Engaging Students with the Nature of Science and the Nature of Technology by Modeling the Work of Scientists

Abstract

Abstract Just as science education is too often limited to the acquisition of facts, technology education is too often limited to proficient use of technology. Neither of these goals fully realize a robust definition of science and technology literacy. To achieve greater science and technology literacy, students must understand the natures of both science and technology (NOST). Through understanding NOST, students can make better-informed personal decisions and participate in critical cultural discourse about the role of science and technology in our lives. This article provides ideas about what students should know about NOST and strategies for engaging students with these difficult ideas.