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Science misinformation represents a significant challenge for the scientific community. Hispanic communities are particularly vulnerable due to language barriers and the lack of accessible information in Spanish. We identified that a key step toward enhancing the accessibility of information for non-native English-speaking communities involves imparting science communication education and training to Hispanic youth. Our goal was to provide them with the skills to become science ambassadors who can effectively engage with their communities and bridge communication gaps. To address this, we developed the first science communication training program in Spanish for Hispanic high school and undergraduate students in Puerto Rico. The program called "+Ciencia" aims to provide training and education on science communication for Hispanic minorities through experiential and collaborative learning. In the short term, our multifaceted approach works to counter misinformation and promote science literacy within the broader community. Over the long term, our grassroots efforts with students will evolve into a generation of professionals equipped with strong engagement skills and comprehensive training in science communication with a specific focus on Hispanic audiences. Herein, we describe the components of this educational program and provide open access to educational materials and articles developed by three cohorts.

This work focuses on understanding how researchers in Spain perceive the importance of social media in scientific communication and dissemination and deepening their understanding of the influential underlying factors. From the initial identification of 5,314 researchers affiliated with higher education institutions in Spain, who published in journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Sciences from 2016 to 2020, 487 were surveyed, and 20 were interviewed. The results show how despite the potential of non-academic social media for the social dissemination of scientific knowledge, use remains low among the researchers surveyed in this study. Also, data allow us to recognize how the time of use of social media and the perception of the training needed influence the perception of the usefulness of social media by Spanish researchers on education. Use that does not seem to be oriented toward dialogue and citizen participation. Higher education institutions should improve the communication and scientific dissemination led by researchers through training and the design of dissemination policies that guarantee an active and general use of them (not only academics but also generalists like Facebook or YouTube) to transfer scientific knowledge to society better.

Socioscientific issues (SSIs), which are an important component of scientific literacy in science education, are scientific-based issues with dilemmas and no clear answers. SSIs can be local issues that affect a region or global issues that affect the world. This study aimed to investigate informal reasoning (IR) patterns and their influencing factors on science teachers about local SSIs. The research was designed as a case study. The participants consisted of 38 science teachers from various provinces of Central Anatolia, where the local features of context were at the forefront. Teachers were asked to form an IR about the texts with dilemmas addressed to them. Using content analysis, teachers' IR patterns were based on rationalistic, emotive, and intuitive reasoning; factors affecting their reasoning were analyzed according to sociology-culture, environment, economy, science, technology, ethics-morality, and policy (SEE-STEP). In the results, science teachers mostly use rationalistic IR and rationalistic and intuitive IR patterns about energy-related local SSIs. While the factors that most influence teachers' IR regarding local SSIs are economy and environment, the factor that least influences their IR is ethics. As a result of the study, IR is closely related to the context and environmental/socio-cultural background that can influence IR. Based on the result that teachers' IR is affected by the content, the main suggestion of this study is to investigate the IR of different contents in local SSIs.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among pre-service science teachers' global scientific literacy and various variables within the scope of the structural equation model. Since the relations among the variables were investigated in the structural model established for this study, correlational research methodology was applied. The application was carried out with 294 pre-service teachers studying in the departments of chemistry, physics, biology and elementary science education of a state university. The data of the study were obtained with the scales of global scientific literacy, the perception of science process skills, the inquiry skills, the self-directed learning readiness in laboratory, the attitude scale towards the laboratory and the personal information questionnaire. Within the framework of structural equation modeling, the causal and relational analyses of the data were examined. The results showed that the proposed model of the relationship among global scientific literacy and the variables predicting global scientific literacy was also found to be compatible with the data, and the entire model was confirmed except for the attitude towards the laboratory. In this context, it can be claimed that these variables play an essential role in pre-service teachers' being global scientifically literate.

Science literacy abilities and collaborative skills are part of the life skills demands of the 21st century. This research aims to analyze the effectiveness of the PjBL learning model in improving the Science literacy and collaborative skills of students at Muhammadiyah 2 Middle School, Batu City and Muhammadiyah 8 Middle School, Batu City. The research design uses Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design. The research sample consisted of 60 class VIII students taken by total sampling. Data was obtained through observation, questionnaires and tests. Data analysis uses covariance analysis (ANCOVA) to verify the data against the proposed hypothesis. The research results show that the average Science literacy and collaboration in PjBL learning is higher than conventional learning. The results of the analysis can be concluded that the implementation of PjBL effectively influences students' Science literacy and students' collaboration skills. Thus, the PjBL model is recommended to be implemented to support the implementation of the Independent Curriculum at the junior high school level as an effort to develop students' 21st century life skills.

Scientific literacy plays a crucial role for elementary teachers in developing the strategies of science learning and implementing them in the classroom. Nevertheless, the scientific literacy of college students in elementary education has not been optimal. Science encyclopedia-assisted project-based learning (PjBL) integrated into the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) approach is hypothesized to enhance scientific literacy. The present study describes and examines the effectiveness of science encyclopedia-assisted STEM-PjBL in enhancing pre-service elementary teachers' scientific literacy. Quasi-experimental research using a pre- and post-tests control group design was applied to this study. 56 pre-service elementary teachers at the University of Halu Oleo were involved in this study whereby they were equally distributed to two groups. A test of scientific literacy was adapted and used to measure scientific literacy. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and analyse the data of scientific literacy. Results revealed that science encyclopedia-assisted STEM-PjBL had a positive modest effect on the achievement of scientific literacy. The scientific literacy of college students in elementary education who received science encyclopedia-assisted STEM-PjBL had moderate enhancement. Additionally, a science encyclopedia-assisted STEM-PjBL significantly enhanced scientific literacy. Educational practitioners can implement a science encyclopedia-assisted PjBL integrated STEM approach to enhance scientific literacy resulting in high achievement in science education.

Primary Scientific Literature (PSL) significantly contributes to cultivating students' scientific literacy. However, students' visual strategies while reading PSL remain unclear. This study utilized eye-tracking technology to clarify students' visual attention allocation and fixation transactions during PSL reading, and explored their associations with students' self-reported reading strategy levels and reading outcomes. Thirty-eight undergraduate students majoring in biology (22 females and 16 males) participated in the study. They wore eye-tracking glasses while reading a PSL that included sections like abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and reference. Participants also completed a Primary Scientific Literature Strategies Assessment and a post-reading exam. The study demonstrated that reading time and fixation count on the results page were positively correlated with self-reported PSL reading strategy scores and reading outcomes. The reading time and fixation count on the methods page are positively correlated with self-reported PSL reading strategy score. Moreover, the higher group showed significantly greater attention to results compared to the lower group. The higher group exhibited significant interaction between texts and figures in fixation transactions within the results, whereas this interaction was absent in the lower group. The research provided recommendations for educators to enhance students' PSL reading strategies and abilities.

