Science provides an empirical way of answering
interesting and important questions about the biological, physical and
technological world. The knowledge it produces has proved to be a reliable
basis for action in our personal, social and economic lives. Science is a
dynamic, collaborative and creative human endeavour arising from our desire to
make sense of our world through exploring the unknown, investigating universal mysteries,
making predictions and solving problems. Science aims to understand a large
number of observations in terms of a much smaller number of broad principles.
Science knowledge is contestable and is revised, refined and extended as new
evidence arises.
The Australian Curriculum:
Science provides opportunities for students to develop an understanding of
important science concepts and processes, the practices used to develop
scientific knowledge, of science’s contribution to our culture and society, and
its applications in our lives. The curriculum supports students to develop the
scientific knowledge, understandings and skills to make informed decisions
about local, national and global issues and to participate, if they so wish, in
science-related careers.
In addition to its
practical applications, learning science is a valuable pursuit in its own
right. Students can experience the joy of scientific discovery and nurture
their natural curiosity about the world around them. In doing this, they
develop critical and creative thinking skills and challenge themselves to
identify questions and draw evidence-based conclusions using scientific
methods. The wider benefits of this ‘scientific literacy’ are well established,
including giving students the capability to investigate the natural world and
changes made to it through human activity.
The ability to think and
act in scientific ways helps build the broader suite of capabilities in
students as confident, self-motivated and active members of our society.
Science aims to ensure that students
develop:
- an interest in science as a means of expanding
their curiosity and willingness to explore, ask questions about and
speculate on the changing world in which they live
- an understanding of the vision that science
provides of the nature of living things, of the Earth and its place in the
cosmos, and of the physical and chemical processes that explain the
behaviour of all material things
- an understanding of the nature of scientific
inquiry and the ability to use a range of scientific inquiry methods,
including questioning; planning and conducting experiments and
investigations based on ethical principles; collecting and analysing data;
evaluating results; and drawing critical, evidence-based conclusions
- an ability to communicate scientific
understanding and findings to a range of audiences, to justify ideas on
the basis of evidence, and to evaluate and debate scientific arguments and
claims
- an ability to solve problems and make informed,
evidence-based decisions about current and future applications of science
while taking into account ethical and social implications of decisions
- an understanding of historical and cultural
contributions to science as well as contemporary science issues and activities
and an understanding of the diversity of careers related to science
- a solid foundation of knowledge of the
biological, chemical, physical, Earth and space sciences, including being
able to select and integrate the scientific knowledge and methods needed
to explain and predict phenomena, to apply that understanding to new
situations and events, and to appreciate the dynamic nature of science
knowledge.