DefiningDefining Scientific Scientific

LiteracyLiteracy

National ScienceNational ScienceEducation StandardsEducation Standards

Scientific literacy requires Scientific literacy requires “knowledge and understand-“knowledge and understand-ing of scientific concepts and ing of scientific concepts and processes ... for personal processes ... for personal decision making, participating decision making, participating in civic and cultural affairs, in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity.”and economic productivity.”

Project 2061: Science Project 2061: Science for all Americansfor all Americans

“ “The scientifically literate The scientifically literate person is one who is aware person is one who is aware that science, mathematics, and that science, mathematics, and technology are interdependent technology are interdependent human enterprises with human enterprises with strengths and limitations;strengths and limitations;

understands the key concepts understands the key concepts and principles of science; is and principles of science; is familiar with the natural familiar with the natural world and recognizes both its world and recognizes both its diversity and unity; and uses diversity and unity; and uses scientific knowledge and scientific knowledge and scientific ways of thinking for scientific ways of thinking for individual and social individual and social purposes.”purposes.”

Illinois Learning Illinois Learning StandardsStandards

“ “Science is the quest for Science is the quest for objective truth. It provides a objective truth. It provides a conceptual framework for the conceptual framework for the understanding of natural understanding of natural phenomena and their causes phenomena and their causes and effects.and effects.

Among the purposes of the Among the purposes of the study of science is the study of science is the development of students who development of students who are scientifically knowledgeable, are scientifically knowledgeable, understand that modern understand that modern technological growth is an technological growth is an outcome of the scientific outcome of the scientific enterprise;enterprise;

knows the difference between knows the difference between objective fact and subjective objective fact and subjective values, and can apply values, and can apply scientific thinking and scientific thinking and information in problem information in problem solving and decision making.”solving and decision making.”

Scientifically Literate?Scientifically Literate?

Are we scientifically literate?Are we scientifically literate? How many Americans can do How many Americans can do

what the definitions suggest?what the definitions suggest? Only 6.9% of Americans are Only 6.9% of Americans are

scientifically literate at the scientifically literate at the lowest level – term recognitionlowest level – term recognition

Per Jon Miller at NIU

US Citizens Not SLUS Citizens Not SL

During March 2010, reporter During March 2010, reporter John Stossel recruited people John Stossel recruited people in Times Square (NYC) to sign in Times Square (NYC) to sign a petition banning dihydrogen a petition banning dihydrogen monoxide. monoxide. See petition..

80% of those solicited signed 80% of those solicited signed the petition to ban – water. the petition to ban – water.

The Outlook:The Outlook: In the US 50 - 60 year olds In the US 50 - 60 year olds

are the most SL:are the most SL:– those 70 - 80 have low rate.those 70 - 80 have low rate.

– those 20 - 30 have low rate.those 20 - 30 have low rate.

In foreign countries, SL In foreign countries, SL decreasesdecreases with age. with age.

Implications are profound.Implications are profound.

Scientific LiteracyScientific Literacy not easy to definenot easy to define–Dewey all the way down to...Dewey all the way down to...

– current reform movementscurrent reform movements

several typesseveral types– cultural or nominal (recognition of terms)cultural or nominal (recognition of terms)

– functional (use of scientific/technical terms)functional (use of scientific/technical terms)

– conceptual/procedural (concepts/processes)conceptual/procedural (concepts/processes)

– multidimensional (nature of science, social context, multidimensional (nature of science, social context, differentiates science from other ways of knowing)differentiates science from other ways of knowing)

Common ElementsCommon Elements content knowledgecontent knowledge– factsfacts

– vocabularyvocabulary

– conceptsconcepts

skillsskills– manipulativemanipulative

– intellectualintellectual

dispositionsdispositions– attitudesattitudes

– behaviorsbehaviors

What What isis worth knowing? worth knowing?

personal needspersonal needs societal needssocietal needs global needs global needs

How How shouldshould one think? one think? logically logically independentlyindependently objectivelyobjectively skepticallyskeptically criticallycritically rationallyrationally

Benefits of SL:Benefits of SL:

develop effective solutions to develop effective solutions to problemsproblems

foster intelligent respect for foster intelligent respect for naturenature

avoid being prey to dogmatistsavoid being prey to dogmatists assess use of new technologiesassess use of new technologies

The Problems:The Problems:

Science teachers not oriented Science teachers not oriented toward achieving SL emphasize:toward achieving SL emphasize:

answers over questionsanswers over questions memory over thoughtmemory over thought recitation over argumentrecitation over argument reading over doingreading over doing

Teaching Problems:Teaching Problems: little metacognition going onlittle metacognition going on teaching versus learningteaching versus learning training versus educatingtraining versus educating failure to determine essential contentfailure to determine essential content teaching topically, not thematicallyteaching topically, not thematically focusing on low-order skillsfocusing on low-order skills poor assessment skills/programspoor assessment skills/programs emphasizing breadth over depthemphasizing breadth over depth

Other Problems:Other Problems:

Science & math voluntaryScience & math voluntary most pupils take biology in HSmost pupils take biology in HS 45% take chemistry in HS45% take chemistry in HS 23% take physics in HS23% take physics in HS 10% take no algebra10% take no algebra 6% take calculus6% take calculus

More Problems:More Problems:

Minorities, girls, and non-Minorities, girls, and non-college-bound students are college-bound students are under-represented in math/sciunder-represented in math/sci

Personal relativism has Personal relativism has become a societal problembecome a societal problem

We are all We are all responsible for...responsible for...

the current state of affairsthe current state of affairs breadth over depthbreadth over depth seatwork over activityseatwork over activity memorization over critical thinkingmemorization over critical thinking recitation over well-reasoned recitation over well-reasoned

argumentargument

making necessary changes.making necessary changes.