Contemporary Issues in Science

What constitutes informal settings? Family interactions Peer interactions The media -written texts, broadcast media and the internet Public institutions (science museums etc) Government and community organisations that provide science information ??

Process for engaging with science in informal contexts Rennie, L., 2007

Science as story Once ideas are presented selectively in science we are no longer telling the facts. We are instead telling a story (Milne, 1998)

Science in the media

Herald/Sun - Sunday 9/9/07 Arctic vanishing faster than projections Article from: Sunday Herald Sun September 09, 2007 TWO-THIRDS of the world's polar bear population may be gone by mid-century if predictions of melting sea ice hold true. The US Geological Survey reported yesterday that the fate of polar bears could be even bleaker than estimated because sea ice in the Arctic might be vanishing faster than the available computer models predicted. "There is a definite link between changes in the sea ice and the welfare of polar bears," Steve Amstrup, who led the research team, said. Arctic sea ice is at an all-time low this year and is expected to retreat farther this month. Researchers said the bears - 16,000 of them - would disappear by 2050 from parts of the Arctic where ice was melting most, along the coasts of Alaska and Russia. - REUTERS

What the writer needs to consider? Potential impact Is it news? Topicality What should be reported? (ethics?) What should be left out? Entertainment value The language used emotive, marginalise groups, define an issue, trivialise an event, etc..... and so on.

What do you notice about the science in media stories? Its messy and not confined to particular topics The science is simplified In the everyday world of the citizen, science itself emerges not as coherent, objective and unproblematic knowledge, but as uncertain, contentious and often unable to answer many important questions with the required degree of confidence” Jenkins, 1999, p704 (IJSE, 21)

Scientific Literacy- A school’s journey Rethinking science planning, teaching and learning.

“Oh, but we don’t have science for another two terms…”

Starting the Journey Change of Leadership Professional Learning- STAL / ‘Bringing Science to Life’/ Nucleus School Rethinking Curriculum & Planning As a result of these experiences the staff began to view their science teaching differently.

Topics for the Year Term 1: Relationships Term 2: Ecological sustainability Term 3: Technology Term 4: Safety

Planning for Scientific Literacy Big Ideas Taking Ownership - Models of Inquiry Sequential Learning Simple Ideas – Depth of Learning Ideas about science Student Input*Links to Community *Action

Pedagogy Clarifying purpose Responding to student learning needs & interests Promoting rich questions (questioning skills) Accessing & utilizing effectively a variety of contemporary resources & experts Promoting thinking, curiosity and imagination Challenging personal beliefs about teaching science Student engagement- meaningful contexts for learning Recognising possibilities for taking action