International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 2834-7919   |  e-ISSN: 1554-5210

Original article | International Journal of Progressive Education 2020, Vol. 16(1) 237-256

Science Teachers’ Views of Socio Scientific Issues

Hava İpek Akbulut & Olgun Demir

pp. 237 - 256   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijpe.2020.228.17   |  Manu. Number: MANU-1912-15-0002

Published online: February 09, 2020  |   Number of Views: 285  |  Number of Download: 1053


Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the awareness of science teachers about socio-scientific issues, the methods and techniques used in the teaching of socio-scientific issues, and the suggestions about effective teaching of socio-scientific issues. The sample of the study consisted of 75 science teachers (50 women, 25 men) who serve in various regions of Turkey. All participants answered the questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions. Afterward, interviews were conducted with 10 selected teachers. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. By the content analysis, it is aimed to reach the relations and concepts that can explain the collected data (Yıldırım and Şimşek, 2013). When the findings of the open-ended questionnaire were examined, it was determined that teachers did not associate the definition and content of the concept of the socio-scientific issue with science and they have a low level of awareness about the content. In addition, it was observed that the teachers mostly use the discussion method in the presentation of socio-scientific issues. Teachers also stated that the number of the outcomes included in the curriculum and number and diversity of socio-scientific issues in the textbooks are insufficient and they should be increased. 

Keywords: Socio-scientific issue, science teacher, science education


How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Akbulut, H.I. & Demir, O. (2020). Science Teachers’ Views of Socio Scientific Issues . International Journal of Progressive Education, 16(1), 237-256. doi: 10.29329/ijpe.2020.228.17

Harvard
Akbulut, H. and Demir, O. (2020). Science Teachers’ Views of Socio Scientific Issues . International Journal of Progressive Education, 16(1), pp. 237-256.

Chicago 16th edition
Akbulut, Hava Ipek and Olgun Demir (2020). "Science Teachers’ Views of Socio Scientific Issues ". International Journal of Progressive Education 16 (1):237-256. doi:10.29329/ijpe.2020.228.17.

