As part of the "Learning, Media & Technology" series on "Key Thinkers and Theoretical Traditions", this paper explores the relevance of C. Wright Mills' much lauded book "The Sociological Imagination". The argument is made that we would do well to take heed of many of the central tenets of Mills' call to arms for…

This paper puts forward a theoretical framework for the analysis of expertise and experts in contemporary societies. It argues that while prevailing approaches have come to see expertise in various forms and functions, they tend to neglect the broader historical and societal context, and importantly the relational aspect of expertise. This will be…

Science as a Human Endeavour (SHE) is an innovative strand of the most recent Australian Curriculum: Science. The introduction of SHE is welcome and comes at a time when Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education is under increasing scrutiny both in Australia and across the world, with some commentators identifying a…

Nuclear energy produces low carbon, safe and reliable electricity so is it now time for the UK to invest in this proven technology or are the misplaced perceptions regarding its safety, cost and the quantities of radioactive waste produced causing us to overlook nuclear as a major component of our electricity mix? This paper discusses these issues…

Conceptual understanding and reasoning of nonscience major students enrolled in a course on biotechnology were evaluated before and after instruction. The instrument for analysis of student understanding was the Biotechnology Instrument for Knowledge Elicitation (BIKE). The BIKE targets 11 key concepts, as determined by experts in the field. A…

The aim of this article is to explore methodological issues related to scenarios on vocational education and training (VET). In particular, we examine the extent to which VET scenarios depend or build on generalizable future expectations ("myths of the future") or archetypes of the future. The analysis builds on a review of recent…

Science communication that fosters shared understanding, co-creation of meaning, and prompts large-scale change, is far from a one-way transmission of information. Rather, it is a multifaceted system that integrates different forms of knowledge and ways of knowing, attends to the complexity of social and environmental challenges, and conveys…

Social studies education in Turkey is a multidisciplinary field. One of these disciplines is religion. Social studies education can benefit from religion in terms of nurturing effective citizenship. The purpose of this study is to identify and compare the values intersecting the primary religious sources of Islam and the content of social studies…

For over 50 years, "Minerva" has been one of the leading independent journals in the study of "science, learning and policy". Its pages have much to say about the origins and conduct of the "intellectual Cold War", the defence of academic freedom, the emergence of modernization theory, and pioneering strategies in the…

Scientifically literate citizens must be able to engage in making decisions on science-based social issues. In this paper, I start by showing examples of science curricula and policy documents that capitalise the importance of engaging future citizens in decision-making processes whether at the personal or at the societal levels. I elucidate the…

In the context of curriculum change within English education, and beyond, this article explores the cultural historical roots of design and technology as an educational construct, distinct from design or engineering, which exist as career paths outside of the school curriculum. It is a position piece, drawing on literature from a wide range of…

In this article, we argue that engagement with authentic science is a means to mediate trust and motivation in those who are learning about climate change. To illustrate the argument, we provide a curricular example that focuses on authentic climate science data. We conclude with an example of how researchers from multiple disciplines can use…

Methods traditionally used to teach and train in STEM fields are being used to educate for careers in homeland security, Wall Street investments, and financial planning. An example of this trend is the increasing number of courses offered at institutions of higher education, such as financial engineering, computational finance, and risk analytics.…

Learners in higher education are self -driven to attain goals and objectives of what is required by the Universities for career prospects in the fields of Sciences and Technology. This paper analyses theories of experiential learning which will contribute to implementation of Ethical behaviors in science and technology towards citizenship…

The innovation process is founded on a high-quality education system at all levels, which trains scientists and technologists capable of generating innovations. Education is the most decisive factor in human development, yet in Mexico current statistics reveal a critical situation at every educational level, as only 1 out of every 10 children…