From 'Science in the Making' to Understanding the Nature of Science

An Overview for Science Educators
1. Auflage 2011
ISBN: 978-0-415-80758-6
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 264 Seiten, Format (B × H): 157 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 540 g

The Nature of Science is highly topical among science teacher educators and researchers. Increasingly, it is a mandated topic in state curriculum documents. This book draws together recent research on Nature of Science studies within a historical and philosophical framework suitable for students and teacher educators. Traditional science curricula and textbooks present science as a finished product. Taking a different approach, this book provides a glimpse of “science in the making” — scientific practice imbued with arguments, controversies, and competition among rival theories and explanations. Teaching about “science in the making” is a rich source of motivating students to engage creatively with the science curriculum.
Readers are introduced to “science in the making” through discussion and analysis of a wide range of historical episodes from the early 19th century to early 21st century. Recent cutting-edge research is presented to provide insight into the dynamics of scientific progress. More than 90 studies from major science education journals, related to nature of science are reviewed. A theoretical framework, field tested with in-service science teachers, is developed for moving from ‘science in the making’ to understanding the Nature of Science.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Niaz, Mansoor

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Pädagogik Lehrerausbildung, Unterricht & Didaktik Allgemeine Didaktik Naturwissenschaften, Mathematik (Unterricht & Didaktik)

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

- Introduction

- Science in the Making and Heuristic Principles in a Historical Context

- Students and Teachers’ Understanding of Nature of Science

- How to Introduce Nature of science in the Classroom?

- Role of Heuristic Principles in Understanding Nature of Science

- How Views of Leon Cooper (Nobel Laureate) can Influence In-service Teachers’ Understanding of Nature of Science?

- Martin Perl’s (Nobel Laureate) Perspective on Nature of Science and Teaching Science

- Conclusion: From Science in the Making to Understanding Nature of Science

Notes

References

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Mansoor Niaz is Professor in the Chemistry Department at Universidad de Oriente, Cumaná, Venezuela.