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LITERACY
VALERIE MARTINEZ
EDUC 390

What is Scientific
Literacy?

THE CAPACITY TO USE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, TO

IDENTIFY QUESTIONS AND TO DRAW EVIDENCEBASED CONCLUSIONS IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND
AND HELP MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE NATURAL
WORLD AND THE CHANGES MADE TO IT THROUGH
HUMAN ACTIVITY.

Steps to Achieving Scientific Literacy

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

SEEKING KNOWLEDGE

SEEKING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT ARISE FROM EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES

UNDERSTANDING CONCEPTS

INVOLVES UNDERSTANDING & EXPLAINING SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS

ENGAGING WITH SCIENCE

READING ABOUT SCIENCE & DISCUSSING SCIENTIFIC ISSUES WITH FRIENDS USING
KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM STEPS 1 & 2

ANALYZING SCIENTIFIC ISSUES

EXPRESSING INFORMED POSITIONS ON LOCAL, NATIONAL, & GLOBAL ISSUES

EVALUATING SCIENCE

EVALUATING THE QUALITY OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION BASED ON ITS SOURCE & METHODS
USED TO GENERATE IT

CREATING USING SCIENCE

CONSTRUCT & EVALUATE SCIENTIFIC METHODS BASED ON EVIDENCE & APPLY CONCLUSION

Characteristics of Scientific Literacy

KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBSTANTIVE CONTENT OF SCIENCE & THE ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH FROM
NON-SCIENCE

UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE & ITS APPLICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT COUNTS AS SCIENCE
INDEPENDENCE IN LEARNING SCIENCE
ABILITY TO THINK SCIENTIFICALLY
ABILITY TO USE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE IN PROBLEM SOLVING
KNOWLEDGE NEEDED FOR INTELLIGENT PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE-BASED ISSUES
UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF SCIENCE, INCLUDING ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CULTURE
APPRECIATION OF & COMFORT WITH SCIENCE, INCLUDING ITS WONDER AND CURIOSITY
KNOWLEDGE OF THE RISKS & BENEFITS OF SCIENCE
ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT SCIENCE & TO DEAL WITH SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE

LEVELS, DIMENSIONS, AN ASPECTS OF SCIENTIFIC LITERACY

4 FUNCTIONAL
LEVELS

NOMINAL

MULTIDIMENSIONAL

FUNCTIONAL
CONCEPTUAL &
PROCEDURAL

4 ASPECTS OF
RELEVANCE

SCIENTIFIC LITERACY IN 3
DIMENSIONS

SCIENTIFIC
CONCEPTS
SCIENTIFIC
PROCESSES
SCIENTIFIC
SITUATIONS

PERSONAL RELEVANCE

SOCIAL RELEVANCE

PROFESSIONAL
RELEVANCE

PERSONAL/SOCIAL
RELEVANCE

Nominal:
Can recognize scientific terms,
but does not have a clear
understanding of the meaning.

Multidimensional:
Not only has understanding,
but has developed
perspectives of science &
technology that include the
nature of science, the role of
science & technology in
personal life & society

4
Functional
Levels of
Scientific
Literacy
Conceptual & Procedural:
Demonstrates understanding &
a relationship between
concepts & can use processes
with meaning.

Functional:
Can use scientific &
technological vocabulary, but
usually this is only out of
context as is the case for
example in a school test or
examination

Personal Relevance:
Students
perspective

Personal/Social
Relevance:
Develop into
responsible
citizens

Aspects of
Relevance
Social Relevance:
Human & Social
issues

Professional
Relevance:
Possible
professions

Scientific Concepts:
Needed to understand certain
phenomena of the natural world
and the changes made to it
through human activity

Scientific Situations:
Selected mainly from peoples
everyday lives rather than from
the practice of science in a
school classroom or laboratory,
or the work of professional
scientists.

Scientific
Literacy in 3
Dimensions

Scientific Processes:
Centered on the ability to
acquire, interpret and act upon
evidence

Why is Scientific
Literacy Vital?

DEVELOPS AN ABILITY TO CREATIVELY UTILIZE

APPROPRIATE EVIDENCE-BASED SCIENTIFIC
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS, PARTICULARLY
WITH RELEVANCE FOR EVERYDAY LIFE & A
CAREER, IN SOLVING PERSONALLY
CHALLENGING YET MEANINGFUL SCIENTIFIC
PROBLEM AS WELL MAKING, RESPONSIBLE
SOCIO-SCIENTIFIC DECISIONS.

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WORKS CITED
Barrington, K. (2008, September 23). Scientific Literacy. Retrieved September 21, 2015, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3&v=-TW1xnqXpew
Holbrook, J., & Rannikmae, M. (2009, February 11). The Meaning of Scientific Literacy. Retrieved
September 21, 2015, from https://bb.laverne.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1996041-dt-content-rid4506974_1/courses/201550_1316_EDUC_390_M/Meaning of Scientific Literacy Article(1).pdf
Nbina, J., & Obomanu, B. (2010, September 27). The Meaning of Scientific Literacy: A Model of
Relevance in Science Education. Retrieved September 21, 2015, from https://
bb.laverne.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1996039-dt-content-rid4506975_1/courses/201550_1316_EDUC_390_M/Scientific Literacy Article(1).pd