2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

EDUC3808 Understanding and Communicating Science

10 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Professor Jim Ryder
Email: j.ryder@education.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students will normally be expected to have at least one A-level (or equivalent) science qualification.

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

In this module you will explore a range of issues associated with understanding and communicating science, with a specific focus on public engagement with science. You will explore the following questions. What is science? Why should the public develop an understanding of science? How can we measure public understanding of science issues? How should scientists communicate with the public on science issues? You will also design and evaluate a science communication event.

Objectives

The objectives of this module are to enable students to:
1. Engage with differing perspectives on the nature of science
2. Consider different rationales for public engagement with science
3. Examine case studies of how non-scientists engage with science-related issues
4. Explore different theoretical perspectives on the development of scientific understanding and the communication of science
5. Design, deliver and evaluate a science communication event

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students will have an increased understanding of:
a) The nature of science
b) Arguments for communicating science to the public
c) How non-scientists engage with science-related issues
d) Theoretical perspectives on the development of scientific understanding and the communication of science
e) How to design, deliver and evaluate a science communication event
f) The relevance of public engagement with science for professional scientists

Syllabus

The content of the module comprises the following issues, organised below across each of the 10 lectures. Associated seminars and group activities will support these themes.
1. Perspectives on the nature of science
2. Arguments for promoting the communication of science to the public
3. Measures of the public understanding of science
4. International comparisons of public understanding of science
5. Case studies of non-scientists engaging with science-related issues I
6. Case studies of non-scientists engaging with science-related issues II
7. Theoretical perspectives on the development of understanding of science concepts and the communication of science
8. Approaches to the communication of science to the public
9. Designing a science communication event
10. The implications of shifting public understandings of science for professional science and scientists

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Group learning	3	2.00	6.00
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	3	2.00	6.00
Private study hours			78.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Pre-reading tasks will be provided for each lecture.
The three seminars will require preparation time.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	A report on the design and evaluation of a science communication event.	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/08/2018

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD