In the previous posts we have defined scientific literacy and explained why scientific literacy is important. So at this point how do we know when a person is scientifically literate? Are there certain skills and knowledge that a person must have in order to be considered scientifically literate? Are there things that a scientifically literate person can do that others can’t? Does a scientifically literate person look at issues the same as a non-scientifically literate person?
Scientific Literacy Supports Developing Positions and Designing Solutions
The most obvious attribute of a scientifically literate person is that while they may have a position on a policy issue, or a solution on how to fix a problem, they come to their position based on an understanding of the scientific principles involved. The scientifically literate person uses evidence to back their position and/or justify their solution instead of simply forming an opinion.
I used to explain this concept to my students in the classroom first by asking if they had a younger sibling. I taught 8th grade science and most students had dealt with either a little sibling or babysat a young child for spending money. I would ask “Have you ever argued with a 2-year old?” They would chuckle. I asked if they had ever won. The class would start laughing and they would give me examples of how frustrated they were with trying to convince a 2-year old of anything. We would end up agreeing that 2-year olds invariably stamp one foot and the argument becomes “because I said so”. Small children know their world in a very one dimensional way – they know what they want and they want it because they do!
I would ask them to review their most recent CER (claim, evidence and rationale) that we had been working on and evaluate it. Did they support their claim with evidence? Did the evidence they present support their claim. Did they link to a scientific principle so there was a rationale for their claim? Or did they simply make their claim like a 2-year old stamping their foot – “because I said so”.
Key Components of a Scientifically Literate Person
How do I know if I am scientifically literate? What are the key components that a person would need to have in order to be considered a scientifically literate person? In the past science was taught as a series of facts. A person was scientifically literate if they had mastered a sufficient number of facts and could demonstrate their mastery by answering a question with the correct fact. Current understanding of scientific literacy is not simply having memorized information, rather it is what a person can do with information.
The scientifically literate person has the ability to:
- Read articles in popular media and make connections to scientific principles.
- Use scientific principles to evaluate information for validity.
- Ask questions about an issue or a phenomena that leads to understanding.
- Express opinions that are scientifically and technologically informed.
- Make predictions based on scientific principles.
- Support their opinions and/or design ideas with relevant information based on research.
- Use their understanding of scientific principles for economic gain.
Advantages of being Scientifically Literate
A scientifically literate person is able to use their understanding of scientific principles and skills to enhance decisions made in their lives. The scientifically literate person has a skill base that is used daily to solve problems and evaluate information.
The scientifically literate person has an advantage when:
- Using their natural curiosity to ask relevant questions about phenomena when seeking an explanation.
- Evaluating information from a variety of media resources.
- Using valid evidence to support claims made in arguments
- Identifying and using scientific principles to make decisions on local and national issues
- Seeking the source of scientific information and evaluating the quality of the information based on the method by which the information was generated.
The ability to acquire, evaluate and use information results in an economic advantage throughout their lifetime.