Abstract

MENDONCA, Paula Cristina Cardoso. What Knowledge of the Nature of Science We Are Talking About?. Ciência educ. [online]. 2020, vol.26, e20003.  Epub Apr 13, 2020. ISSN 1980-850X.  https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-731320200003.

In this paper, we discuss what we can consider as a broad knowledge of Nature of Science (NOS), regarding the aim of scientific literacy for Science Education. This discussion is especially relevant since there is a divergence of positioning in the field. We can consider as an integrated approach of NOS to achieve this purpose: (i) students' analysis of scientists' practices from the use of science case studies; (ii) student participation in scientific practices and metacognitive reflection on the processes of justification and validation of knowledge. Both situations are important since they enable the understanding of the work of the scientists themselves; and the development of scientific reasoning by applying and analyzing it in context. Such understanding requires an approach of NOS that does not dissociate products and processes from epistemic knowledge involved in the legitimization of them.

Keywords : Nature of science; Literacy; Scientific education.

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