STS INTRODUCTION

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Science, Scienc e, Technology echnolo gy and Society Societ y An Introduction Presented by Arindam Dasgupta(12AT92P03) Dasgupta(12AT92P03)

IIT-Kharagpur

28th January 2013 Durgesh Bahadur Singh/Arindam Dasgupta

Definition 



The Science, Technology, and Society (STS) stud rovides an interdisci linar a roach to the the soci social al,, hist histor oric ical al,, ethi ethica cal, l, phil philos osop ophi hica cal, l, lega legal, l, and policy implications of scientific research, engineer engineering, ing, health, health, and medicine. medicine. Due to their engagement with multiple sides of current scientific and technical issues, STS scholars are uniquely positioned to take a lead leadin ingg role ole in shap shapin ingg soci societ etyy.

Durgesh Bahadur Singh/Arindam Dasgupta

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Exploration 





Social, political, and cultural values that affect scientific research and technolo ical innovation Science and technology society, politics and culture Scientific discovery and its applications which link up develo ments, in law, olitics, ethics, and culture

which

affect

technological with social ublic olic ,


Objectives of STS Studies 1. Develop rationale for including technology and social perspectives in science classroom 2. Explain how technology is related to science/society. 3. Describe how studying technological devices can become an integral part of science instruction. 4. Describe strategies for teaching STS. 5. Discuss teaching controversial topics such as evolution


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View of Science 





Most

effective way of understanding

Formal activity that creates and accumulates knowledge by directly confronting the natural world Involves some form of observation, experiment and some sort of theorizing to explain the evidence collected


View of Technology 

Regarded

as

a

body

of

skills

and

controlled and modified 





Influenced by scientific knowledge with spectacular results Important in human affairs Provides impact on social structures, because technology enables most human action Durgesh Bahadur Singh/Arindam Dasgupta

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Rationale for teaching STS A.

Science and Technology have profound effects on society 1. Provides products that increase quality of life 2. Negative effects of weapons, pollution, etc… 3. We live in an increasingly technological society and therefore need to understand how these institutions interact 4. Making science instruction relevant to students a. Personal experience and societal context for lessons b. AIDS, obesity, water quality, national defense, etc… c. Students will have to make informed decisions about these issues

B.

The STS approach to science instruction 1. Science for meeting personal needs 2. Science for addressing societal issues and problems 3. Science for assisting with career choices

C.

National and local standards 1. National Science Education Standards 2. Benchmarks for Scientific Literacy Durgesh Bahadur Singh/Arindam Dasgupta

What is Technology? A.

B.

Descriptions 1.

Involves the design or products, systems, and processes that affect the quality of life, using the knowledge of science when necessary

2.

An applied enterprise concerned with producing appliances, tools, machines, and techniques

3.

Products are called inventions

Examples 1.

Simple tools for hunting, fishing, or farming

. C.

,

,

Engineers 1.

Design and produce products using science

2.

Must know about the business they are working for as well as the science to design products Durgesh Bahadur Singh/Arindam Dasgupta

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What is Technology? D. Concerns 1.

Mass production is often the goal

.

ep et on o natura resources an po ut on

E. Questions? 1.

Does technology determine social relations?

2.

Is technology humanizing or dehumanizing?

. 4.

Do science’s current applications in technologies serve broad public goals?


Incorporating STS into Science Instruction A.

Design and Build 1.

Have students build working models of machines a. b. c. d.

2.

Build new machines for specific purpose a. b.

3.

Build a bridge using popsicle sticks that will hold a certain weight Build a container to keep an egg from breaking when dropped

Benefits a. b. c. d.

B.

Series and parallel circuits Water clocks Radios Robots

Design a solution to a real problem Implement and evaluate designs Communicate about their designs to other students Leads to student initiated designs on problems important to them

Investigate and Improve 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Library/Internet research on how technology was invented Explain how it works, scientific principles, and diagrams Give beneficial uses Discuss limitations or potential dangers Offer suggestions for improvement Durgesh Bahadur Singh/Arindam Dasgupta

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Incorporating STS into Science Instruction Cont.. C. Focus on current issues and problems 1. Major focus of most science standards 2. Issue = an idea on which people hold different beliefs and values a. Should recycling be mandatory b. Should we fine drivers for not wearing a seat belt

3. Problem = a situation that is a risk for a given population a. Poisoning of fish downstream from industry . -

4. Goal is conceptual enhancement rather than conceptual change a. b. c. d.

Confront students with alternative positions than their own Challenge and enrich their understanding Reconcile incompatible ideas by reorganizing current knowledge Make judgments about science, technology, and society Durgesh Bahadur Singh/Arindam Dasgupta

Incorporating STS into Science Instruction Cont.. D. Strategies 1. Inculcation = attempting to convince others of your value judgment a. b. c. d.

Not recommended because of inherent problems Ma be erceived as coercion Likely present only one side of a complex issue Example: industry is bad because they pollute

2. Awareness of Issues and Problems a. b. c. d. e. .

g.

Clarification of student’s own personal values on complex issues Allows confrontation issues of concern in a constructive way Helps students become award of other students’ beliefs Find a newspaper article to spark a discussion List questions that make students define their values “ our corners” o e c assroom or s rong y agree, agree, strongly disagree, and disagree. Teacher makes stateme nts and students move to corner, where they must explain their position “Vignettes” are short descriptions of a problem followed by questions i. Can be done daily or weekly for as little as 5 minutes ii. Students can keep a journal Durgesh Bahadur Singh/Arindam Dasgupta

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Incorporating STS into Science Instruction Cont.. 3. Issue and Problem Investigation a. b. c. d. e. f.

g. h.

Goes beyond awareness by increasing science content Stresses organization of facts, presentation of evidence Requires library, field, or internet research Separates fact from opinion romo es sc en c nqu ry an g er eve n ng s s Structured controversy model (Johnson, 1988) i. Identify and clarify the basic question ii. Gather facts about the issue under study iii. Evaluate the factual information iv. Evaluate the relevance of the factual information v. Propose a tentative decision vi. Determine the acceptability of the solution Reversing perspective of students helps them see all sides of an ssue Forces students to make a decision (sometimes they even act on it)

4. Action Learning a. b. c.

Extends learning beyond classroom by having students act in society Community service project (adopt a stream) Requires time, commitment outside of class Durgesh Bahadur Singh/Arindam Dasgupta

Incorporating STS into Science Instruction Cont.. 5. Project-Based Science a. Students work in teams to investigate and present findings b. STS issues and problems are ideally suited c. Criticized for not teaching enough content d. Should include teacher directed lessons with student investigations e. Easiest to incorporate when all project are on the same issue


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Concerns of Governments in Contemporary Society 

Military Power ◦



of the federal goes to the

Economic Strength ◦



A substantial ortion 75% government’s R&D budget Department of Defense

Seven of ten U.S. major corporations are science or technology companies (e.g., , ,

Medical Well Being ◦

Life threatening diseases have been controlled or eliminated Durgesh Bahadur Singh/Arindam Dasgupta

Thank You


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STS INTRODUCTION

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