The effect of socio-scientific issue (SSI) based discussion: A student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentation
Students should have the capability to argue about controversial science issues that are relevant to them and that impact society. These controversial issues, called socio-scientific issues (SSI), are influenced by social, ethical and moral norms. In current science education platforms, student-cen...
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doaj-0151bf0fe3d940c3b247194bc337b0ee2021-02-17T02:37:58ZengUniversity of JohannesburgSOTL in the South2523-11542020-09-0142The effect of socio-scientific issue (SSI) based discussion: A student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentationNahid Parween Anwar0Muhammad Abid Ali1Aga Khan UniversityBahria University Students should have the capability to argue about controversial science issues that are relevant to them and that impact society. These controversial issues, called socio-scientific issues (SSI), are influenced by social, ethical and moral norms. In current science education platforms, student-centred teaching strategies based on constructivism, are recommended to engage students in the construction of knowledge. Using a quantitative design, the present study sought to explore the efficacy of an argumentation-based teaching intervention about SSIs in an undergraduate classroom. It assessed students’ gains in the skill of argumentation. A one-group pre-test-post-test design was used. Data were generated through collection of students’ writing pre- and post-instruction, which was analysed using Toulmin’s Argumentation Pattern (TAP). Results reveal that almost half of the students reached a high level of argumentation. Findings show the importance of teaching content through learner-centred pedagogies. Introduction of various socio-scientific case studies and practicing argumentation has positively impacted on students’ argumentation skills. This study is significant for teachers as it provides an example to replicate in their classroom and can assist science teachers to enrich teaching and learning. The study recommends improving teachers’ competence in order to promote argumentation skills among students. Keywords: Argumentation in science, Socio-scientific Issue, Toulmin Argumentation Pattern, Genetics, Argumentation-based teaching How to cite this article: Anwar, N.P. 2020. The effect of socio-scientific issue (SSI) based discussion: A student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentation. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the South. 4(2): 35-62. https://doi.org/10.36615/sotls.v4i2.76. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://up.openjournaltheme.com/sotl/3.2.1-4/index.php/sotls/article/view/76Argumentation in science,Socio-scientific IssueToulmin Argumentation PatternGeneticsArgumentation-based teaching |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Nahid Parween Anwar Muhammad Abid Ali |
spellingShingle |
Nahid Parween Anwar Muhammad Abid Ali The effect of socio-scientific issue (SSI) based discussion: A student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentation SOTL in the South Argumentation in science, Socio-scientific Issue Toulmin Argumentation Pattern Genetics Argumentation-based teaching |
author_facet |
Nahid Parween Anwar Muhammad Abid Ali |
author_sort |
Nahid Parween Anwar |
title |
The effect of socio-scientific issue (SSI) based discussion: A student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentation |
title_short |
The effect of socio-scientific issue (SSI) based discussion: A student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentation |
title_full |
The effect of socio-scientific issue (SSI) based discussion: A student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentation |
title_fullStr |
The effect of socio-scientific issue (SSI) based discussion: A student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentation |
title_full_unstemmed |
The effect of socio-scientific issue (SSI) based discussion: A student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentation |
title_sort |
effect of socio-scientific issue (ssi) based discussion: a student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentation |
publisher |
University of Johannesburg |
series |
SOTL in the South |
issn |
2523-1154 |
publishDate |
2020-09-01 |
description |
Students should have the capability to argue about controversial science issues that are relevant to them and that impact society. These controversial issues, called socio-scientific issues (SSI), are influenced by social, ethical and moral norms. In current science education platforms, student-centred teaching strategies based on constructivism, are recommended to engage students in the construction of knowledge. Using a quantitative design, the present study sought to explore the efficacy of an argumentation-based teaching intervention about SSIs in an undergraduate classroom. It assessed students’ gains in the skill of argumentation. A one-group pre-test-post-test design was used. Data were generated through collection of students’ writing pre- and post-instruction, which was analysed using Toulmin’s Argumentation Pattern (TAP). Results reveal that almost half of the students reached a high level of argumentation. Findings show the importance of teaching content through learner-centred pedagogies. Introduction of various socio-scientific case studies and practicing argumentation has positively impacted on students’ argumentation skills. This study is significant for teachers as it provides an example to replicate in their classroom and can assist science teachers to enrich teaching and learning. The study recommends improving teachers’ competence in order to promote argumentation skills among students.
Keywords: Argumentation in science, Socio-scientific Issue, Toulmin Argumentation Pattern, Genetics, Argumentation-based teaching
How to cite this article:
Anwar, N.P. 2020. The effect of socio-scientific issue (SSI) based discussion: A student-centred approach to the teaching of argumentation. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the South. 4(2): 35-62. https://doi.org/10.36615/sotls.v4i2.76.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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topic |
Argumentation in science, Socio-scientific Issue Toulmin Argumentation Pattern Genetics Argumentation-based teaching |
url |
https://up.openjournaltheme.com/sotl/3.2.1-4/index.php/sotls/article/view/76 |
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