Aims and Objectives

The Aim of the course is to generate discussion about the nature and purposes of Science teaching and the place of values within Science education for the future by:

  • Providing an opportunity for practising teachers to consider the purposes of teaching Science and the place of values within it, to meet the challenges of the 21st century world;
  • Offering a forum for the debate of these issues and to hear eminent scientists and leading science communicators and educators present some challenging perspectives of their own;
  • Providing an opportunity for practising teachers to explore the principles of rigorous, relevant and responsible Science teaching in the 21st century, through participation in workshops led by experienced teachers;
  • Probing critically current approaches to Science education and its assessment, examining the extent to which young people are being equipped to make informed judgments on the implications of scientific development and evaluate the impact of Science on the future well being of planet Earth.

More particularly, the Objective of the course is to address certain fundamental questions:

  • Why should we teach Science?
  • What is the role of Science as an essential foundation for understanding the 21st century world and what is its part in development for a sustainable future?
  • What Science should we teach at the different Key Stages and what should this contribute to young people’s education?
  • How important is the historical perspective in the teaching of Science, and how is modern Science being evaluated? What aspects of Science can equip young people to make informed judgments for the well-being of their own lives and of the global society in which they live, and how can Science contribute to the constructive development of their values and their view of the world?
  • How should we teach Science?
  • What are the most effective ways to encourage the lasting interest and understanding of young people in Science, and enable them to use their knowledge and develop their values to live better and participate purposefully in decisions for the future?