Socio-scientific Issues in the Classroom: Teaching, Learning and Research

by Troy D. Sadler (Editor)

Overview

Socio-scientific issues (SSI) are open-ended, multifaceted social issues with conceptual links to science. They are challenging to negotiate and resolve, and they create ideal contexts for bridging school science and the lived experience of students. This book presents the latest findings from the innovative practice and systematic investigation of science education in the context of socio-scientific issues. Socio-scientific Issues in the Classroom: Teaching, Learning and Research focuses on how SSI can be productively incorporated into science classrooms and what SSI-based education can accomplish regarding student learning, practices and interest. It covers numerous topics that address key themes for contemporary science education including scientific literacy, goals for science teaching and learning, situated learning as a theoretical perspective for science education, and science for citizenship. It presents a wide range of classroom-based research projects that offer new insightsfor SSI-based education. Authored by leading researchers from eight countries across four continents, this book is an important compendium of syntheses and insights for veteran researchers, teachers and curriculum designers eager to advance the SSI agenda.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789400711587
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	05/19/2011
Series:	Contemporary Trends and Issues in Science Education , #39
Edition description:	2011
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

Foreward, Glen S. Aikenhead.- Chapter 1. Situating Socio-scientific Issues in Classrooms as a Means of Achieving the Goals of Science Education, Troy D. Sadler.- Chapter 2. Enhancing the Authenticity of a Web-based Module for Teaching Simple Inheritance, Tali Tal, Yael Kali, Stella Magid & Jacquie Madhok.- Chapter 2. Metalogue, Using Issues and Participatory Experiences to Enhance Student Learning and Interest, Siu Ling Wong, Tali Tal & Troy D. Sadler.- Chapter 3. Learning Science Content and Socio-scientific Reasoning through Classroom Explorations of Global Climate Change, Troy D. Sadler, Michelle L. Klosterman & Mustafa S. Topcu.- Chapter 3. Metalogue, Issues in the Conceptualization of Research Constructs and Design for SSI related Work, Troy D. Sadler, Vaille Dawson, Michelle L. Klosterman, Jennifer Eastwood & Dana L. Zeidler .- Chapter 4. Effects of an Interdisciplinary Program on Students’ Reasoning with Socioscientific Issues and Perceptions of their Learning Experiences, Jennifer L. Eastwood, Whitney M. Schlegel & Kristin L. Cook.- Chapter 4. Metalogue, SSI in Undergraduate Science Education, Jennifer L. Eastwood, Troy D. Sadler & María Pilar Jiménez-Aleixandre.- Chapter 5. Discussing a Socioscientific Issue in a Primary School Classroom: The Case of Using a Technology Supported Environment in Formal and Non-formal Settings, Maria Evagorou.- Chapter 5. Metalogue, Assessment, Audience and Authenticity for Teaching SSI and Argumentation, Maria Evagorou, Troy D. Sadler & Tali Tal.- Chapter 6. Decision-making and Use of Evidence in a Socio-scientific Problem on Air Quality, Shirley Simon & Ruth Amos.- Chapter 6. Metalogue, Engaging Students in Scientific and Socio-scientific Argumentation, Victor Sampson, Shirley Simon, Ruth Amos & Maria Evagorou.- Chapter 7. Different Music to the Same Score: Teaching about Genes, Environment and Human Performances, Blanca Puig & María Pilar Jiménez-Aleixandre.- Chapter 7. Metalogue, Design and Enactment of SSI curriculum: Critical theory, Difficult Content and Didactic Transposition, Timothy Barko, Shirley Simon, María Pilar Jiménez-Aleixandre & Troy D. Sadler.- Chapter 8. Learning Nature of Science through Socioscientific Issues, Siu Ling Wong, Zhihong Wan & Maurice Man Wai Cheng.- Chapter 8. Metalogue, Preconditions and Resources for Productive SSI Teaching and Learning, Siu Ling Wong, Dana L. Zeidler & Michelle L. Klosterman.- Chapter 9. Enacting A Socioscientific Issues Classroom: Transformative Transformations, Dana L. Zeidler, Scott M. Applebaum & Troy D. Sadler.- Chapter 9. Metalogue, Balancing Tensions Associated with Extensive Enactment of SSI Based Teaching, Dana L. Zeidler, Randy L. Bell, Troy D. Sadler & Jennifer Eastwood.- Chapter 10. A Case Study of the Impact of Introducing Socio-scientific Issues into a Reproduction Unit in a Catholic Girls’ School, Vaille M Dawson.- Chapter 10. Metalogue, Critical Issues for Teaching with Socio-scientific Issues, Jennie S. Brotman, Vaille Dawson & FeliciaMoore Mensah.- Chapter 11. Socio-scientific Issues Based Education: What We Know about Science Education in the Context of SSI, Troy D. Sadler.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

“Sadler’s volume is clearly primarily an ‘academic’ book: it is theoretical, and scholarly. … valuable to teachers who are interested in developing teaching approaches and material for teaching socio-scientific issues. … Researchers and graduate students will certainly find much of interest here … . The book certainly makes a substantial contribution in seeking to develop our understanding of the challenges and affordances of this focus of science teaching.” (Keith S. Taber, Teacher Development, February, 2014)

“The present book is a collection of chapters, written by different authors, coordinated by T.D. Sadler. … This book is a must for researchers in education who are interested in teaching SSIs, but it should also be read by those studying the teaching of stabilized knowledge in science. The issues raised are significantly rich. The form chosen is original and stimulating. I strongly recommend it.” (Laurence Simonneaux, Science & Education, May, 2012)

From the Publisher