Presentation Title
The Double-Edged Sword, Preparing Preservice Science Teachers to Teach Students About the Nature of Science
Proposal Format
45-minute Presentation
Track Choices
Contemporary Issues in Teaching and Learning
Abstract
The current, highly polarized, political and social environment in the United States presents challenges for science teachers beyond the content. The challenges include the conflation of scientific claims and social ideologies, general distrust of scientific experts, conspiracy theories proclaiming scientists and established scientific, medical and technological companies are silencing divergent perspectives, and a constant bombardment of news segments erroneously presenting "debates" on established scientific facts. This presentation focuses on a tripartite approach for training preservice science teachers about the nature of science. The curriculum engages the preservice teachers in reflecting on the relationship of science and society, analyzing scientific and pseudoscientific claims, and identifying parallels between their personal values and the values of science. This instructional approach provides the preservice teachers with content knowledge on the nature of science. Additionally, it provides the preservice teachers with an effective framework for teaching their future students about the nature of science.
Keywords
science, pseudoscience, scientific literacy
Speaker Bio
Austin Manning Hitt II, Ph.D. is a Professor of Science Education in the Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences. He teaches science methods for preservice elementary, middle level and secondary candidates and general education courses at the secondary level. Dr. Hitt's scholarship focuses on approaches for visualizing abstract science concepts and the nature of science.
The Double-Edged Sword, Preparing Preservice Science Teachers to Teach Students About the Nature of Science
Penny Hall, 301
The current, highly polarized, political and social environment in the United States presents challenges for science teachers beyond the content. The challenges include the conflation of scientific claims and social ideologies, general distrust of scientific experts, conspiracy theories proclaiming scientists and established scientific, medical and technological companies are silencing divergent perspectives, and a constant bombardment of news segments erroneously presenting "debates" on established scientific facts. This presentation focuses on a tripartite approach for training preservice science teachers about the nature of science. The curriculum engages the preservice teachers in reflecting on the relationship of science and society, analyzing scientific and pseudoscientific claims, and identifying parallels between their personal values and the values of science. This instructional approach provides the preservice teachers with content knowledge on the nature of science. Additionally, it provides the preservice teachers with an effective framework for teaching their future students about the nature of science.