The selection of content to teach nature of science and technology (part 1): A review of the contributions of science education research

• Published in: Revista Eureka sobre enseñanza y divulgación de las ciencias Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 2 - 31
• Main Authors: Vázquez–Alonso, Ángel, Manassero–Mas, María Antonia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Universidad de Cádiz 01.01.2012
• Subjects: consensus ideas; curriculum content selection; enseñanza de naturaleza de la ciencia; ideas de consenso; naturaleza de la ciencia (y tecnología); nature of science (and technology); preconcepciones alternativas; science preconceptions; selección de contenidos curriculares; teaching nature of science
• ISSN: 1697-011X; 1697-011X
• DOI: 10.25267/Rev_Eureka_ensen_divulg_cienc.2012.v9.i1.02

This paper reviews the contents for teaching the so called "nature of science” (and technology) from the various inputs of science education research on these issues. The vision presented here is related to and dependent on many modern concepts such as the status of deep interaction between science and technology in the current scientific activity (techno-science), which translates into a vision of science education which integrates technology; the scientific and technological literacy for all motto, as a general guide to train the students’ scientific competence; and the nature of science (and technology) as an innovative component of literacy for all. The review presents the various proposals of basic content for teaching nature of science (and technology) that are usually handled in the literature, in order to illuminate the choice of curriculum contents and better contextualize the Spanish science curriculum proposals (which will be addressed in a forthcoming paper). The goal is to help teachers to clarify the contents to be taught and make sense of the new content in Spanish science curricula on these complex issues.