scholarly journals Patterns of Middle School Students' Value-Judgement and Decision-Making on Biotechnology-Related Socioscientific Issues

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
In-Ae Ju ◽  
Hyunju Lee
Author(s):  
Wardell A. Powell ◽  
Mark H. Newton ◽  
Dana L. Zeidler

This chapter demonstrates the impact of an animal cloning socioscientific issues instructional unit on a group of middle school students' abilities to use their ecological worldview, social and moral compassion, and sense of socioscientific accountability to determine the permissibility of animal cloning. Seventy-seven 7th grade students at a public middle school in the Southeastern region of the United States participated in this investigation. Results from a non-parametric two-tailed Wilcoxon test indicated the students' social and moral compassion (Z = -2.505, p = .012) and socioscientific accountability scores (Z = -2.381, p = .017). In contrast, the results did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference between students' pre and post ecological worldview (Z = -1.185, p = .236). Qualitative analyses of the data revealed several interesting trends and themes discussed in the chapter. The findings from this investigation support the use of SSI as key pedagogical strategies in promoting character and values for global citizens among middle school students.


2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1124-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiyoung Jang ◽  
Jiyeong Mun ◽  
Hyo-Suk Ryu ◽  
Kyunghee Choi ◽  
Krajcik Joseph ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Wardell Anthony Powell

This chapter is a demonstration of how to use geospatial technologies to promote middle school students' abilities to think critically and to argue persuasively on socioscientific issues. Forty-three sixth grade students from a summer enrichment program operated by a non-profit organization in the northeastern United States participated in this study. The duration of this curricular unit took place over five consecutive 1-hour period blocks. The researcher utilized qualitative procedures to analyze the students' abilities to think critically and to argue persuasively on socioscientific issues. The results indicate that the students' background knowledge on the impact of human activities on climate change was enhanced with the use of videos, graphics, audio-visuals, and other hands-on activities. Additionally, the knowledge the students gained from the events in this investigation enhanced their abilities to propose convincing arguments in opposition or support for the socioscientific issues investigated.


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