The integration of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) into instructional design is pivotal for teachers. This intricate knowledge framework encompasses the interplay between technology, pedagogy, and subject matter, profoundly impacting the multifaceted aspects of student learning, encompassing knowledge acquisition, skill development, and the cultivation of desirable attributes. This research at hand adopts an exploratory approach, examining two sample groups: 1) Science teachers from secondary schools under the Northeastern Region of Thailand during the academic year 2565-2566, totaling 124 individuals, and 2) Secondary school students receiving instruction in science-related subjects from the aforementioned teachers, with a minimum of one classroom involved. Data collection tools include a survey on TPACK, a scientific competency assessment, and semi-structured interviews. Statistical analysis employs mean, standard deviation, and content analysis. Testing of hypothesis uses One-Way Analysis of Variance (One-Way ANOVA). The study reveals that students taught by science teachers with varying levels of TPACK exhibit statistically significant differences in scientific competency at a 0.05 significance level. When comparing scientific competency with TPACK levels of teachers, statistically significant differences at the 0.05 level are found in two pairs: 1) the Adapting level and the Advancing level and 2) the Exploring level and the Advancing level.

This study aimed to determine the difference in environmental literacy skills between the Project-Based Learning (PjBL) learning model and STEM-based PjBL. This research is quantitative research with a quasi-experimental method. The research design used is a non-equivalent pretest-posttest control group design. The dependent variable in this study is environmental literacy skills. The population in this study were all grade X students of State Senior High School (SHS) 7 of Surakarta in the 2023/2024 academic year. The sampling technique used was cluster random, tenth grade (X) A and B. A class consists of 36 students, as a control, using the PjBL model whereas as many as 35 students in B class is an experimental group was learned using the STEM-PjBL model. The data collection technique was carried out using pretest and posttest on the research sample. Data analysis technique using ANCOVA test. Instrument validation techniques using validity tests and reliability tests. The test results using ANCOVA have a significance value of <0.05, indicating differences in students' environmental literacy skills between the implementation of PjBL and STEM-PjBL. These results show that implementing the STEM-PjBL model was superior compared to PjBL only. It can be seen from the difference in learning outcomes of the control class, within the pretest and posttest, which showed an increase of 10.16%. In comparison, the experimental class results showed an increase of 16.94%. STEM-PjBL also helps students to be able to improve their environmental literacy skills in terms of knowledge, cognitive skills, attitudes, and behavior toward environmental problems.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of scripted biology curriculum as a means of providing students with the information required to increase content knowledge, while comparing curriculum developed by the teacher that utilizesthe Understanding by Design (UbD) framework (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005). The study used a mixed method, concurrent triangulation design which revealed that there was a significant difference between student growth from the pretest to the posttest. The teacher reflection logs and student focus groups identified two themes regarding science content knowledge: instructional/learning style and using discussion within the instructional cycle for both curricula. It was evident that the increase in content knowledge was associated with the utilization of discussion during the learning cycle. The teacher reflection logs and student focus groups also identified two themes when looking at the perception of the learning environment: the effect of teacher relationship on instruction and the effect of time on the learning environment. According to the instrument used, both groups of students showed growth, however, there was a larger gain among the students receiving the Understanding by Design curriculum. A major contributing factor for the growth among all students was the relationship the teacher had with them to meet their individual academic needs.

In this research, the effects of using Model-Based and Argumentation-Supported Model-Based Inquiry methods on 6th-grade middle school students' knowledge, scientific process skills, and motivation regarding the subject of sound and its properties were examined according to the current curriculum. A total of 77 students attending a state school participated in the study that employed a mixed research design. In the semi-experimental study, two experimental groups and one control group were used. Lessons were taught according to the model-based inquiry method supported by argumentation in the first experimental group, according to the model-based inquiry method in the second experimental group, and according to the current curriculum in the control group. In the research, achievement tests, scientific process skills tests, and motivation scales were administered as pre-tests and post-tests for data collection. The obtained data were analyzed using One-Way Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). According to the obtained results, it has been determined that the Model-Based and Argumentation-Supported Model-Based Inquiry methods significantly differ from the current curriculum in terms of student achievement and motivation. Furthermore, it has been observed that the Argumentation-Supported Model-Based Inquiry method is more effective than the Model-Based Inquiry method in enhancing students' development of scientific process skills.

Often, composition instructors struggle to encourage STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) students to see the relevance of writing courses to their personal goals. Students' lack of recognition of the importance of literacy skills can lead to disengagement in required college writing courses compared to their so-called "hard" science courses, and, ironically, hinder their future academic and professional success in STEM fields. The first year writing (FYW) course we introduce, LB 133: Inquiry in Science & Society through Writing, was designed for students at Lyman Briggs College, a residential college for the sciences at Michigan State University, with the goal of engaging and empowering the students in writing through inquiry-based projects on the relationship between science and society. Iteratively and collaboratively developed and taught, the faculty teaching team--led by the lead author--has worked from a common syllabus, sharing activities and assessment tools. Each element of the collaborative course is designed to promote writing skills and, in particular, critical science literacy, the ability to meaningfully read and write about science.

This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable scale that reveals secondary school pupils' attitudes toward science literacy. The survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. The validity and reliability study of the scale was carried out on secondary school pupils attending public schools in Turkey in the 2022-2023 academic year. Data were collected from 546 secondary school pupils. The structure of the draft scale, established through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), consisted of 16 items and 4 dimensions. The scale was administered to 392 secondary school pupils to verify the structure revealed by EFA. This validated a 16-item and 4- dimension structure. The total variance explained by the scale was 50.11%. The Cronbach alpha coefficient, which indicates the scale's internal consistency, was calculated to be 0.867. Fit indexes were calculated as X2/df =2.38, NFI= 0.92, NNFI= 0.94, RFI= 0.90, CFI= 0.95, GFI= 0.93, AGFI= 0.90, SRMR= 0.055, IFI= 0.95 and RMSEA= 0.060. In conclusion, it can be said that the "Attitude Towards Science Literacy Scale" is qualified to measure the attitude of secondary school pupils towards science literacy.

