Academic STS Chemistry

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Academic STS Chemistry

• Dr. Frank Jenkins
• Centre for Mathematics Science and Technology
  Education at the U of Alberta

http//www.nelson.com
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Academic STS Science

• Frank Jenkins
• University of Alberta
• Edmonton AB

http//www.ualberta.com
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Agenda--STS Curr. Emphases

• STS Science Education
• Nature of science emphasis
• Technology emphasis
• STS-issues emphasis
• Communication emphasis

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Agenda

• STS Monograph definitions
• Craftsman document
• STS issues emphasis
• Nature of science emphasis
• Technology emphasis

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Advantages of STS Concept
K S A
Science
Technology
Society
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Types of STS Programs

• SISCON (UK)--liberal arts science
• SaTiS--STS modules
• LoRST--integrating science into context
• ChemCom--start with STS issue

• ALCHEM (70s)--technology contexts
• STSC Chem (80s)--society contexts
• Nelson Chemistry (90s)--epist. contexts

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A Science Curriculum Emphasis

• Scientific knowledge
• Scientific process skills
• Scientific attitudes (predispositions to act)
• Scientific problem solving
• Nature of science

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Nature of Science Umbrella
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Scientific Problem Solving (labs)

• Illustrative (Piagetconcrete model)
• Exploratory (a learning cycle)
• Inductive (Francis Baconcreate)
• Hypothetico-Deductive (Karl Poppertest)
• Deductive (Aristotleuse)
• Sociological (Thomas Kuhnacceptance by the
  scientific community)

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Problem Solving Processes

• Purpose
• Problem
• Prediction
• Exp. Design
• Materials
• Procedure

• Evidence
• Analysis
• Evaluation
• Synthesis

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Scientific Attitudes (Nay and Kozlow)

• Critical-mindedness
• Suspended judgment
• Respect for evidence
• Honesty
• Objectivity
• Willingness to change
• Open-mindedness
• Questioning attitudes

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A Technology Emphasis

• Technological knowledge
• Technological skills
• Technological problem solving/design
• Technological attitudes
• Technology in science
• Technology in society
• Nature of technology

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Technological Knowledge/Skills

• Tech Knowledge
• Products baking soda
• Processes Solvay process

• Tech Skills
• Operational lab burner multimeter computer
• Processes titration filtration crystallization

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Tech Problem Solving/Attitudes

• Technological Problem Solving
• Understanding the problem
• Developing the plan
• Carrying out the plan
• Evaluating

• Tech Attitudes
• Perseverance
• Confidence
• Critical mindedness
• Creative disposition
• Apprec. alternative perspectives

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Technology in Science Society
Tech Sci

• Tech in Science
• Parallel symbiotic paths
• Technology leads science
• Technology enables science
• Science is applied to describe/explain technology

• Tech in Society
• Affects health
• Affects material lives (lifestyle)
• Affects intellectual lives (publishing)
• Tech fixes
• Efficiency cult

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Nature of Technology

• Evaluation Criteria
• economical
• efficient
• reliable
• simple
• It works!

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Societal Curriculum Emphasis

• Societal knowledge
• Societal skills
• Societal attitudes
• Societal decision making
• Society and science
• Society and technology
• Nature of society

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Societal Attitudes (predispositions to act)

• Tolerance
• Commitment to understanding
• Respect for alternative views
• Confidence in thoughtful decision making

• Vigilance in persuing thoughtful decisions
• Appreciation and respect for thoughtful decisions
• Commitment to understanding the roles and
  limitations of science and technology

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Vigilance and Commitment

• An effective decision maker is one who shows
  vigilance in searching for information, carefully
  evaluating the validity and reliability of that
  information, and generally feeling committed to
  achieving a thoughtful decision. Glen Aikenhead,
  1985

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Perspectives on an STS Issue

• Scientific
• Technological
• Ecological
• Economic
• Political

• Legal
• Ethical
• Social
• Militaristic
• Aesthetic
• Mystical
• Emotional

• STEEPLES
• MAME

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Decision Making Processes

• Identify and focus on the issue
• Formulate research questions
• Gather and organize evidence
• Analyze and evaluate evidence

• Resolve the issue
• Apply the decision
• Evaluate the decision, the process and the action

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Levels of Use for Perspectives

• Classify given perspective-statements
• Find /- perspective statements and tally the
  number of each perspective
• Place personal value on statements
• Make personal decision and state the criteria
  used to make the decision
• Act on the decision

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Levels of STS Skill Development

• Awareness
• one has to become aware of the issue at hand
• Understanding
• one has to gain an understanding of the issue
• knowledge associated with the issue is gained
• Action
• awareness and understanding without action are
  incomplete action requires commitment

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Instructional Strategies

• library research (read and analyze)
• classroom discussions
• classroom debates
• townhouse role playing
• public interventions
• public hearings
• case studies

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CTS Module Components

• Description of the technological product or
  process
• Scientific description and explanation of the
  technological product/process
• STS issue concerning a technology
• Careers concerning the technology

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STS-CTS Assignment

• Choose a technology and define the KSAs to be
  studied
• Word a resolution to debate and decide on where
  the perspective statements are to come from
• Find some career information (e.g., videos and
  the internet)
• Decide on the student assessment

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Advantage of STS Concept
K S A
Science
Technology
Society
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Science in Society Problems-1

• Differentiating science and technology Fleming
  1987
• Funding for scientific research Polanyi 1988
• 50 of scientists employed by military Suzuki
  1989
• Infighting for research money Savan 1988

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Science in Society Problems-2

• Breaches in scientific ethics Savan 1988
• Courts misunderstanding of certainty Aikenhead
  1985
• Public and private versions of science Holten
  1978, Polanyi 1958
• Affect of powerful vested interests Ravetz 1971
• Affect of cultural values Gaskell 1982

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Acknowledgements

• Science Council of Canada Study of Science
  Education in Canada
• Glen Aikenhead at U of Saskatchewan
• Doug Roberts at U of Calgary
• The Author Group (Nelson Chemistry)
• Alberta Education (STS monograph)