Students' Conscientious Technology Designs as Actions on Socioscientific Issues

• In Event: 73.061 - Roundtable Session 32
  In Roundtable Session: 73.061-3 - Science Education Pedagogies 2

Abstract

Many scholars and jurisdictions have urged educators to interrelate and/or integrate education in fields of science and engineering. A promising movement in this regard engages students in decision-making about socioscientific issues, such as debates about climate change. Some scholars also suggest, however, that, because of significant problems associated with capitalist influences on fields of science and technology, much more politicized and action-oriented education is necessary. Accordingly, we studied our promotion of secondary students’ technology designs of possible for-profit commodities that considered the wellbeing of individuals, societies and environments. Qualitative results suggested that students not only were able and willing to design socially and environmentally conscious technologies, but they did so in ways considering a range of interconnected and often-hidden actants.

Authors

• John Lawrence Bencze, OISE/University of Toronto

• Mirjan Krstovic, Peel District School Board