Education on sustainability is a crucial goal that requires a transformative shift in teacher education to drive meaningful changes oriented to action. A cross-sectional study with an exploratory design investigated preservice science teachers' perceptions regarding teaching sustainable citizenship, specifically focusing on the climate crisis and earthquakes-tsunamis. The study was conducted in two Chilean universities with similar teacher preparation programs. The team designed a podcast series, which was used and evaluated by the 13 participants through action research. Three group discussions explored their perceptions of the resources, as well as the aims and challenges of teaching sustainable citizenship and the podcasts. We used Grounded Theory steps, including triangulation by the researchers to ensure reliability, to qualitatively analyse the data. The results reveal a constraint on teaching in areas where the participants lacked the necessary preparation and background knowledge as students and preservice teachers. The main challenges were related to interdisciplinarity, the social dimension of socio-scientific issues and context-responsive teaching methods. The perceived aims were the development of students' critical thinking, informed positioning, and encouraging active citizen participation. Preservice teachers found the podcast series to be a valuable new epistemic and pedagogical resource that can support their efforts to teach sustainable citizenship and implement pedagogical strategies. The autonomous usage of the device triggered reflection processes, particularly regarding the human rights perspective, which unveiled the socio-political dimensions inherent in science education. It promoted personal re-positioning as active citizens and educators and empowered them to seek out and pursue the changes needed to reshape future classrooms. We discuss these findings in the context of teacher preparation and the use of educational technology in teacher education.

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to map the research trends and intellectual landscape surrounding the development of scientific literacy assessments in educational contexts from 2019 to 2023. Scientific literacy, which encompasses the ability to comprehend, evaluate, and apply scientific knowledge, has emerged as a crucial competency in science education. However, existing assessment tools often prioritize factual recall over deeper conceptual understanding and critical thinking abilities. To address this gap, there is a need for innovative assessment approaches that holistically evaluate students' scientific literacy across multiple dimensions. Through a systematic analysis of 185 relevant publications from the Scopus database, this study investigates the numerical distribution of literature by year, document type, journal, author, institution, and country. Additionally, it explores the prominent themes, evolving topic trends, and emerging clusters within the scientific literacy assessment research domain. Bibliometric techniques, including citation analysis, coauthorship networks, and keyword co-occurrence mapping, are employed to provide a comprehensive perspective. The findings reveal a steady increase in publications focused on scientific literacy assessments, reflecting the growing recognition of this research area. The analysis identifies highly influential journals, articles, authors, and institutions actively shaping the field. Furthermore, it highlights key research themes, such as secondary education, teacher professional development, and information literacy. However, the integration of scientific literacy assessments with artificial intelligence remains an underexplored area, presenting opportunities for future research.

This study examined the effects of students' argumentation standpoints on their argumentation learning in the context of socio-scientific issues (SSIs). To that end, four kinds of argumentation standpoints were defined: affirmative standpoints, oppositional standpoints, multiple standpoints, and non-standpoints. These four kinds of standpoints allow for six possible combinations of any two of the different kinds of standpoints, which enabled us to conduct six kinds of 2-team format debates. The resulting differences of students' four types of arguments (i.e., claims, warrants, rebuttals, and qualifiers) generated in six types of debates were examined. This study invited 208 10th-grade students to participate in a quasi-experimental research design. The results showed the affirmative group students demonstrated superior performance in terms of claims and warrants, and the oppositional group students had the largest number of rebuttals. The students in the debate with combinations of affirmative and oppositional groups exhibited the best performance regarding the generation of claims, warrants, and rebuttals. Based on the results, the present study concluded the standpoint had significant effects on the students' argumentation learning, which suggests that teachers can investigate students' standpoint on the learning topic of SSI and their prior knowledge about the standpoint before teaching.

Biotechnology has great importance as a socioscientific issue in STEM education. This study aimed to explore the knowledge and attitudes of college students toward biotechnology. A total of 236 university students participated in the study. Questionnaires on knowledge and attitudes towards biotechnology were used for data collection. The results revealed that participants had inadequate knowledge about several basic concepts related to genetics and biotechnology, particularly those concerning genetically modified organisms. The results regarding the attitudes revealed more neutral results. The participants had a neutral attitude towards biotechnology, with mean scores ranging from 2.71 to 3.55. They were generally against buying genetically modified products but supported biotechnology for medical purposes and strongly desired to increase their knowledge about genetically modified products. The participants did not have a negative opinion of biotechnology in general but were critical of its purpose and use. The correlation analysis between knowledge and attitudes produced weak correlations. Offering supplementary resources on biotechnology can enhance students' and individual's understanding and attitudes of this topic.

This study aims to develop context-based teaching materials and examine their effects on students' scientific literacy skills. This study adopted the developmental research model by Borg & Gall (1983), which was modified into four stages: needs analysis, model development, model validation and implementation. Experts validated the draft of the developed teaching materials, and their practicality was tested prior to their implementation in the experimental class. The implementation of the teaching materials to determine its effectiveness on scientific literacy skills applied a quasi-experimental one-shot case study design. Descriptive and inferential statistics with the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test were used. It shows that the context-based teaching materials met the validity and practicality criteria. The results of the analysis of the student's scientific literacy skills in control and experimental classes show a significant difference in ability (p<0.01). The implementation of the teaching materials revealed that the context-based teaching material could improve students' scientific literacy skills (p<0.01). Furthermore, post hoc analysis shows that the students' scientific literacy skills in interpreting data and evidence scientifically is higher than the other two aspects, namely in evaluating and designing scientific enquiry, as well as in explaining phenomena scientifically.

