Biosocial "Science Talk": Using Informal Interactive Programs to Help Children Explore the Human Body's Relationship with the World around It

Autor/inn/en	Kinsey, Dirk; Hayes-Conroy, Allison; Das, Jayatri
Titel	Biosocial "Science Talk": Using Informal Interactive Programs to Help Children Explore the Human Body's Relationship with the World around It
Quelle	In: Journal of STEM Outreach, 4 (2021) 1, (13 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	2576-6767
Schlagwörter	Human Body; Teaching Methods; Biology; Informal Education; Science Education; Health Education; Museums; Exhibits; Genetics; Discourse Analysis; Social Sciences; Social Structure; Correlation; COVID-19; Pandemics; Stress Variables; Program Development; Race; Social Influences; Inquiry; Active Learning; Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Menschlicher Körper; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Biologie; Informelle Bildung; Nichtformale Bildung; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Gesundheitsaufklärung; Gesundheitsbildung; Gesundheitserziehung; Museum; Museumswesen; Museen; Humangenetik; Diskursanalyse; Social science; Sozialwissenschaften; Gesellschaftswissenschaften; Sozialstruktur; Korrelation; Programmplanung; Rasse; Abstammung; Sozialer Einfluss; Aktives Lernen
Abstract	This paper describes the application of a "biosocial" approach to informal health and science education. As an engagement between biological and critical social sciences, biosocial theory has sought to re-articulate human bodies as fundamentally the product of interrelationships between the biological and social dimensions of human life. Applying this approach to health and science education, we conducted approximately 200 public demonstrations at a science museum with school-aged participants over a two-year period. These demonstrations were designed to describe cutting edge research into "biosocial mechanisms" such as allostatic load and epigenetics. We examined survey responses and informal conversation with participants in order to characterize key themes that emerged within these interactions. Our analysis identifies a distinct biosocial "science talk" characterized, at varying degrees of complexity, by an emphasis on complex inter-relationships between environments and biology, the mutability of bodies, and the role of social structures and personal experiences in shaping health outcomes. We argue that these forms of science talk reflect the highly individualized and relational functioning of the biosocial mechanisms. We contend that this approach is not only accessible and easily adaptable to informal science education, but of increasing relevance given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Journal of STEM Outreach. PMB 0367, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203. e-mail: jstemoutreach@vanderbilt.edu; Web site: https://www.jstemoutreach.org/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01