Argumentation and Science Education

Abstract

An outcome of science instruction is to prepare young people have the understandings and skills to participate in public debate and to inform decision making on socio-scientific issues that influence their lives. Development of an argumentation skills is emerging as an effective strategy to enhance the quality of evidence based decision making in science classrooms. Argumentation is also a process of inquiry, critical thinking and conceptual understanding as well as a way of constructing scientific knowledge. The objective of this article is to review the idea and theories on which argumentation is based, the importance of argumentation in science education, including argumentation model and science education.