Science learning today refers to the STEM approach from both primary education to higher education. Teaching materials are the second important part besides the role of creative and innovative teachers in the learning process. Teaching materials are used as learning resources that can be created and developed by the teacher according to the characteristics and needs of students and integrate other disciplines and values in it. The integration of several disciplines has a significant impact on learning outcomes. This study aims to understand the teacher's perception of the need for STEM-PjBL-based digital teaching materials integrated with local religion and wisdom. This research is the basis of development research conducted to develop digital science teaching materials based on STEM-PjBL integrated with religion and local wisdom. Respondents who participated in this study were 101 teachers from various islands in Indonesia. The technique used is a questionnaire by filling out ten questions on the questionnaire distributed via google form. The results showed that the teaching materials used by teachers in teaching science 55.45% came from the government in the form of teacher-student handbooks. The rest of the teachers use teaching materials sourced from publishers (39.60%) the rest use sources from the internet. There has not been found data on teachers using their own teaching materials or collaborating with the Teacher Working Group. While learning science as a whole without integrating other disciplines is 8.91%. Only 25.74% of teachers integrate technology and machines.

This study aims to develop Nature of Science (NOS) measurement instrument for high school students in the Mathematics and Natural Sciences program using COVID-19 cases that had occurred since the end of 2019. This study also attempts to validate test items with the Rasch model approach. The participants in this study are 194 high school students from the Mathematics and Natural Sciences program. Test participants consist of 132 female students and 62 male students. Their age range is 18-21 years old. NOS measurement instrument is presented in multiple choice form, which consists of 16 questions with narration or readings about COVID-19. Data analysis is conducted by dividing the validity into three types, those are content aspect validity, psychometric aspect validity, and construct validity using Rasch model. Content validity is conducted with an assessment involving three experts related to the test material and measured scientific literacy achievement. Psychometric aspects validity involves three psychometricians associated with the construction of the test. Meanwhile, for construct validity, which refers to the concept of construct validity of Messick. The results shows that there are 8 of 16 items in the NOS measurement that occupies all aspects of validity. Regarding to content of construct validity, there are two items do not appropriate with the model, while with substantive validity 94.4% of the test are consistent with the used Rasch model. Regarding to external aspect of construct validity shows that the test instrument can differentiate test participants into two categories, each of which has high and low NOS abilities.

This study aimed to investigate research trends related to socio-scientific issues (SSI). The SSI articles analysed were from highest-rating five science education journals with the highest impact ratings, published between 2011 and 2022, including "Science Education" [SE], "Journal of Research in Science Teaching" [JRST], "Science and Education" [S&E], "International Journal of Science Education" [IJSE], and "Research in Science Education" [RSE]. A total of 87 selected relevant SSI articles were analysed to determine research types, research topics, research sample groups, research sites, and authors with the most citations. According to the research findings, IJSE articles are the most widely published articles compared to other articles of similar journals. It is revealed that the most discussed issues in those articles of IJSE are argumentation and decision-making, followed by the nature of science. Pupils in middle and high schools constitute the largest sample groups. The continent that has been widely selected as research sites is European continent. Meanwhile, the country with the most research sites is the United States. The data collection tool most frequently used in the research is interview. S&E's "Nature of Science," "Scientific Inquiry," and "Socio-Scientific Issues Arising from Genetics: A Pathway to Developing a Scientifically Literate Citizenry" articles are the most cited articles. Challenges such as addressing efficacy, emotion, and attitude remain noticeably unexplored in SSI studies. Furthermore, exploratory studies on SSI for early childhood education.

Children's natural curiosity by everything around them is a premise for discovery. Natural phenomena such as the alternation between day and night, elements of nature such as the tree's leaves and their shapes and colors, daily routines as sorting waste, raise many questions in children, stimulating them towards scientific literacy trough what is familiar to them and their personal life experiences. In the science children's books, the concepts' approach sometimes difficult its understanding by children, due to the used vocabulary, the lack of an appealing narrative, among other aspects. In turn, children's literature books without any intention of promoting or developing ideas of science can, through their narrative and illustrations, in a more meaningful context for children, motivate the inquiring and the concepts' exploration. This work results from a presentation session of the children's book "From the outside to inside and from the inside to outside" to children of a Portuguese school of the 1st Cycle of Basic Education, by the authors which are also the researchers, having as aim create an environment based on questioning activity, supported in the story narrative, and develop children's divergent thinking in a context involving scientific ideas.

The aim of this study was to develop students' chemical literacy by integrating dilemma stories into a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) project on petroleum. Chemical literacy can help students face future challenges by applying what they learn about chemistry subjects at school to solve problems in their daily lives. A qualitative research method was employed that included interviews, observations, reflective journals, chemical literacy tests, and student activity sheets, as data collection tools. Thirty six secondary school students participated in the research using a project-based approach consisting of five steps: value reflection, problem-solving, project monitoring and evaluation, project development, and transformation. This study used four chemical literacy components according to Shwartz, Ben-Zvi and Hofstein (2006) namely scientific and chemical content knowledge, characteristics of chemistry, chemistry in context, higher-order learning skills, and affective aspect. STEAM integrated with dilemmas stories provides opportunities for students to develop chemical literacy through value reflection, problem solving, and STEAM project. This study uses a dilemma story to understand chemistry concepts whereby students can develop a project by integrating chemistry and STEAM principles. The STEAM Project involved making alternative fuel to find a solution to a problem presented in the dilemma story. The researchers were challenged by the need to find a suitable chemistry-based dilemma story to integrate with a STEAM project while also empowering students and managing time resources.

Scaffolding in learning and teacher guidance during inquiry can be attained by formative assessment, which needs to be built into every stage of inquiry. Investigation of the effects of embedded formative assessment in inquiry-based learning on students' conceptual understanding was the aim of this study. Mixed method experimental research design including quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was used for this study. The participants were 41 students, who were in tenth grade of a suburban public high school. The study reached the following conclusions. First, formative assessment combined with inquiry-based teaching serves as a catalyst for students' conceptual learning and elevates effects of inquiry. Second, eliciting evidence of learning and feedback may be the primary stages of formative assessment in accelerating student learning and supporting student knowledge development. This study suggests that assessment should be done when teaching continuous and teachers need to adopt formative assessment while performing inquiry-based teaching.

This mixed methods study investigates student learning outcomes from undergraduate STEM and non-STEM courses, employing farm-situated place-based experiential learning (PBEL) modules at a private liberal arts university in the Midwest. Given that these courses occurred during both COVID-19 and U.S. police brutality protests, this study critically interrogates the influence of this "dual pandemic" on student meaning-making. The study examines how student scores on environmental science literacy, civic-mindedness, sense of place, and scientific reasoning measures changed throughout the PBEL courses. With the exception of scientific reasoning, change in each measure was statistically significant (p<0.001). A stepwise linear regression determined whether any measures predicted civic-mindedness. Environmental science literacy and university place attachment were found to be predictive of civic-mindedness. Focus group data revealed how PBEL modules affected student learning outcomes and how the dual pandemic affected student civic-mindedness and place attachment.

