Science & technology education on the one hand, and communication on the other, are, to a large extent, still separate worlds and many opportunities for synergy and cross-fertilisation are yet unused. This divide is unfortunate, since educators need communication skills and communicators often use aspects of education in their strategies. Moreover, innovation processes in both domains ask for education and communication insights and skills. Therefore, scholars and practitioners in both domains must seek connections and synergy by exchanging insights and ideas. This book discusses the shared aims of science & technology education and communication, such as science literacy and engagement, as well as common processes and challenges, such as social learning, social design and professionalisation, and assessment. Aims, processes, and challenges that inspire, enhance and deepen the education and communication synergy from a theoretical and practical side. If one reads the various chapters and reflects on them from one’s own perspective as a scholar or practitioner, the question is no longer if cross-fertilisation and synergy are needed, but when are we seriously going to take up this challenge together. This book aims to initiate the dialogue that the situation in the development of the topic requires at this point.

The 4th edition of the Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology expands upon the previous 3 versions, providing a comprehensive update on research pertaining to new and emerging educational technologies. Chapters that are no longer pertinent have been eliminated in this edition, with most chapters being completely rewritten, expanded, and updated Additionally, new chapters pertaining to research methodologies in educational technology have been added due to expressed reader interest. Each chapter now contains an extensive literature review, documenting and explaining the most recent, outstanding research, including major findings and methodologies employed. The Handbook authors continue to be international leaders in their respective fields; the list is cross disciplinary by design and great effort was taken to invite authors outside of the traditional instructional design and technology community.

Science Education and Information Transfer reviews developments in the areas of science education and information transfer. Topics covered include the use of games in science and technology education, transfer of information using readily available technology, and networking. The concepts of global learning and distance learning are also discussed, along with the use of video techniques and computer technology to transfer information. This volume is comprised of 10 chapters and begins with an overview of the information society, the usability of information, and the efficiency of information transfer. The discussion then turns to the use of games to teach science and technology; the most readily available technology for transferring information from teachers to students; and networking as a means to transfer information. The following chapters explore the concept and practice of global learning in the perspective of dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge in response to human needs; the use of microcomputers in the teaching of science; and some of the features of distance learning. The final chapter is devoted to teaching information technology in the classroom. This monograph will be of interest to planners, practitioners, researchers, and other professionals in the field of science education and information technology.

This text provides an overview of the burgeoning field of science and technology communication─the issues with which it deals, what is known about it, and the challenges that it faces.

This book aims to be a reference for researchers studying the promotion of scientific literacy in China, as well as a guide for those interested in promoting scientific awareness. It covers advances in science and technology, communication and popularization practice, and research (STCP) both in China and abroad. Theoretical issues are discussed, and important problems in promoting scientific and technological awareness are identified (e.g.: basic principles, structures, channels of communication and current needs) This bookprovides a summary of the advances in STCP in China in recent years (especially after the issuing of the “National Scientific Literacy Outline”) including STCP resource and capacity building, science popularization policies, practitioner development, infrastructure construction, and the development of the science popularization industry as a whole. At the same time, this book also reviews thedesign, organization, monitoring and evaluation of science and technology communication and popularization programs. It also highlights current STCP trends and developments in China and calls for a greater emphasis to be placed on research into promoting scientific literacy. It is hoped that this book will be useful to readers both in China and abroad by familiarizing them with the history and theory of STCP as well as its development over time. The 1st chapter briefly reviews the history of STCP. The 2nd through 5th chapters discuss the conceptual framework, basic structure, methods of communication, and current STCP needs. The 6th chapter introduces the principle content of programs aimed at improving Chinese citizens’ scientific literacy, while the 7th and 8th chapters analyze the resources, capacities and conditions that have been developed for STCP in China. The 9th chapter investigates the organization, monitoring and evaluation of science popularization practices, and the final chapter summarizes important STCP topics and trends in contemporary China.

This book provides an overview of the theory and practice of science communication. It deals with modes of informal communication such as science centres, television programs, and journalism and the research that informs practitioners about the effectiveness of their programs. It aims to meet the needs of those studying science communication and will form a readily accessible source of expertise for communicators.

Design-Based Concept Learning in Science and Technology Education brings together contributions from researchers that have investigated what conditions need to be fulfilled to make design-based education work.

In a technology-oriented world, technology literacy for everyone is essential. Especially for a technological-responsible society. It will be developed by technological socialization; educating not only competencies but also a positive technological self-concept, which is a predictor for technology activities. It developes by actively dealing with technology. A lack of experience may lead to the idea of having poor skills and inapt qualities for the exposure to technology. As a result, interactions will be avoided. To antagonize, technology is taught in different countries in various ways. Even some are starting at primary schools and others are starting at middle school age. Thus, the aim of this publication is to summarize different possibilities of implementations in different countries.

This book analyzes the main Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used in science education and the main theoretical approaches that support science education mediated by ICT in order to show how digital technologies can be employed in Inquiry-Based Science Education. It presents the results of a comprehensive review of studies focusing both on the use and effects of digital technologies in science education and on the different theoretical approaches that support the use of ICTs in science teaching.By doing so, the book provides a useful summary of the current research in the field and a strong analysis of its limitations. It concludes that there are few studies that report strategies and didactics for the practical use of ICT in science classes and that the use of ICT in science education can’t be seen as an isolated action without a theoretical basis to support it. Based on these conclusions, the volume identifies the main ICTs used in inquiry activities, the main steps in inquiry activities used in science education and their approaches to the use of ICT. It shows that the use of ICT in Inquiry-Based Science Education allows students to develop more active work styles, improved attitudes towards science, better conceptual and theoretical understanding, improved reasoning, better modelling capabilities, and improved teamwork, along with improvements in other abilities. Using ICT in Inquiry-Based Science Education will be a valuable resource for science teachers and science teacher educators looking for an introductory text that presents an overview of the scientific research analyzing the implementation of digital technologies in science teaching and that provides useful insights to all educators interested in using digital technologies to introduce their students in the world of scientific inquiry and research.

The idea for this text stemmed from the fruitful experience gathered during the training course of 9 Nigerian university students organized in Naples from 3 to 18 September 2008 by the team of Fondazione IDIS-Città della Scienza under the project Science Centre Owerri. The training course turned out to be not only an educational opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills for these students, but also a real and practical tool that later led to the realization of the first Science Festival of Owerri in Nigeria in May 2009. This in turn sparked the idea of creating a highly practical handbook for those who want to face the challenge of developing new projects for the dissemination and socialization of science in developing countries. In these countries, the role of scientific education and training in schools is not sufficient to arouse scientific curiosity among young people and make the population aware of the importance of scientific knowledge in everyday life. Moreover science and technology are indispensable tools for people’s empowerment and should be supported with actions that encourage curiosity about science and the intelligent use of technology to bridge the divide with developed countries. It is therefore necessary to set up activities that are carefully targeted to promote and communicate science. The text has been designed as a practical guide to be used in a variety of contexts: scientific events or more structured science festivals, training, the creation of scientific cultural associations, and the development of new science centres. Besides being an excellent tool for training and supporting the design and planning phases, the manual can also be used as a reference work for institutions and local cultural services which have to select projects of this type.