Scientific Literacy: The way to build character ANNA PERMANASARI Email: anna.permanasari@upi.edu

This is about Lidya: a 10th Grader

Why don’t you go to school with your own car? Please mom, I can go to school by school bus. Don’t worry. I will be fine. I have so many friends in the bus…. Why don’t you go to school with your own car?

One step towards good character…………….. if other friend can comfortably ride public transportation, why am I not? can you imagine, if every student go to school by private car, how bad is our environment because of pollution?

Why Lydia think like that? Learning process in the Classroom/at school Good support from the environment The very wise parents

This is another story Once upon the time…………….. Whose for are those sir? So many drink: cola, mineral water, soda, tea boxes, coffee extract boxes……. Hemmmnn…… Ladies and gentlemen, look what I am bringing for you…….. Think for a moment, and then choose which one do you want to drink?

After thinking…… Some student choose mineral water only, some other picked tea boxes, soft drinks, and others. But surprisingly, none of the students chose bright red syrup……………

Please pay attention to the reasons…….. Any: I choose mineral water, because from my reading…. The mineral water only contain water and mineral, no additive in it, and it will make me health… Boby: I choose tea boxes, because I feel thirsty, and I think it contain only sugar and tea, that will make me become energized…. Sorry, I didn’t have breakfast this morning…. Cindy: I choose cola; Usually, my mom do not allow me to drink…. Mom said that it was not good for my health. Doddy: I choose soda drink, because it make me fresh… the weather is hot now….. I always drink it when I am at home…

Red bright syrup……………… Most of students said: Impossible ……our previous teacher forbid us to drink something like the syrup, because it contain chemicals…. !

What is scientific literacy? individual scientific knowledge and skills to use the knowledge to identify problems, to gain new knowledge, to describe scientific phenomena, and to make conclusions based on evidence related to the issues on science, Understand the main characteristic of knowledge that is built based on human knowledge and inquiry, Sensitive to how science and technology are reshaping the material, intellectual and cultural environment and The willingness to engage with the issues and ideas that relate to science (OECD, 2013).

Scientific Literacy is a modalities for 21st Century skills Academic skills Life skills IT Skills Humanity

Learning Skills Core Subject Technol Thinking skills Problem solving Communication Skills Core Subject Reading Math Science Technol Engineering Technology IT/Computer

Is it possible to build a student’s character trough learning science? Quite possible, if students learn science with literacy base…………

Character Habits to do Habits on Mind Science Knowledge   Habits to do Character Science Knowledge Process skills/ Critical thinking Scientific Attitudes

What should the teacher do? Use science topics of interest in contexts: Global warming, how can it be? Are we having healthy food? How can we anticipate an earthquake? Food additives, is it save? Etc. Engage students in reading research: ask student to search the resources, such as articles, journals, science books, social issues related science contexts, etc. Train student to read like scientists: ask student to make an abstract, data table, graph, to elaborate they reading. Make students familiar in evaluating data: if they find the relevant articles from some resources, train the student to evaluate all of data they found.

How to Assess Scientific literacy As it is done in learning process, scientific literacy has to be assessed based on the indicators for scientific literacy itself. The assessment should include: Content knowledge: factual and procedural concepts Process skills: explain scientific phenomena, use scientific issues, using scientific evidence Scientific Attitude and values: humble, responsible, respect to others, recognize the duty to preserve the environment, etc.

Conclusion Learning science with the right ways to build the scientific literacy of student Scientific literacy is individual scientific knowledge and skills to use the knowledge to identify problems, to gain new knowledge, to describe scientific phenomena, and to make conclusions based on evidence related to the issues on science, with accompanied with the attitude towards science. The aspects of Scientific literacy are content knowledge, competencies (process skills), and attitude towards science, that can be learned to student with the use of relevant context. Scientific literacy will lead to habits on mind, habit to do, and finally can build character of student

Time for Discussion….. please.!!!