Utilização da literatura primária adaptada para introduzir aos alunos questões sociocientíficas

Socioscientific issues (SSI) are intended to provide a context for understanding scientific information in science education. Students learn not only what science is, but also how is done. Adapted primary literature (APL) helps young people read scientific texts critically. The aim of our research was to develop lower secondary school students' understanding of SSI through the introduction of APLs. Fifty Slovene students studied three APLs dealing with the effects of light pollution on birds, bats and moths. The results show that students not only developed higher order thinking skills and scientific knowledge, but also showed further interest and confidence in studying APLs. This confirms that the use of APL is effective with lower secondary school students when the articles are well adapted. This is important because it is during these years that students begin to develop their career awareness and become more capable of taking social perspectives and reasoning morally.