References
  1. Akşit, İ. (2011). İlköğretimde görev yapan sosyal bilgiler öğretmenlerinin sosyal bilgiler öğretiminde karşılaştıkları sorunlar (Denizli- Erzurum örneği). Yayınlanmamış Yüksek lisans tezi, Pamukkale Üniversitesi, Denizli.  [Google Scholar]
  2. Albe, V., (2008). Students’ positions and considerations of scientific evidence about a controversial socioscientific ıssue. Science and Education, 17, 805-827. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-007-9086-6.  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  3. Baxter, P., & Jack, S. (2008). Qualitative case study methodology: study design and ımplementation for novice researchers. The Qualitative Report, 13(4), 544-559. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1573&context=tqr   [Google Scholar]
  4. Christensen, C.K., (2007). Waiting for Certainty: Young People, Mobile Phones And Uncertain Science. Published Phd Thesis, Centre For Learning Innovation, Queensland University Of Technology. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/16588/ [Google Scholar]
  5. Clarkeburn, H., Downie, J.R. & Matthew, B. (2002). Impact of an ethics programme in a life sciences curriculum. Teaching in Higher Education, 7(1), 65-79. http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/default.html.  [Google Scholar]
  6. Cross R. T. & Price R. F.(1996). Science teachers‟ social conscience and the role of controversial ıssues in the teaching of science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 33(3), 319-333. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-2736(199603)33:3%3C319::AID-TEA5%3E3.0.CO;2-W  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  7. Çavuş, R. (2013). Farklı Epistemolojik İnanışlara Sahip 8. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Sosyo-bilimsel Konulara Bakış Açıları. Yayınlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Sakarya Üniversitesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Sakarya. [Google Scholar]
  8. Day, S. P., & Bryce, T. G. K. (2011). Does the discussion of socio-scientific issues require a paradigm shift in science teachers‟ thinking?. International Journal of Science Education, 33, 1675–1702. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2010.519804  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  9. Eastwood, J. L., Sadler, T. D., Zeidler, D. L., Lewis, A., Amiri, L., & Applebaum, S. (2012). Contextualizing nature of science instruction in socioscientific issues. International Journal of Science Education, 34(15), 2289-2315. [Google Scholar]
  10. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09500693.2012.667582?tab=permissions&scroll=top  [Google Scholar]
  11. Fortner, R. W., Lee, J. Y., Corney, J. R., Romanello, S., Bonnell, J., Luthy, B., & Ntsiko, N. (2000). Public understanding of climate change: Certainty and willingness to act. Environmental Education Research, 6(2), 127-141. https://doi.org/10.1080/713664673  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  12. Gayford, C. (2002). Controversial environmental issues: a case study for the professional development of science teachers. International Journal of Science Education, 24, 1191–1200. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690210134866  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  13. Glesne, C. (2012). Nitel arastırmaya giriş. (4. Basım)  (Çev. Ali Ersoy ve Pelin Yalçinoglu) Ankara: Anı Yayıncılık [Google Scholar]
  14. Han Tosunoğlu, Ç & İrez, S. (2017). Biology Teachers’ Understanding of Socioscientific Issues. Uludağ Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 30 (2), 833-860. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/uefad/issue/33142/369244 [Google Scholar]
  15. Hofstein, A., Eilks, I., & Bybee, R. (2011). Societal issues and their importance for contemporary science education—a pedagogical justification and the state-of-the-art in Israel, Germany, and the USA. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 9(6), 1459-1483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-010-9273-9  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  16. Holbrook, J., & Rannikmae, M. (2007). The nature of science education for enhancing scientific literacy. International Journal of Science Education, 29(11), 1347-1362. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690601007549  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  17. Lazarowitz, R., & Bloch, I. (2005). Awareness of societal issues among high school biology teachers teaching genetics. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 14(5), 437-457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-005-0220-4  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  18. Lee H., Abd-EI-Khalick F., & Choi K.(2006). Korean science teachers' perceptions of the introduction of socio-scientific issues into the science curricuium. Canadian Journal of Science,6(2), 97–117. https://doi.org/10.1080/14926150609556691  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  19. Lee, H., Chang, H., Choi, K., Kim, S. W., & Zeidler, D. L. (2012). Developing character and values for global citizens: Analysis of pre-service science teachers’ moral reasoning on socioscientific issues. International Journal of Science Education, 34(6), 925-953. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2011.625505  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  20. Lee, H., & Witz, G. K. (2008). Science teachers' ınspiration for teaching socio- scientific ıssues: disconnection with reform efforts.  International Journal of Science Education, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690801898903  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  21. Levinson, R., (2006). Towards a theoretical framework for teaching controversial socio- scientific ıssues. International Journal of Science Education, 28(10), 1201-1224. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690600560753  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  22. Levinson, R., & Turner, S. (2001). Valuable lessons. London, UK: The Wellcome Trust. [Google Scholar]
  23. Lumpe, A.T., Haney, J.J. ,& Czerniak, C.M.(1998). Science teacher beliefs and ıntentions to ımplement science-technology-society (STS) in the classroom. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 9(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009438021848  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  24. MEB, (2013). Talim ve terbiye kurulu başkanlığı, ilköğretim fen bilimleri dersi (3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ve 8. sınıflar) öğretim programı. Ankara: Devlet Kitapları Müdürlüğü. [Google Scholar]
  25. Osborne, J., & Dillon, J. (2008). Science education in Europe: Critical reflections (Vol. 13). London: The Nuffield Foundation. [Google Scholar]
  26. Osborne, J., Erduran, S.& Simon, S. (2004). Enhancing the quality of argumentation in school science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 41(10), 994–1020. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20035  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  27. Pedersen, J., & Turkmen, H. (2005). Pre-service teachers’ knowledge and perceptions of social issues. STS Today, the newsletter of the International Association for Science, Technology and Society, 17(2), 2-12. [Google Scholar]
