History and Philosophy in Science Teaching

History and Philosophy in Science Teaching John Oversby: UK Convenor (EU) HIPST

Association for Science Education (UK) Annual Conference: January 6-9, Nottingham. www.ase.org.uk Invitation

Some thoughts “Children are the message we send to the future.” (Abraham Lincoln; 1809—1865.) "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." (Charles Darwin; 1809—1882.) "In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back." From a Charlie Brown comic strip. (Charles Schulz) "If women are to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things." (Plato, 428-347 B.C.)

Overview History of science in science education Philosophy of science in science education Learners’ voices about science education HIPST Project Future plans

Thinking Did temperature exist before we tried to measure it?

History of science in science education Science has a history Value of history of science Dangers of history of science Ways forward in history of science

Science has a history Science has been practised in the past (hundreds of years?)‏ Science has been practised within a cultural context (www.non-western-science.wikispaces.com)‏ Science has been practised by research groups and individuals

Value of history of science Stories of science can provide a human perspective e.g. Marat and Lavoisier Stories of science can provide evidence of personal conflict, both scientific and social Stories of science engage young learners (literacy)‏

Dangers of history of science Kuhn on textbooks as a source of information: ‘stories of heroes and villains’ Textbooks do not necessarily indicate how a topic was taught (intended v experienced curriculum)‏ Lack of time to include in curriculum

Thinking How many kinds of chemical equations are there? In equations, why do chemists use arrows instead of = signs?

Philosophy of science in science education Nature of Science Value of Nature of Science Dangers of Nature of Science Ways forward in engaging with Nature of Science

Nature of science I (NSTA)‏ Scientific knowledge is both reliable and tentative. Having confidence in scientific knowledge is reasonable while realising that such knowledge may be abandoned or modified in light of new evidence

Nature of Science II (NSTA)‏ shared values and perspectives characterise a scientific approach to understanding nature: a demand for naturalistic explanations with empirical evidence and testable observations, rational argument, inference, scepticism, peer review and replicability of work

Nature of Science III (NSTA)‏ Creativity is a vital part of the production of scientific knowledge. Science is limited to naturalistic methods and explanations with no supernatural elements

Nature of Science IV (NSTA)‏ A primary goal of science is the formation of theories and laws, with very specific meanings. Laws are regularities or universal relationships Theories are inferred explanations Theories do not ever become laws; they explain laws. Well-established laws and theories must fit best available evidence Be successfully and widely tested

Thinking Why did early chemists look for a magic ingredient (oxygen or acid-maker) in acids?

Value of Nature of Science Links to How Science Works Links to processes of science education

Dangers of Nature of Science Teachers’ views of NoS are frequently naïve and incomplete (Lederman)‏ Teachers’ views of science education often conflict with expressed views of scientists

Ways forward in engaging with Nature of Science Better training of teachers and BTs in NoS Exemplary material for teachers to use with classes

Learners’ voices about science education ROSE international project They dislike S&T at school: S&T is boring and difficult They are interested in ‘real science’ - but less in ‘school science’ (a living ‘fossil’)‏ The curriculum is overloaded with ‘correct’ answers - no room for creativity, fantasy, etc They are very hesitant to study S&T and to work with S&T They often have a negative perception of scientists as persons (no good role models)‏

Do learners prefer school science?

HIPST Project 11 colleagues in 8 countries UK, Poland, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Israel, Hungary From Feb 2008 – July 2010 Provide curriculum and research material for trials in 8 languages Materials to be add-on or embedded Research:

Web site structure Teachers’ section - scholarship writing, including subject content, history and philosophy Scheme of work, to provide the overview Pupil pages Action Research

Teachers section Principle is scholarship Subject content - developing personal subject knowledge beyond the curriculum. History - starts from science of the topic, then to related other sciences and then to social and political history. Rather Eurocentric at present. Philosophy - derives fundamental ideas from the context.

Pupil pages Lesson by lesson, divided into content, history and philosophy. Focuses on processes of history, including personal and social. Science as a community of scholars Focuses on a few philosophical ideas Includes scientific biographies, to be translated by pupils/ teachers into intermediate language Input of excursions by teachers and pupils leading to personalised learning

Future activity Teacher training - a collaborative process to be documented Trials with pupils, pre- and post-questionnaires; individual and focus group interviews; videos Research papers, theoretical and empirical Completion of web sites Dissemination activities

History and Philosophy in Science Teaching