Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Chemistry plays an important role in making the future more sustainable and solving the related global issues. Curricula, national and international educational strategies, research literature and chemical industry are all focusing on sustainable development. We need more environmentally literate chemists, chemistry teachers and students future citizens, who are to solve the numerous environmental challenges that face the whole world. The main aim of this design research study was to find out what are the features of holistic and inquiry-based education for sustainable development in chemistry. At the same time, the aim was to foster students environmental literacy, argumentation skills and positive attitudes towards chemistry. Education for sustainable development in chemistry is related to socio-scientific issues, e.g., life-cycle thinking and green chemistry. Theoretical problem-analysis of the study was used to investigate the approaches that are of key importance to the study presented in this dissertation: sustainable development, green chemistry, the life-cycles of different products, environmental literacy, socio-scientific education, and the pedagogical methods of inquiry-based learning and argumentation. The empirical design phase sought an answer to the main research question: What are the main features of holistic and inquiry-based education for sustainable development in chemistry? The main focus of the research was in teaching life-cycle analysis, which is one of the key elements in the Finnish national curriculum. The design research project constituted of three phases, which were conducted during the years 2010 2014. The first empirical phase was conducted in four chemistry teachers in-service training courses. During these courses, a total of 20 chemistry teachers created new inquiry-based methods for teaching life-cycle analysis in chemistry. This development process was based on theoretical problem analysis. The second empirical phase focused on creating a collaboratively-developed design solution based on the teachers concepts and the effects of this solution. The participants in this second phase were 105 9th grade students, whose environmental literacy, argumentation skills and attitudes towards chemistry learning were evaluated. The third phase was theoretical. It consisted of comparing the gained empirical knowledge to theoretical literature in order to answer the main research question. The methods of data analysis included content analysis of texts, semi-structured interviews and quantitative surveys. The validity of the results of the conducted cyclic design research project is enhanced by theoretical literature analysis, methodological triangulation, researcher triangulation, the testing of the developed teaching concept in authentic environments and the systematic, visualised documentation of the design phases. The design phases resulted in three types of knowledge: 1) new chemistry teaching concepts for sustainability education that use life-cycle thinking and inquiry-based learning methods, and a collaboratively-developed design solution (Article I), 2) knowledge about how inquiry-based learning of life-cycle analysis affects students environmental literacy, argumentation skills and attitudes towards chemistry (Articles II and III) and 3) domain knowledge about holistic and inquiry-based education for sustainable development in chemistry (Article IV). Holistic and inquiry-based education for sustainable development in chemistry includes interdisciplinary and socio-scientific issues. Socio-constructivist and contextual chemistry education is bound to societal actors and co-operational, real-life activities. Learning occurs in social interaction, through argumentation and self-reflection, for example. The students themselves may choose the focus of inquiry, and it may relate to raw materials, consumer products, food substances or water, for example. As the knowledge of chemistry is combined with possibilities for societal action, the importance of chemistry becomes apparent to the students. They gain competence to act towards building a more sustainable future. The improved scientific and ecological argumentation skills reflect their environmental literacy and competence in societal thinking. The holistic and inquiry-based chemistry education presented in this dissertation supports versatile studying and citizenship skills in a new way. It motivates students to study chemistry and guides them to take sustainable development into account. Education for sustainable development is needed at all school levels. The approaches presented in this study may be applied on all levels of education. The results may be used to promote sustainable development in the planning of chemistry education and the education of chemistry teachers. Keywords: chemistry education, sustainable development, green chemistry, teaching concepts, design research
Source: Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja
Author: Marianne Juntunen
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1600081425