A number of diverse arguments have been proposed by researchers of science education regarding the reason science should be taught in schools. These arguments inevitably play a crucial role in the curriculum designed by policymakers. The present study turns its attention to the democratic argument. It explores its validity through a special…

This research was conducted to examine the effects of the socioscientific issue with the thinking wheel map (SI-TWM) approach on the curiosity towards STEM, the construct of Exploration and Acceptance. A teaching and learning (TL) module was developed to guide teachers in implementing the SI-TWM approach to enhance curiosity among year five…

Wi-Fi radiation is a type of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) that refers to the transfer of energy by radio waves. Nowadays, exposure to RF radiation is widespread including wireless internet connection (Wi-Fi) routers and cell phones. The proliferation of devices emitting RF radiation has entailed some public and…

This Dissertation in Practice explored the impact of deploying a Socioscientific Issues (SSI) teaching methodology in undergraduate general science education. It was motivated by my desire to accrue positive increases in educational outcomes, and to assess its efficacy in developing critical Socioscientific Reasoning (SSR) skills, for my students,…

This mixed-methods study explored changes in preservice teachers' (PSTs) understanding of the nature of science (NOS) and their values as global citizens after a place-based intervention augmented with role-play activities concerning climate change. The study further probed how these values manifested during role-play improvisations, where…

We reflect on the use of photovoice methods in a hybrid classroom environment for an interdisciplinary course titled Climate and Society at the University of Miami. The activities, based on our team's hyperlocal method of community-based climate adaptation engagement, create opportunities to engage with the complexities of climate science and…

Background: Many different concepts have been invoked in the literature to describe coordination between scientific and policy practices. However, a framework to understand different types of this boundary management is lacking, which allows 'linear' models and 'gap' metaphors to persist. Objectives: To operationalise the multidimensional…

The purpose of this study is to develop a lesson plan that will facilitate the instruction of socioscientific issues and the acquisition of twenty-first century skills. To this end, a lesson plan comprising four hours of instruction was devised and presented in comprehensive detail. Three distinct activities were devised and executed as part of…

The climate crisis is a growing concern for many people, especially those who are of college age, making it an important and pressing issue to explore in honors courses. Eco-Art: Using Art to Reconcile with the Climate Crisis, a University of New Mexico (UNM) Honors College course, integrates the disciplines of art and environmental justice to…

Researchers in science education lacks valid and reliable instruments to assess students' "disciplinary" and "epistemic" reading of scientific texts. The main purpose of this study was to develop and validate a Reading in Science Holistic Assessment (RISHA) to assess students' holistic reading of scientific texts. RISHA…

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature and are central to human, animal, environmental, and planetary health. They play a particularly important role in the food chain and the production of high-quality, safe, and health-promoting foods, especially fermented foods. This important role is not always apparent to members of the public. Here, we…

Purpose: Teacher roles and classroom discourses have great influence on classroom discussions within the context of socio-scientific issues. Investigation of teacher roles and classroom discourses is of great importance in the construction of the classroom environment in which students can support their views and the reasons underlying their views…

This design case details the design process of a multiple-choice assessment of socio-scientific systems thinking. This assessment is situated within a larger project that aims to understand the ways students use multiple scientific models to understand complex socio-scientific issues. In addition to the research component, this project entails…

Citizen science, community science, and related participatory approaches to scientific research and monitoring are increasingly used by environmental educators and conservation practitioners to achieve environmental education (EE) goals. However, evidence of EE learning outcomes from these approaches are typically reported on a case-by-case basis,…

The main purpose of this study is to examine the epistemological beliefs and informal reasoning of science and social studies teachers about COVID-19, which is a controversial socioscientific issue. Qualitative research, specifically phenomenological design, was used in the study. During the data collection process, teachers' epistemological…