Science Education

Code:

EDC6001

Acronym:

EDC6001

Level:

600

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Science Education

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Science Education Unit
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctoral Program in Science Education and Communication

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDEDC	7	Official Study Plan since 2025/2026	1	-	9	36	243

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

To know the main research lines in science education.
To build an integrative vision of science education in general and science teaching in particular.
To synthesize the main characteristics of some science teaching methodologies.
To apply socio-scientific problems in the teaching of topics of science.
To understand the Educationa for Sustainable Development and its integrations in Science teaching.
To analyze, from an up-to-dat and critical perspective, contemporary themes in science teaching.
To critically examine articles in the area of science teaching.
To write reports.

Learning outcomes and competences

Know how to write scientific-educational reports using bibliographic rules from the latest APA edition.
Develop critical thinking, problem-solving and argumentation skills.
Communicate orally and in writing with the language and terminology of the field of Science Education, revealing the educational knowledge of a professional of excellence.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Historical evolution of the main approaches/methodologies in science teaching.
Science Education: formal, non-formal, and informal environments.
Contextualized teaching of science.
Research-oriented teaching methodologies.
Experimental and field work in science teaching.
Science teaching oriented towards: problem solving-based learning; case-based learning, model-based learning.
Science Education and socio-scientific controversies.
Science Education and sustainable development.
Contemporary themes in science teaching

Mandatory literature

Leite, L., Dourado, L., Afonso, A. & Morgado, S. ; Contextualizing Teaching to Improving Learning: The case of Science and Geography. , Nova Science Publishers., 2017. ISBN: 978-1-53611-845-2
Morais , Carla Susana Lopes; Ciência cidadã na educação em ciências. ISBN: 978-989-746-383-9

Teaching methods and learning activities

Active methodologies such as, problem solving- and case-based learning. Use of a realm of strategies and resources, including PowerPoint presentations, critical reading of articles, viewing of video-pills, and essays and practical work during classes. 

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	35,00
Trabalho escrito	60,00
Participação presencial	5,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	50,00
Estudo autónomo	43,00
Frequência das aulas	20,00
Trabalho de investigação	30,00
Trabalho escrito	100,00
Total:	243,00

Eligibility for exams

Mandatory submission and presentation of the assessment components.

Calculation formula of final grade

•    60% for written work (report 1: 30% + report 2: 30%)
•    35% for presentation and discussion of work.
•    5% for participation in class activities and commitment to activities.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Working Students (WS) are subject to the same assessment as other students, although the assignments may be completed individually. Meetings with the professors must be scheduled to monitor the completion of all assignments, as well as for their presentation and defense.

Classification improvement

Given that the course unit follows an assessment model with many assignments to be submitted throughout the semester and has a highly systematic nature, grade improvement in this course unit can only be achieved by repeating all assessment components during the semester and, therefore, in the following academic year.

Observations

Referências

Leite, L., Dourado, L., Afonso, A. & Morgado, S. (Eds) (2017). Contextualizing Teaching to Improving Learning: The case of Science and Geography. Nova Science Publishers.

Morais, C. (2024). Ciência cidadã na Educação em Ciências. Porto: U. Porto Press. ISBN-13: 978-989-746-383-9

Olson, S. & Loucks-Horsley, S. (2000). Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards: A Guide for Teaching and Learning. The National Academic Press.

Tseitlin, M. & Galili, I. (2006). Science Teaching: What does it mean? Science & Education, 5, 339-417

Jury:

Carla Morais

Cecília Guerra

Paulo Carvalho

Rosa Ferreira