This study aims to ascertain the research trends of articles on scientific literacy in primary schools. In the study, both bibliometric and content analysis techniques were employed. In the Web of Science database, 145 studies conducted between 1993 and 2021 and 60 studies conducted between 2002 and 2021 were included in the content analysis for bibliometric analysis. According to the findings, there is a rising interest in scientific literacy in primary schools. Bybee, R., and McCrae, B., were the most cited authors in this study. The United States was the most frequently cited country, and the Australian Council for Educational Research was the most frequently cited institution. Few mixed studies have been conducted on the topic of scientific literacy, as qualitative studies have dominated the field. As sample groups, primary school students and college graduates were favored. The study concluded that scientific literacy in primary school is mostly promoted by organizations, journals or authors in developed countries. The results of the study were discussed in light of the relevant literature, and suggestions for further studies were offered.

The aim of this longitudinal research is to examine the development process of scientific and consistent knowledge structures of first, second, and third-grade students in middle school within the concepts of melting and dissolution according to conceptual change theories at the end of the education and training processes carried out in educational institutions. The research is carried out in a district of a metropolitan city in the Marmara Region with the participation of 43 middle school students. Open-ended questions developed for concepts were used to collect data. Friedman test is used to determine whether there is a difference between students' consistent and scientific knowledge structure scores regarding the concepts of melting and dissolution. As there is a significant difference between the students' consistent and scientific knowledge structure scores regarding the concepts of melting and dissolution, the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test is used for dual comparisons between student levels. In addition, Spearman's correlation coefficient of rank differences is used to determine if there is a relationship between the class levels of the students and the scores of students' consistent and scientific knowledge structure regarding the concepts of melting and dissolution. As a result of the research, it is determined that the students' consistent and scientific knowledge structure scores regarding the concepts of melting and dissolution differ depending on the students' levels. When all the findings obtained from the research are evaluated together, it can be said that the development process of students' knowledge structures regarding the relevant concepts is more compatible with the knowledge in pieces conceptual change theory. Based on the results of the research, some suggestions were made.

Energy literacy has become acritical issue in recent years. The purpose of this study was to examine the contributions of epistemological beliefs to energy literacy in lower-secondary school students in Turkey. Data were collected via self-report questionnaires from 656 lower-secondary school students in the Aegean Region of Turkey. To address the research questions, Pearson correlation and multiple regression were implemented. Descriptive results revealed that students had a low energy literacy mean score in the knowledge dimension whereas they had moderate mean scores in the behavioral and affective dimensions. Multiple regression results yielded statistically significant contributions of epistemological beliefs to energy literacy. Analysis revealed that the reasoning dimension positively predicted the energy literacy in the knowledge dimension whereas the authority and accuracy dimension did negatively. The results of this study suggest that advancing students' epistemological beliefs can be a way to increase students' energy literacy levels.

This theoretical paper focuses on the social processes of public engagement with science and their implications for science education. The core of our argument is that science education should help people become better at evaluating, using, and curating their epistemic networks to make personal and civic decisions and to understand the natural world. In this context, an epistemic network is a set of people who support sensemaking by providing new information and aiding in the interpretation and reconstruction of scientific knowledge in context. We believe epistemic networks are an important consideration for science education, particularly when misinformation plays an outsized role in the cultural landscape. Understanding when epistemic networks are useful and how science education should incorporate them requires a clear sense of how they work in different contexts. We start by contrasting the inevitably social nature of all public engagement with science with the particularly social or interpersonal nature of some public engagement with science. We draw on research from education, communication, and science and technology studies to develop the idea of an epistemic network and to describe two basic types: the individual resource network and the collective action network. We illustrate each type with an extended example that is hypothetical but informed by both research and experience. Finally, we discuss how science education can incorporate epistemic networks, as well as the challenges inherent in that educational strategy.

This scoping review maps research ethics and integrity challenges and best practices encountered by research actors in the DACH countries (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), including researchers, funders, publishers, research ethics committees, and policymakers, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic brought research and, in turn, research ethics and integrity, into public focus. This review identified challenges related to changing research environments, diversity in research, publication and dissemination trends, scientific literacy and trust in science, recruitment, research redundancy and study termination, placebo and human challenge studies, data management, and informed consent. These challenges are linked to two crucial factors: first, actors in the DACH research ecosystem lacked a sound knowledge base to assess the risks and benefits of research during the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, researchers in the DACH region faced pressure from policymakers, funders, and the public to generate relevant, timely, and consistent findings to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, this review highlights best practices to mitigate the effects of future crises on research ethics and integrity, including enhanced cooperation among actors, continuous ethics assessments, and support for public scientific literacy.

Students' individual characteristics influence the effectiveness of instruction and learning and, therefore, the depth of learning. This study brings forth the voices of middle school students regarding their science learning preferences through four modalities: visual, auditory, sensorimotor, and agency support. We examined the relationship between the students' science learning preferences and three of their personal characteristics (gender, having or not having a learning disability, and level of scientific knowledge and skills). The study encompassed 305 students (166 girls) and applied a quantitative methodology employing two questionnaires: Scientific Knowledge and Skills and Learning Preferences. Analysis of variance and multiple regressions revealed that the participants favored all four learning modalities, with a significant preference for learning via visual and sensorimotor means. Girls significantly preferred learning preferences via visuals and agency support. A significant correlation was found between the level of preference for learning science via auditory means and the students' level of scientific knowledge and skills. Hierarchical regression analysis showed a significant positive contribution of gender and preference for learning science via auditory means but no contribution of having a learning disability to the students' level of scientific knowledge and skills. The study results show the importance of implementing multi-faceted instructional strategies to address students' diversity and learning preferences. Our findings underscore the need for educators and policymakers to be attentive to the students' voices when striving to narrow gaps, achieve equality among students, and elevate students' knowledge and skills in science studies.

