizens). Such action has taken tremendous courage by many parties to try something bold and new, as well as hold dear a commitment to honoring science education research traditions of the past. The initial direction and structure of JAESE has been guided by a highly-experienced editorial advisory and review board who have enthusiastically volunteered their time, expertise, and credibility to help this journal come to fruition.

Scientific and Cultural Knowledge in Intercultural Science Education: Student Perceptions of Common Ground

There is no consensus in the science education research community on the meanings and representations of western science and indigenous knowledge or the relationships between them. How students interpret these relationships and their perceptions of any connections has rarely been studied. This study reports student perceptions of the meaning and relationship between scientific and cultural knowledge. Personal meaning maps adapted for small groups were conducted in seven culturally diverse schools, school years 7–9 (with students aged 12–15 years) (n = 190), with six schools in Western Australia and one school in Malawi, Africa. Of the six Australian school groups, two comprised Australian Aboriginal students in an after-school homework programme and the other four schools had a multicultural mix of students. Students in this study identified connections between scientific and cultural knowledge and constructed connections from particular thematic areas—mainly factual content knowledge as opposed to ideas related to values, attitudes, beliefs and identity. Australian Aboriginal students made fewer connections between the two knowledge domains than Malawian students whose previous science teacher had made explicit connections in her science class. Examples from Aboriginal culture were the most dominant illustrations of cultural knowledge in Australian schools, even in school groups with students from other cultures. In light of our findings, we discuss the construction of common ground between scientific knowledge and cultural knowledge and the role of teachers as cultural brokers and travel agents. We conclude with recommendations on creating learning environments that embrace different cultural knowledges and that promote explicit and enquiring discussions of values, attitudes, beliefs and identity associated with both knowledge domains.

Revisiting the Nature of Science in science education: Towards a holistic account of science in science teaching and learning

Nature of Science (NOS) is an area of research in science education that has gained significant attention for several decades. It is a subject that has infiltrated curriculum policy documents, such as the new Next Generation Science Standards in the United States, being promoted in teaching and learning of science at the level of the classroom. Yet the precise definition of NOS is a contested territory. For example, the relationship between NOS and scientific inquiry is not agreed upon. In the last few years, the debate around what counts as NOS has been escalating. The presentation will outline some of the recent debates in the science education research community on NOS and argue that the contemporary accounts are limited in their depictions of science. In particular, it will be argued that the so-called consensus NOS accounts tend to be fragmented and not inclusive of science in its broader sense and context. I will illustrate how, for instance, the notion of “scientific practices” can be used to build up a holistic account of science such that students are equipped with a broad range of understandings and skills about NOS. Based on a theoretical interdisciplinary account, we have developed a model that can be applied in teacher education as well as science teaching and learning. The model infuses the relationships between the various epistemic, cognitive and social features of science: (a) epistemic components, such as scientific activities (such classification, experimentation and observation), data, model, explanation, prediction; (b) cognitive components, such as representations, and reasoning; and (c) social components, such as discourse and social certification of scientific claims. An empirical study funded by TUBITAK-Marie Curie Co-Funded Brain Circulation Fellowship will be described to exemplify how a holistic account of scientific practices was promoted in pre-service science teachers’ learning and what the impact was on teachers’ perceptions of NOS. Some recommendations and implications for science education will be discussed particularly in relation to about how science teacher education programmes can infuse more coherent and holistic accounts of NOS.

On the importance of affective dimensions of mathematics education

In one of his latest articles, Fortus (2014), points out that “when one considers the centrality of affect to teaching and learning and the broad range of topics that are related to affect, it is concerning that it has received relatively so little attention” (Fortus 2014, p. 821). In order to support his position, he provides an overview of the research on affect in science education that has been published in several journals (JRST, SciEd, and IJSE) between 2001 and 2011. The author also hypothesizes why affect has been under-attended to by the science education research community so far. And the conclusion he arrives at is that affect remains in the shadow of researchers’ attention partly due to the existing “international trend towards standardization of schooling and high-stakes testing” (p. 822). The main purpose of this article is to emphasize that affect does play an important role also in learning mathematics and for this reason it should be considered as one of the core dimensions of mathematics education.

Large‐scale interventions in science education: The road to utopia?

AbstractThis article provides commentary on the five articles in this issue on large‐scale interventions in science education for diverse student groups in varied educational settings. Using these articles as a point of departure, I discuss three challenges to science education research and practice. The first concerns the changed meaning of science education reform over the past two decades. The science education research and development community must be aware of the shifting policy and public awareness context of their work and react accordingly if it wishes for its work to make a difference in the lives of teachers and students. The second addresses the importance of teacher professional development and the role that well‐designed and internally valid research plays in developing knowledge in this area. The third discusses the chaotic and contradictory nature of educational policy in this country and argues that our field needs to align our research work with the ways in which real and impactful decisions are made about education in general and science education in particular. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 49: 420–427, 2012