Contemporary Issues in Science and Technology Education

This edited volume discusses major issues in present-day science and technology education (STE). It is divided into three thematic sections: philosophical foundations and curriculum development; sustainable development, technology and society; and the learning sciences and 21^st century skills. Section I examines the history and future of STE curriculum development, along with specific issues within this dynamic area. Section II explores sustainable development in three important aspects: economic development, social development, and environmental protection. Section III covers the 21^st century skills that are of overarching importance to the success of learners in school and the world of work.

Anchoring each chapter is an assemblage of veteran science and technology education specialists selected from across the world. The book’s target is a worldwide audience of undergraduate / post-graduate students and their teachers, as well as researchers.

This book’s exploration of the ever-increasing advances in STE and its narrative writing style will be of interest to a broad range of readers.

Ben Akpan, a professor of science education, is the Executive Director of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN). He served as President of the International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE) for 2011 – 2013 and currently serves on the Executive Committee of ICASE as the Chair of World Conferences Standing Committee. Ben’s areas of interest include chemistry, science education, environmental education, and support for science teacher associations. He is the editor of Science Education: A Global Perspective published by Springer; co-editor (with Keith S. Taber) of Science Education: An International Course Companion published by Sense Publishers; co-editor with Professor Teresa Kennedy of Science Education in Theory and Practice published by Springer; and the editor of Science Education: Visions of the Future published by Next Generation Education. Ben is a member of the Editorial Boards of the Australian Journal of Science and Technology (AJST), Journal of Contemporary Educational Research (JCER), Action Research and Innovation in Science Education (ARISE) Journal, and APEduC Journal on Research and Practices in Science Education, Mathematics, and Technology – an electronic scientific-didactic publication of the Portuguese Association of Science Education. He is a recipient of many commendations, prizes, and awards.

 

 

Bulent Cavas completed his Master and Ph.D studies in the field of science education at DokuzEylul University, Faculty of Education, Science Teacher Training Programme in 1998. He made his Post-Doc on Career Choices in STEM Fields in Middle East Technical University, Ankara-Turkey. He has over 150 national and international publications and written 10 books on science and science education. He is a member of CMAS-Science Committee. Currently, his research interests are Responsible Research and Innovation, Open Schooling, Inquiry Based Science Education, Virtual Reality in Science Education. He is Past - President of International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE - www.icaseonline.net). He works as an external expert for evaluating European Commission Projects in Brussels-Belgium. Currently, he is working as Head of Science Education Department - Professor of Science Education at Dokuz Eylul University (www.deu.edu.tr) in Izmir-Turkey.

                                                                                                                                

Teresa Kennedy is a Professor of International STEM and Bilingual/ELL Education (2009 - present) and holds a joint appointment in the College of Education and Psychology School of Education and in the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at Tyler. She has over 30 years of experience in higher education and teaches undergraduate as well as master’s and doctoral level students. Her PreK-12 teaching experience includes eight years at the secondary level and seven years at the primary/middle school level in the U.S. states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Dr. Kennedy served as a Fulbright Scholar in Ecuador (1993), in Argentina (during the 2014-15 academic year focusing on engineering education), and in Hungary (2017), has traveled to over 100 countries through her work and educational experiences, and has taught language, science, and social studies lessons in classrooms around the world. Dr. Kennedy served as President of the International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE) from 2014-2017, and currently serves on the Executive Committee of ICASE as the Representative to UNESCO and as a member of the UNESCO NGO Liaison Committee. Prior to her position at UT Tyler, Dr. Kennedy worked at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) from 2001-2012, and as an Associate Research Professor of Education at the University of Idaho (1996-2003).