Authors: Michael P Clough Joanne K Olson
Publish Date: 2007/04/11
Volume: 17, Issue: 2-3, Pages: 143-145
Abstract
The phrase “The Nature of Science” NOS is often used by science educators to refer to issues such as what science is how it works the epistemological and ontological foundations of science how scientists function as a social group and how society influences and reacts to scientific endeavors The importance of accurately and deliberately teaching NOS when teaching science to students is widely recognized This is evident in science education reform documents the extensive NOS literature appearing in science education journals and as the focus of Science Education However despite this cheery consensus regarding the importance of accurately teaching the NOS much remains to be done in moving the vision to a reality in elementary through postsecondary science education This special issue of Science Educationdevoted to teaching and assessing the nature of science illustrates the importance of the NOS in teaching science the research efforts being made to promote effective
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