Where Literacy And Science Intersect

Abstract

Recent years have seen greater emphasis upon science education in school , right from the time children step into school to the time when the young exit to take up higher education . While a greater emphasis on science is justifiable considering the enormous developments that have occurred in science , technology and medicine in recent decades , school teachers and educationists remain concerned about the disconnect that many children have between the scientific inputs they receive and its relationship with their actual surroundings

This research assignment delves into the issue of the development

of literacy in school children , the role that literacy plays in scientific education and the intersections where literacy and science meet each other . A number of issues that concern these two issues have been investigated and researched in detail in the process of arriving at findings and conclusions

Table of Contents

Serial Details Page

Abstract 1

1 Introduction 3

2 Research Methodology 4

a Methodology 4

b Choice of Research Methodology 4

c Research Questions 5

d Limitations of Study 5

3 Literature Review 6

4 Findings and Analysis 12

5 Conclusions 13

References 15 1 . Introduction

Science education at the school level has continually increased over the course of the last century (especially in the post Second World War era , despite a continuing perception of it being an exceedingly difficult subject , suitable only for more intelligent and hardworking children . While the necessity of increasing the subject matter related to science in schools has undoubtedly been caused by the explosion that has occurred in the body of scientific and technical knowledge in recent years , the phenomenon has increased pressure on both pupils and teachers who have to struggle with a significant and increasing body of scientific knowledge , both for transmission and effective absorption

The matter is compounded further by the increase in the numbers of children joining school , their diverse ethnic , cultural , traditional social , and educational backgrounds , their different family backgrounds and the vastly varied significance by different parents to education , as well as to different subjects of study . These factors pose significant and ever increasing challenges to teachers who need to deal with a diverse student mass and adopt teaching methods that are effective and suitable for the inculcation of scientific education

While teaching methods have become progressively sophisticated , and teachers adopt various techniques to make their subjects more interesting and easier to assimilate for their students , science , in the common perception , continues to be a complex and difficult subject requiring far greater effort and concentration for success than the liberal arts , the performing arts and sports , the three other common areas for student involvement in school

Much thought is being given in recent years by educationists and teachers about the role of literacy in science education and the areas in which literacy and science education interact and intersect with each other . Teachers realize that literacy problems and its inadequacy can impede student progress and create barriers to assimilation of science content in existing school curricula . This...