The Role of Moral Reasoning on Socioscientific Issues and Discourse in Science Education

Abstract

This book is the first in the field to directly address moral reasoning and socioscientific discourse. It provides a theoretical framework to rethink what a "functional view" of scientific literacy entails by examining how nature of science issues, classroom discourse issues, cultural issues, and science-technology-society-environment case-based issues contribute to developing habits of mind about socioscientific content. The philosophical, psychological and pedagogical considerations underpinning the role of moral reasoning and the status of socioscientific issues in science education have been succinctly expressed and elucidated in this book. Science teachers, teacher educators, researchers, curriculum designers, politicians, and organizations interested in educational and political reform should find this volume very relevant and important for their missions. The extensive coverage of topics makes this book excellent for both theoretical and practical purposes The Role of Moral Reasoning and the Status of Socioscientific Issues in Science Education -- Socioscientific Issues in Pre-college Science Classrooms -- Exploring the Role of NOS Understandings in Decision-Making -- Beliefs in the Nature of Science and Responses to Socioscientific Issues -- The Role of Argument During Discourse about Socioscientific Issues -- Integrating Science Education and Character Education -- The Assessment of Argumentation and Explanation -- Morality, Spirituality and Science in the Elementary Classroom -- Recognizing and Solving Ethical Dilemmas in Diverse Science Classrooms -- The Morality of Inclusive Verses Exclusive Settings -- Teaching Science, Technology, Society and Environment (STSE) Education -- Moral Reasoning and Case-based Approaches to Ethical Instruction in Science -- Scientific Errors, Atrocities, and Blunders -- Unifying Themes in Moral Reasoning on Socioscientific Issues and Discourse.