TY - JOUR
T1 - Western Australian school student's understanding of biotechnology
AU - Dawson, Vaille
AU - Schibeci, Renato
PY - 2003/1/1
Y1 - 2003/1/1
N2 - Are science educators providing secondary school students with the background to understand the science behind recent controversies such as the recently introduced compulsory labelling of genetically modified foods? Research from the UK suggests that many secondary school students do not understand the processes or implications of modern biotechnology. The situation in Australia is unclear. In this study, 1116 15-year-old students from eleven Western Australian schools were surveyed to determine their understanding of, and attitude towards, recent advances in modern biotechnology. The results indicate that approximately one third of students have little or no understanding of biotechnology. Many students over-estimate the use of biotechnology in our society by confusing current uses with possible future applications. The results provide a rationale for the inclusion of biotechnology, a cutting edge science, in the school science curriculum.
AB - Are science educators providing secondary school students with the background to understand the science behind recent controversies such as the recently introduced compulsory labelling of genetically modified foods? Research from the UK suggests that many secondary school students do not understand the processes or implications of modern biotechnology. The situation in Australia is unclear. In this study, 1116 15-year-old students from eleven Western Australian schools were surveyed to determine their understanding of, and attitude towards, recent advances in modern biotechnology. The results indicate that approximately one third of students have little or no understanding of biotechnology. Many students over-estimate the use of biotechnology in our society by confusing current uses with possible future applications. The results provide a rationale for the inclusion of biotechnology, a cutting edge science, in the school science curriculum.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0344287135&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09500690210126720
DO - 10.1080/09500690210126720
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0344287135
VL - 25
SP - 57
EP - 69
JO - International Journal of Science Education
JF - International Journal of Science Education
SN - 0950-0693
IS - 1
ER -