Dr Michael Tan Publishes Forum Paper on Science Education

Dr Michael Tan

OER Research Scientist Dr Michael Tan published a forum paper on the role of context in science education in Cultural Studies of Science Education. 

Titled “Context matters in science education”, Dr Tan’s forum paper responds to issues raised in attempting to teach science for particular purposes. He argues that in these times where we consider science to be necessary for solving many of the problems that societies face, there is a tendency to teach past ‘the facts’ and subsequently prescribe particular value orientations. He also posits that scientific knowledge is not neutral and has vested interests in particular positions, and educators need ways to respond with sensitivity to these issues. Acknowledging the ways in which scientific knowledge is tentative and subject to interpretation can be a useful first step in this process.