Promotion of students' scientific literacy has long been and continues to be a central goal for reform efforts in science education. Although there is a great number of research conducted to evaluate student's scientific literacy, less is known about how we can improve students' scientific literacy through variety of scientific practices. In this study we aimed to refer to this shortcoming in the literature by examining the effect of argument driven inquiry (ADI) instructional model to promote 8th grade students' scientific literacy. A mixed method quasi experimental design was used in this study. Sixty-seven eighth grade students from the same public school attended the study. Two intact classes were randomly assigned either in structured inquiry (SI) or ADI groups. The data sources included a Scientific Literacy Assessment (SLA) and semi-structured interviews. The results indicated that students experiencing ADI instruction scored higher on the SLA-D test and personal epistemology dimension of SLA-MB test than students experiencing SI instruction. The results propose that engaging students in meaningful scientific practices may support their scientific literacy.

To assist preservice elementary teachers in attaining scientific competence, knowledge, and understanding of interdisciplinary concepts, a teacher education model--the combined individual microteaching, modeled teaching, and inquiry-based team-teaching (CIMIT) model--was established, and its effectiveness was evaluated. A quasiexperimental design was adopted, and 57 preservice elementary teachers from 2 classes of a science education preparatory course were included in the analysis (30 in the experimental group and 27 in the control group). The 18-week course comprised 36 h of classes. Before and after the course, all participants completed pretests and posttests, respectively, that measured basic scientific competency and subject matter knowledge. Quantitative and qualitative data were also collected and analyzed. The instruction of the CIMIT group comprised 3 stages: individual microteaching, modeled demonstration inquiry--based teaching by an expert teacher, and inquiry-based team teaching. For the control group, the inquiry-based team-teaching stage was omitted. The results validated the effectiveness of the CIMIT model. First, the experimental group exhibited a significantly greater improvement in scientific competency and knowledge than did the control group. Second, after training, the experimental group's knowledge of interdisciplinary concepts increased for all seven interdisciplinary concepts.

Reforming instruction is challenging. In this comparative case study of 12 school districts, we investigated the dilemmas that emerged for system leaders as they engaged in system building for elementary science and the approaches leaders took in managing them. We found that system leaders' efforts to manage their environments contributed to the preferential treatment of literacy and mathematics relative to science. Leaders managed this dilemma using three strategies: (a) integration of science with other subjects, (b) specialization of teachers, and (c) adopting curriculum materials. This study contributes to literature on dilemma management by showing that dilemmas in education system building are school-subject sensitive, emerge in relation to system building for other subjects, and are embedded in school and education systems' structural/organizational arrangements.

Various current trends in education highlight the importance of pedagogies that address societal and environmental questions while preparing and inspiring students to take action. Meanwhile, how we view the future influences how we act, and how we act influences the future. Research on young people's images of the future has shown how technology plays a central role in how we imagine the future and the changes that shape it. This suggests a need to address the role of perceptions of future sociotechnical change and agency in students' thinking, as it may instruct the development of action-oriented critical scientific literacy. Thus, in this study, we examine how images of the future reflect students' perceptions of sociotechnical change. Employing abductive qualitative content analysis on 58 upper secondary school students' essays describing "a typical day" in the future, we focused on how students' depictions of future sociotechnical change vary along three dimensions: from static futures to radical transformation, from nonproblematic change to issues deeply relevant to societal deliberation, and various framings of who, if anyone, has agency. We found that students' images of the future contained wide variation in the discussed range of sociotechnical change, while technology was discussed typically in nonproblematic and sometimes in more critical, problematised ways. Indications of agency were mostly vague, but students occasionally attributed agency over sociotechnical change to the general public, specialised experts and themselves. We conclude by discussing the potential implications of the results in regard to recent definitions of scientific literacy as well as future-oriented pedagogies in science education.

Although formulating a broadly accepted definition of scientific literacy may be challenging, it is widely recognized that Nature of Science (NOS) is an essential component of it. There are different ways to define NOS. In some cases, NOS can be conceptualized through a number of general NOS aspects like for instance science's empirical basis or tentativeness. This approach in NOS teaching and learning is considered to be helpful for advancing students' understanding about NOS. Moreover, it has been suggested that history of science, and more specifically narratives informed by the history of science, can be very well used to explicitly and systematically highlight general NOS aspects. Thus, this paper reports on two "fiction talk stories" that we created considering the history of the super-organismic-plant-community concept and the critique against it. Our stories, "Inspiration cannot wait" and "Panta rhei," set focus on the creativity involved in scientists' work, the distinction between observation and inference, and the tentativeness of science. In this paper, we (a) discuss fiction talk stories as a type of narratives used in educational contexts, (b) highlight the historical background of "Inspiration cannot wait" and "Panta rhei" and present the narratives themselves, (c) discuss them in terms of their essential features and the strategies we considered, and (d) we make some final remarks.

Adaptive science dispositions (epistemology, enjoyment, interest, and self-efficacy) have been shown to be related to schools' science climate and science literacy. School stratification may promote positive linkages among science dispositions, science literacy, and science climate. To examine the association between school stratification and such linkages, we undertook a comparative study of early secondary schools in Ireland (less stratified -- modest tracking, modest grade retention) and Flanders (Dutch-speaking Belgian region; more stratified -- multiple tracks, extensive grade retention). Using Program for International Student Assessment (PISA 2015) data and multilevel modeling methods, we included 5419 (Ireland) and 5675 (Flanders) students nested within 157 and 171 schools, respectively. Student- and school-level variables with potential associations with our outcome measures (science dispositions for the first research question (RQ1); science literacy for RQ2) were included in baseline models. Subsequent models estimated "over-and-above" associations of science climate with science dispositions (RQ1) and of both science dispositions and climate with science literacy (RQ2). Science dispositions, as outcomes, were associated with disciplinary climate and teaching support in science classroom, particularly in Ireland. All four science dispositions (as independent variables) were associated with science literacy (both separately and in concert) for both Irish and Flemish cases. Epistemology was most strongly associated with science literacy. A less stratified school system may grant teachers more opportunities to craft positive science learning environments. A more stratified school system may amplify existing divergences in science (dispositions and literacy).

With the introduction and implementation of core literacy, scientific thinking (ST) has become an essential goal and key dimension of science teaching. At present, there is no agreement on how to cultivate students' ST. This study took 238 sixth grade students from a public primary school in urban China as research sample, built a theoretical model of scientific thinking development based on the theory of the Bronfenbrenner' ecological systems theory, and used multiple data to explore and analyze the impact path of ST development of primary school students using the fuzzy sets of qualitative comparative analysis method (fsQCA). The development of urban primary school students' ST is the result of multiple factors at the level of individual drive, family environment, school teaching, and social resources. The result of data analysis showed that the influence path of ST development of urban primary school students driven by multiple factors includes three paths: parent participation leading, scientific practice leading, and home-school-community integration. We have interpreted the influence mechanism of each path in detail and put forward the enlightenment for science education policy and practice.