  28. Polat, D., Kılınç, A., Görgülü, Ö., Kartal, T., Demiral, Ü., Afacan, Ö., Güler, M.P.D., İşeri, B., Soysal, D., Sönmez, A., Tanık, N. (Haziran, 2012). Fen ve Biyoloji Öğretmenleri Sosyo-bilimsel konulara ve bu konuların öğretimine nasıl yaklaşıyor? Pratikler, faydalar, sorunlar ve öneriler üzerine nitel bir çalışma. Mini Sempozyum: Fen Öğretmenleri ve Sosyo-bilimsel Konuların Öğretimi. 10. Ulusal Fen ve Matematik Eğitimi Kongresi, Niğde Üniversitesi, Niğde. https://www.pegem.net/akademi/kongrebildiri_detay.aspx?id=136037 [Google Scholar]
  29. Presley, M. L., Sickel, A. J., Muslu, N., Merle-Johnson, D., Witzig, S. B., Izci, K., & Sadler, T. D. (2013). A framework for socio-scientific issues based education. Science Educator, 22(1), 26-32. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1062183.pdf  [Google Scholar]
  30. Ratcliffe, M. & Grace, M. (2003). Science Education For Citizenship: Teaching Socio-Scientific Issues. Berkshire: McGraw-Hill. [Google Scholar]
  31. Sadler, T. D. (2003). Informal reasoning regarding SSI: The influence of morality and content knowledge. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Florida. [Google Scholar]
  32. Sadler, T.D., (2004). Informal reasoning regarding socioscientific ıssues: a critical review of research. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 41(5), 513-536. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20009  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  33. Sadler, T. D. (2009). Situated learning in science education: socio-scientific issues as contexts for practice. Studies in Science Education, 45 (1), 1–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057260802681839  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  34. Sadler, T. D., Amirshokoohi, A., Kazempour, M. & Allspaw, K. M. (2006). Socioscience and ethics in science classrooms: Teacher perspectives and strategies. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 43(4), 353-376. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20142  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  35. Sadler, T. D., Foulk, J. A., & Friedrichsen, P. J. (2017). Evolution of a model for socio-scientific issue teaching and learning. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, 5(2), 75-87. https://ijemst.net/index.php/ijemst/article/view/110  [Google Scholar]
  36. Sadler, T.D. & Zeidler, D.L., (2005). Patterns of ınformal reasoning in the context of socioscientific decision making. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 42(1), 112-138. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20042  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  37. Saunders, K. J., & Rennie, L. J. (2013). A pedagogical model for ethical inquiry into socioscientific issues in science. Research in Science Education, 43(1), 253–274. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-011-9248-z  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  38. Sıbıç, O. (2017). Fen bilgisi öğretmen adaylarının sosyobilimsel konulara ve sosyobilimsel konu temelli öğretime yönelik görüşleri. Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi, İstanbul. [Google Scholar]
  39. Sürmeli, H. (2008). Üniversite öğrencilerinin biyoteknoloji ve genetik mühendisliği çalışmaları ile ilgili tutum, bilgi ve biyoetik görüşlerinin değerlendirilmesi. Yayınlanmamış Doktora Tezi, Marmara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü, İstanbul. [Google Scholar]
  40. Tidemand, S., & Nielsen, J. A. (2017). The role of socioscientific issues in biology teaching: from the perspective of teachers. International Journal of Science Education, 39(1), 44-61. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2016.1264644  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  41. Topcu, M. S., Muğaloğlu, E. Z., & Güven, D. (2014). Fen eğitiminde sosyo-bilimsel konular: Türkiye örneği. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Bilimleri, 14(6), 1-22.  [Google Scholar]
  42. Topcu, M. S., Sadler, T. D. & Yilmaz‐Tuzun, O. (2010). Preservice science teachers’ informal reasoning about socioscientific issues: The influence of issue context. International Journal of Science Education, 32(18), 2475-2495. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690903524779  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  43. Topçu, M. S. (2011). Turkish elementary student teachers’ epistemological beliefs and moral reasoning. European Journal of Teacher Education, 34(1), 99-125. https://doi.org/10.1080/02619768.2010.534132  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  44. Topçu, M. S. (2015). Sosyo-bilimsel konular ve öğretimi. Pegem Akademi: Ankara. [Google Scholar]
  45. Topçu, M.S., (2008). Preservice Science Teachers’ Informal Reasoning RegardingSocioscientific Issues and the Factors Influencing Their Informal Reasoning, Doktora Tezi, Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Ankara. [Google Scholar]
  46. Toraman, S., & Alcı, B. (2013). Science and technology teachers’ opinions about renewed science lesson curriculum. EKEV Akademi Dergisi, 56, 11-22. http://dergipark.ulakbim.gov.tr/ekev/article/view/5000144222 [Google Scholar]
  47. Walker, K. A., & Zeidler, D. L. (2007). Promoting discourse about socioscientific ıssues through scaffolded ınquiry. International Journal of Science Education, 29(11), 1387-1410. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690601068095  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  48. Wu, Y.T. & Tsai, C., (2010). High school students' ınformal reasoning regarding a socio- scientific ıssue, with relation to scientific epistemological beliefs and cognitive structures. International Journal of Science Education, 33(3), 371-400. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690903505661  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  49. Yıldırım, A. & Şimsek, H. (2013). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Kitapevi. Ankara. [Google Scholar]
  50. Zeidler, D. L.& Keefer, M., (2003). The Role of Moral Reasoning and the Status of SSI in Science Education: Philosophical, Psychological and Pedagogical Considerations. in D. L. Zeidler (Ed.), the Role of Moral Reasoning and Discourse on SSI in Science Education. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Kluwer. [Google Scholar]
  51. Zeidler, D. L., Sadler, T. D., Simmons, M. L. & Howes, E. V. (2005). Beyond STS: aresearch-based framework for socioscientific ıssues education. Science Education, 89, 357-377. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.20048  [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  52. Zohar, A. & Nemet, F. (2002). Fostering students' knowledge and argumentation skills through dilemmas in human genetics. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 39(1), 35–62. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.10008  [Google Scholar] [Crossref]