Description : The course aims to familiarize students with an understanding of the concept of scientific literacy, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Scientific literacy, from the perspective of sociocultural theory on science teaching and learning, is closely linked to the integral integration of the cultural component of natural sciences, technology, applied engineering, and mathematics within the interdisciplinary framework of STEM (Science – Technology – Engineering – Mathematics) education.
By attending the course, students will develop knowledge and skills that will: (a) improve their level of scientific literacy and (b) enable them, as future educators, to design and implement educational activities aimed at fostering scientific and technological literacy in young children. Such activities cover a wide range of the preschool education curriculum in the fields of natural sciences, technology, and applied engineering.
Outline : The course is structured around the following thematic units:
Unit 1: Scientific Literacy – The dissemination of the cultural component of sciences
(Sample subtopics: socio-scientific issues, scientific literacy in formal and non-formal education, citizen science, science communication)
Unit 2: Interdisciplinarity
(Sample subtopics: the nature of scientific knowledge, the scientific method, the history and philosophy of science & technology, the relationship between science, technology, and applied engineering)
Unit 3: Interdisciplinary Approach to STEM Education
(Sample subtopics: historical development and epistemology of the interdisciplinary approach to STEM education, integrated STEM approach in preschool education, principles of designing STEM teaching scenarios based on an interdisciplinary approach)