The predominant conceptualization of scientific literacy occurs on the micro scale of an individual person. However, scientific literacy can also be exhibited at the meso scale by groups of people in communities of place, practice, or interest. What comprises this community level scientific literacy (CSL) is both understudied and undertheorized. In this paper, we utilized a systematic literature review to describe how CSL is characterized in the extant literature and a Delphi survey of experts to elicit more current thought. Guided by cultural-historical activity theory, inductive and deductive analyses produced seven elements of CSL and their constituent characteristics: (1) resources, (2) attributes of those resources, (3) actors, (4) interactions between actors, (5) contexts, (6) topics, and (7) purposes. The typology created through this process is meant to be generative, serving as a starting point for continuing refinement within science education and other fields related to science learning and knowing.

Research in languages and literacies in science education (LLSE) has developed substantial theoretical and pedagogical insights into how students learn science through language, discourse, and multimodal representations. At the same time, language is central to the functioning of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). On this common basis concerning the role of language, this paper explores how foundational ideas from LLSE studies can inform the use of GenAI in science education. A bibliometric analysis of 412 journal articles from Web of Science provided the initial step to identify major themes and relationships in the LLSE literature. The analysis revealed four clusters of research in LLSE: reading and writing scientific text, science discourse and interaction, multilingual science classroom, and multimodality and representations. Each cluster was further analyzed through close reading of selected articles to identify and connect key constructs to the potential use of GenAI. These constructs include the interactive-constructive reading model, text genre, reading-writing integration, dialogic interaction, critical questioning, argumentation, translanguaging, hybridity, thematic pattern, modal affordance, and transduction. From these ideas and connections, the paper recommends several pedagogical principles for science educators to guide the use of GenAI. It concludes that LLSE research offers valuable insights for researchers and teachers to investigate and design the use of GenAI in science education. In turn, the impending use of GenAI also calls for a rethinking of literacy that will shape future research in LLSE.

Becoming proficient in scientific discourse such as argumentation or developing explanations can be challenging for students, including neurodivergent students (e.g., autistic students, students with learning disabilities, students with ADHD). Students need to practice developing arguments and explanations as well as sharing their conclusions with others; however, these opportunities do not regularly occur. The use of multimedia technology shows promise in being an engaging and effective way to support student learning and discussion of science topics and phenomena. This study investigated the use of a multimedia presentation called Dialogic Instruction for Argumentative Learning in Science (DIALS) in supporting upper-elementary neurodivergent students to provide complete responses to science questions. DIALS provides a structured inquiry investigation to the student in which they learn about a phenomenon through completing scaffolded animated experiments, explicitly learning how to develop an argument and respond to others conclusions, and learning relevant content information to support their argument and explanation development. An adapted alternating treatments design approach was used in this study. The phenomena explored were counterbalanced between three options: DIALS, PowerPoint comparison lessons, or control probe slides. Results from this study show promise in the use of DIALS in enhancing student complete responding to questions and providing quality claims for why they think phenomena occur. Implications for the findings are discussed.

This study aims to understand how students manage higher technical education and contribute to research on institutional culture, STEM education, and students' educational strategies by identifying patterns of how students navigate within one university's engineering education. To achieve this, we define and use the concept of technical science capital and habitus reconstruction. We collected data through a survey sent to engineering students who have followed an engineering program's intended linear progression and those who have taken a 'detour' within the same cohort at one specific Swedish university. The survey had a high number of qualitative questions, including free text answers that captured students' narratives. The results indicate that having a large amount of technical science capital alone is not enough for students to be successful in their studies. The university culture has its own structure, which can be intolerant. Within this culture, specific social skills and experiences are desirable, which provides students from a particular background with a greater opportunity for success. Despite possessing high technical science capital, students from other social groups or cultures face challenges. We discuss various measures that could make higher technical education more engaging. This study is limited to one Swedish university, and future studies could include a broader sample that represents several universities.

In this article, we aim to contribute to the theoretical conceptualisation and praxis of development education and global learning by engaging with recent discussions in the areas of ecocriticism, ecological literacy and posthumanism. Employing a pedagogical approach that is learner-centred and participatory, and that prepares learners to question dominant, globally relevant social norms, development education and global learning empower learners to be active global citizens. In congruence with this approach, we discuss the transformative pedagogical strategies employed in an innovative transdisciplinary course on the climate crisis jointly offered online by two institutions of higher learning in the US and Germany. We explore the philosophical and pedagogical stakes of this process-oriented, inquiry-based and immersive teaching intervention, and its logistical and organisational parameters, educational goals, course content and methodology, as well as some course specifics and impact. Adopting a critical pedagogical approach to climate change as a central global issue, our conceptualisation blends a focus on critical media skills (ecocriticism) with a posthumanist critique of dominant anthropocentric views of the more-than-human world. Centrally linking ontological, cultural and linguistic diversity in both curriculum design and pedagogy, this approach encourages learners to develop the transcultural skills needed to effect positive change on a local and global scale.

Science data literacy (SDL) is an important literacy for college students in STEM majors to possess. However, the current understanding of SDL is incomplete and lacks effective cultivation strategies. This study integrates the core ideas of science literacy (SL) and data literacy (DL), while considering the characteristics of science data, and constructs a conceptual framework of SDL that contains three dimensions. The Delphi method was used to further optimize this framework. The WorldWide Telescope (WWT), as a visual exploration platform centered on astronomical data, integrates a large amount of astronomical science data, which provides the possibility of cultivating students' SDL. Based on the optimized SDL conceptual framework and WWT software, we designed a curriculum for college students majoring in STEM and practiced it for 4 weeks. The practical results show that the course is effective in developing students' SDL. This study helps to deepen the connotation of SDL and also provides new ideas for cultivating SDL for college students majoring in STEM.

