Science Education for a Better World? Reflections on Embodiment, Language and Sensitive Action

Laura Colucci-Gray

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

11 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Abstract The STEPWISE framework (Science & Technology Education Promoting Wellbeing for Individuals, Societies & Environments) takes a radical overhaul of traditional aims of science education, to stretch them well beyond the learning and application of scientific content. Rather, it conceives of science education as a process of cultural formation, promoting people’s awareness of impacts of knowledge cultures that value economic production and material consumption over social and environmental concerns. Citizens are called upon to ‘take action,’ pushing away from neoliberal demands. In this chapter, I give fuller consideration to theoretical premises of this type of education. By drawing on insights provided by phenomenology, and the two, interconnected, dimensions of embodiment and language, it is suggested that ‘stepping wisely’ may be more than a framework or model for science learning but would in fact equate to a process of real ‘stepping’, by ‘sensing’ and ‘being’ in connection with wider life cycles that bring together people with environments. A sustainable approach to life on the Planet, therefore, becomes possible when established beliefs about science knowledge as a body of truths are revisited in the light of recent interdisciplinary studies on human development which are asserting the primacy of movement, emotion and perception in learning. This chapter argues for promotion of critical science education that is not only a means for deconstructing powerful agendas but a process supporting inventories of potent images for desired, sustainable futures.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationScience and Technology Education Promoting Wellbeing for Individuals, Societies and Environments
EditorsJohn Lawrence Bencze
PublisherSpringer
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-319-55505-8
ISBN (Print)978-3-319-55503-4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Publication series

NameCultural Studies of Science Education
PublisherSpringer
Volume14
ISSN (Print)1871-1502
ISSN (Electronic)1871-1510

Keywords

  • embodiment
  • walking
  • techno-science
  • power
  • sensitive-action
  • affect

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Science Education for a Better World? Reflections on Embodiment, Language and Sensitive Action'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this