NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
COURSE CODE: SED 1
COURSE TITLE: FOUNDATIONS OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
, SED 811: FOUNDATIONS OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
COURSE DEVELOPMENT
Course Developer: Professor J.O. Otuka
Nassarawa State University, Keffi
Unit Writer: Professor J.O. Otuka
Nassarawa State University, Keffi
Course Co-ordinator: Professor Azare
BUK
Dr. M. Bandele-Ogunsola
NOUN, Lagos
NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
,National Open University of Nigeria
Headquarters
14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way
Victoria Island
Lagos
Abuja Office
No. 5 Dar es Salaam Street
Off Aminu Kano Crescent
Wuse II, Abuja
Nigeria
e-mail:
URL: www.nou.edu.ng
Published By:
National Open University of Nigeria
First Printed 2004
Reprinted 2004
ISBN: 978-058-192-8
All Rights Reserved
Printed by: Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited for National Open University of Nigeria
, Table of Contents
Course Guide ................................................................................................................................. 1
Unit 1:What is Science? ...................................................................................................................... 8
1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 8
1.1 Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 8
1.2 Definition of Science ................................................................................................. 8
1.3 Definitions of Science by some Scientists and Science Educators ................................... 9
1.4 Basic Assumptions of Science ................................................................................ 9
1.5 Who Determines the Tenets of Science? ...................................................................... 9
1.6 Realism and Empiricism ....................................................................................... 10
1.7 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 11
1.8 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 11
1.9 Tutor-Marked Assignment .................................................................................... 11
1.10 References ........................................................................................................................ 11
Unit 2: The Scientific World-view ........................................................................................... i f
2.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 12
2.1 Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 12
2.2 Humankind and Nature ........................................................................................... 12
2.3 Definitions of World-view .................................................................................... 13
2.4 The Scientific World-view .................................................................................... 13
2.5 An African World-view ......................................................................................... 14
2.5.1 Fundamental Features of African World-view ............................................................. 14
2.6 Implications for Schools Science Teaching ................................................................ 14
2.7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 16
2.8 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 16
2.9 Tutor-Marked Assignments .................................................................................. 16
2.10 References ..................................................................................................... 16
Unit 3: Products of Science and Classification of Scientific Knowledge..................................... 17
3.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 17
3.1 Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 17
3.2 Products of Science ......................................................................................................17
3.3 Scientific Facts .............................................................................................................17
3.4 Scientific Concepts .................................................................................................. 18
3.5 Scientific Generalisations ..................................................................................... 18
3.5.1 Hypotheses ........................................................................................................... 19
3.5.2 Scientific Laws .............................................................................................. 19
3.5.3 Scientific Theory ................................................................................................ 19
3.6 Flow Chart for Products of Science ........................................................................... 19
3.7 Declarative, Procedural and Operational Knowledge ................................................. 20
3.7.1 Declarative Knowledge (DK) ......................................................................... 20
3.7.2 Procedural Knowledge (PK) .............................................................................. 20
3.7.3 Operational Knowledge (OK) ............................................................................ 20
3.8 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 21
3.9 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 21
3.10 Tutor-Marked Assignments. .......................................................................... 21
3.12 References ..................................................................................................... 21
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
COURSE CODE: SED 1
COURSE TITLE: FOUNDATIONS OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
, SED 811: FOUNDATIONS OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
COURSE DEVELOPMENT
Course Developer: Professor J.O. Otuka
Nassarawa State University, Keffi
Unit Writer: Professor J.O. Otuka
Nassarawa State University, Keffi
Course Co-ordinator: Professor Azare
BUK
Dr. M. Bandele-Ogunsola
NOUN, Lagos
NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
,National Open University of Nigeria
Headquarters
14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way
Victoria Island
Lagos
Abuja Office
No. 5 Dar es Salaam Street
Off Aminu Kano Crescent
Wuse II, Abuja
Nigeria
e-mail:
URL: www.nou.edu.ng
Published By:
National Open University of Nigeria
First Printed 2004
Reprinted 2004
ISBN: 978-058-192-8
All Rights Reserved
Printed by: Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited for National Open University of Nigeria
, Table of Contents
Course Guide ................................................................................................................................. 1
Unit 1:What is Science? ...................................................................................................................... 8
1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 8
1.1 Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 8
1.2 Definition of Science ................................................................................................. 8
1.3 Definitions of Science by some Scientists and Science Educators ................................... 9
1.4 Basic Assumptions of Science ................................................................................ 9
1.5 Who Determines the Tenets of Science? ...................................................................... 9
1.6 Realism and Empiricism ....................................................................................... 10
1.7 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 11
1.8 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 11
1.9 Tutor-Marked Assignment .................................................................................... 11
1.10 References ........................................................................................................................ 11
Unit 2: The Scientific World-view ........................................................................................... i f
2.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 12
2.1 Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 12
2.2 Humankind and Nature ........................................................................................... 12
2.3 Definitions of World-view .................................................................................... 13
2.4 The Scientific World-view .................................................................................... 13
2.5 An African World-view ......................................................................................... 14
2.5.1 Fundamental Features of African World-view ............................................................. 14
2.6 Implications for Schools Science Teaching ................................................................ 14
2.7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 16
2.8 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 16
2.9 Tutor-Marked Assignments .................................................................................. 16
2.10 References ..................................................................................................... 16
Unit 3: Products of Science and Classification of Scientific Knowledge..................................... 17
3.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 17
3.1 Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 17
3.2 Products of Science ......................................................................................................17
3.3 Scientific Facts .............................................................................................................17
3.4 Scientific Concepts .................................................................................................. 18
3.5 Scientific Generalisations ..................................................................................... 18
3.5.1 Hypotheses ........................................................................................................... 19
3.5.2 Scientific Laws .............................................................................................. 19
3.5.3 Scientific Theory ................................................................................................ 19
3.6 Flow Chart for Products of Science ........................................................................... 19
3.7 Declarative, Procedural and Operational Knowledge ................................................. 20
3.7.1 Declarative Knowledge (DK) ......................................................................... 20
3.7.2 Procedural Knowledge (PK) .............................................................................. 20
3.7.3 Operational Knowledge (OK) ............................................................................ 20
3.8 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 21
3.9 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 21
3.10 Tutor-Marked Assignments. .......................................................................... 21
3.12 References ..................................................................................................... 21