An essential aspect of scientific practice involves grappling with the generation of predictions, representations, interpretations, investigations, and communications related to scientific phenomena, all of which are inherently permeated with uncertainty. Transferring this practice from expert settings to the classroom is invaluable yet challenging. Teachers often perceive struggles as incidental, negative, and uncomfortable, assuming they stem from students' deficiencies in knowledge or understanding, which they feel compelled to promptly address to progress. While some empirical research has explored the role of scientific uncertainties in driving productive student struggle, few studies have explicitly examined or provided a framework to unpack scientific uncertainty as it manifests in the classroom, including the sources that lead to student struggle and how teachers can manage it effectively. In this position paper, we elucidate the importance of incorporating scientific uncertainties as pedagogical resources to foster student struggles through uncertainty from three perspectives: scientific literacy, student agency, and coherent trajectories of sensemaking. To develop a theoretical framework, we consider scientific uncertainty as a resource for productive struggle in the sensemaking process. We delve into two types (e.g., conceptual, epistemic), four sources (e.g., insufficiency, ambiguity, incoherence, conflict), and three desirability considerations (e.g., relevance, timing, complexity) of scientific uncertainties in student struggles to provide a theoretical foundation for understanding what students struggle with, why they struggle, and how scientific uncertainties can be effectively managed by teachers. With this framework, researchers and teachers can examine the (mis)alignments between uncertainty-in-design, uncertainty-in-practice, and uncertainty-in-reflection.

We investigated the effectiveness of a sustained and spiraled content literacy intervention that emphasizes building domain and topic knowledge schemas and vocabulary for elementary-grade students. The model of reading engagement intervention underscores thematic lessons that provide an intellectual structure for helping students connect new learning to a general schema in Grade 1 (animal survival), Grade 2 (scientific investigation of past events like dinosaur mass extinctions), and Grade 3 (scientific investigation of living systems). A total of 30 elementary schools (N = 2,870 students) were randomized to a treatment or control condition. In the treatment condition (i.e., full spiral curriculum), students participated in content literacy lessons from Grades 1 to 3 during the school year and wide reading of thematically related informational texts in the summer following Grades 1 and 2. In the control condition (i.e., partial spiral curriculum), students participated in lessons in only Grade 3. The Grade 3 lessons for both conditions were implemented online during the COVID-19 pandemic school year. Results reveal that treatment students outperformed control students on science vocabulary knowledge across all three grades. Furthermore, intent-to-treat analyses revealed positive transfer effects on Grade 3 science reading (ES = 0.14), domain-general reading comprehension (ES = 0.11), and mathematics achievement (ES = 0.12). Treatment impacts were sustained at 14-month follow-up on Grade 4 reading comprehension (ES = 0.12) and mathematics achievement (ES = 0.16). Findings indicate that a content literacy intervention that spirals topics and vocabulary across grades can improve students' long-term academic achievement outcomes.

Training competent behavior analysts is fundamentally crucial for the survival and prosperity of behavior analysis. The current article introduced the "Comprehensive Application of Behavior Analysis to Schooling" (CABAS) as a training model to train behavior analysts as strategic scientists. The CABAS training model is based on the philosophy of behavior selection and features a personalized system of instruction-based rank system. Each rank includes three areas of expertise: verbal behavior about science, contingency-shaped repertoire, and verbally mediated repertoire. The trainees work on these components with small-unit modules that shape and maintain their effective criterion-based performance. Advancement through these ranks demonstrates the trainees' increased proficiency and advanced expertise. We also discussed future research direction and the implications to graduate training programs in behavior analysis in general.

This article explores how global citizenship can be seen in the practices of science education in the context of international education policy and Finnish school and teacher education, with a focus on scientific literacy and sustainability education for promoting a sustainable future. Possibilities of science education to promote sustainability are discussed through teaching examples based on socio-scientific approaches. In addition, transformative science education for sustainability is regarded through competence development taking into account different knowledge dimensions. Solving problems however requires not only knowledge but also communicative and strategic and speculative activity. Thus, education must emphasize the main visions of scientific literacy and transdisciplinary perspectives proposed in the literature, supporting students to understand society and everyday socio-scientific challenges from the local to global level and to deal with differing scientific results and uncertain information. Our article presents findings and conclusions that provide opportunities for further work and provide insights into science and educational sustainability practice.

Socio-scientific issues (SSI) instruction positions the understanding and practice of science in the context of issues that are informed by science but require reasoning about their societal dimensions to respond to those issues effectively. For this reason, instruction in the context of SSI has been considered the gateway to contemporary visions of scientific literacy. SSI instruction is often framed in line with the Socio-Scientific Issues Teaching and Learning (SSI-TL) framework, which is prominent in the literature and well-used by researchers to frame professional development but potentially less familiar to classroom teachers. Given that teachers are likely familiar with the 5E learning cycle, they might experience an easier transition to developing and facilitating SSI instruction using the SSI-TL model if framed through a lens of 5E. In this article, we unpack the SSI-TL model of instruction through a 5E lens, then provide an exemplary prototype of the new SSI-TL infused 5E instruction in the context of a globally relevant SSI to highlight the overlap between engagement in essential science practices and socio-scientific reasoning. We hope that teachers become more comfortable developing science literacy by addressing both science and societal dimensions of contemporary SSI by considering the SSI-TL Framework through a 5E lens.

Whilst teaching about the nature of science (NOS) is a significant goal of science education, there remains debate about specifying the NOS and appropriate pedagogies and approaches to researching the NOS. A neglected, but conceptually and practically significant, problem is the proliferation of NOS-related learning goals such as NOS beliefs, views, understandings and knowledge. In this theoretical paper, we argue that such goals are often poorly defined, and different goals cohere with different pedagogical and research strategies. We propose a novel three-part taxonomy of NOS learning goals (as NOS beliefs, knowledge and understandings) and contend that different approaches are appropriate for teaching and assessing NOS beliefs, views and knowledge. An NOS belief refers to a positive attitudinal stance towards some proposition that lacks justificatory support or cannot easily be judged true or false. NOS knowledge indicates justified true beliefs related to the NOS. NOS understanding denotes a grasping of how a collection of NOS knowledge is related. The goals vary by the extent to which they can be judged true or false and the degree of justification they require. For NOS beliefs, a range of stances is acceptable; NOS knowledge must be a true and justified belief; in the case of NOS understanding, teaching and assessment should focus on the appreciation of relationships between justified true beliefs. The novel taxonomy brings needed clarity to a confused aspect of NOS research and may lead to the development of NOS pedagogies and assessment tools more precisely targeted to well-defined learning goals.