The application of science education theories

✍ Scribed by Stephen P. Norris; Tone Kvernbekk

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 140 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-4308
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2736(199712)34:10<977::aid-tea2>3.0.co;2-l

✦ Synopsis

This article addresses the question of what bearing the nature of educational theories has on their application to practice. More specifically, attention is focused on the application of normative goaldirected theories of science education. An account of normative goal-directed theories and of their application is presented. This account highlights the constituent elements and structures that should be found in a normative goal-directed educational theory. A particular version of the science education theory of constructivism is then examined to determine what elements and structures are found in it, and, as a result, what can be said about this theory and its application. Finally, a series of implications are drawn for the general problem of applying science education theories.