Understanding epistemic aspects of the nature of science in Spain’s new curriculum for compulsory secondary education since the LOMLOE law

La comprensión de aspectos epistémicos de la naturaleza de la ciencia en el nuevo currículo de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, tras la LOMLOE

Antonio García-Carmona, Universidad de Sevilla

DOI

10.22550/REP79-3-2021-01

Abstract

This study analyses the attention to understanding of epistemic aspects of the nature of science (NOS) in Spain’s new science curriculum for the compulsory secondary education (ESO) stage, which was approved following the entry into force of the new LOMLOE education law (Organic Law 3/2020). To this end, the curricular provisions for the biology and geology and physics and chemistry subjects (Royal Decree 217/2022) are examined using qualitative content analysis. The theoretical reference used in the analysis of the document is the set of epistemic aspects of NOS included in the latest PISA conceptual framework for scientific competence. The results show that Spain’s science curriculum for compulsory secondary education is not consistent in either quantity or depth with the PISA framework in relation to the understanding of the epistemic aspects of NOS. In conclusion, understanding of these aspects is regarded as a minor or secondary educational challenge in the new curriculum for basic science education. Therefore, it represents another missed opportunity to give greater importance to such key dimension of public scientific literacy.

Please, cite this article as follows: García-Carmona, A. (2022). La comprensión de aspectos epistémicos de la naturaleza de la ciencia en el nuevo currículo de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, tras la LOMLOE | Understanding epistemic aspects of the nature of science in Spain’s new curriculum for compulsory-secondary education since the LOMLOE law. Revista Española de Pedagogía, 80 (283), 433-450. 10.22550/REP80-3-2022-01

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Author Biography

Antonio García-Carmona holds a university chair in the Department of Didactics of Experimental and Social Sciences at the Universidad de Sevilla. He has been a secondary-school teacher of mathematics, physics and chemistry for more than a decade. He is the principal researcher for the “Scientific education in context and teacher training” research group (SEJ-591). His main research interests focus on: the nature of science and its didactics; learning science through enquiry/scientific practice; science, technology and society (STS) education; and science in the media as a resource for scientific education.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5952-0340

Citación recomendada | Recommended citation

García-Carmona, A. (2022). La comprensión de aspectos epistémicos de la naturaleza de la ciencia en el nuevo currículo de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, tras la LOMLOE | Understanding epistemic aspects of the nature of science in Spain’s new curriculum for compulsory-secondary education since the LOMLOE law. Revista Española de Pedagogía, 80 (283), 433-450. 10.22550/REP80-3-2022-01