Hands-on science: science education with and for society

Abstract

The decisive importance of Science on the development of modern societies gives Science Education a role of special impact. Society sets the requirements rules and procedures of Education defining what concepts and competencies citizens must learn and how this learning should take place. Educational policies set by governments, elected and or imposed, not always reflects the will and ruling of Society. The School as pivotal element of our modern educational system must look behind and beyond imposed rules and regulations and persistently seek a permanent and open relation with Society, in all its dimensions, assuming and defending its crucial role on the development of Society and humankind. Aiming to contribute to an effective implementation of a sound widespread scientific literacy and effective Science Education in our Schools and Society at large, the Hands-on Science Network promotes a number of meetings and conferences open to the widest range of contributions on different pedagogic approaches with the common goal of promoting an effective learning of Science. This book gathers a number of interesting works presented at the 11th International Conference on Hands-on Science held in Aveiro, Portugal, July 21 to 25, 2014. The different chapters covers a wide range of topics including different strategies on connecting school’ science education with society and on synergetic relations between Society and Science Education, reports on good practices on formal as well as non-formal or informal science education, ICT tools, IBSE, active learning and hands-on pedagogy. We believe that the materials herein are a rather useful tool to assist teachers and educators as well as all interested in Science Education and its impact on the development of our Societies.