Exploring the Scientific Literacy: Its Use in Curriculum of Science Education

Document Type : Review Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student of Curriculum Planning, Allameh Tabatabai University

2 Faculty Member, Curriculum Planning Department, Allameh Tabatabai University

Abstract

Education and learning scientific literacy in students have become the universal
goal of science education. This study aims to explore the concept of scientific literacy
curriculum to use in science education. The method of this research is qualitative
and is conducted based on analytic-deductive approach. In this article, at first the
concept of scientific literacy will be recognized from different perspectives then its
meanings will briefly be studied and expressed. The preliminary discussion makes
it clear that the concept of scientific literacy is one of the goals of science education
of the educational systems in the world, and obtaining a full understanding
of its meaning is not an easy task. The exact and functional definition of scientific
literacy, considering its educational approach, pays attention to the nature of science
topics in every society and it is necessary to consider the structure, politics and
dominant philosophy of community. In the following, through clarifying the concept
of scientific literacy, we state its dimensions and levels from the perspective of
experts and organizations active in this field. The levels of scientific literacy show
that the nature of scientific literacy is a relative concept, not an absolute concept.
And students could be rated from level of scientific illiteracy up to highest level
of scientific literacy. This topic presents a conceptual framework for curriculum
specialists in the science education curriculum design by providing the levels and
dimensions of scientific literacy. In the last part of this article and as a conclusion,
in addition to emphasizing the positions expressed on the concept of scientific literacy

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Popularization of Science
Volume 6, Issue 2 - Serial Number 9
February 2016
Pages 15-39

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