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Socio-scientific Issues in Science Education: Contexts for the Promotion of Key Learning Outcomes

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Second International Handbook of Science Education

Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE,volume 24))

Abstract

Science education scholars and practitioners have called for the contextualization of science content through the exploration of socially relevant issues, also known as socio-scientific issues (SSI), throughout the field’s history. In this chapter we explore the effectiveness of SSI as contexts for science education. Specifically, we review studies that empirically test the effects of SSI-based curricula on the following learning outcomes: science content knowledge, nature of science, interest and motivation, and argumentation. The results provide evidence of positive effects of SSI-based curricula on student learning and practices related to all of the aforementioned areas. We conclude that the research base supports integration of SSI in school science education.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Missouri Science Education Center, Columbia, MO, 65203, USA

    Troy D. Sadler

  2. Science and Mathematics Education Centre, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    Vaille Dawson

Authors
  1. Troy D. Sadler
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  2. Vaille Dawson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Troy D. Sadler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Science & Mathematics Education Centre, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, West Australia, Australia

    Barry J. Fraser

  2. The Graduate Centre, City University of New York, New York, 10016-4309, New York, USA

    Kenneth Tobin

  3. Ctr. Mathematics & Science Education, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Rd., Kelvin Grove, 4059, Queensland, Australia

    Campbell J. McRobbie

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

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Sadler, T.D., Dawson, V. (2012). Socio-scientific Issues in Science Education: Contexts for the Promotion of Key Learning Outcomes. In: Fraser, B., Tobin, K., McRobbie, C. (eds) Second International Handbook of Science Education. Springer International Handbooks of Education, vol 24. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9041-7_53

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