Article Green Open Access 2022

Exploring the impact of positing entrepreneurship in nature of science: initial science teachers' perspectives

Education and Training
Journal · Vol. 64 · Issue 7 · pp. 996-1017
Abstract

Purpose: The social aspects of nature of science (NOS) have become more eminent but entrepreneurial perspectives of NOS continue to be neglected. Entrepreneurship is relevant to NOS and science education due to its role in scientific enterprises and its importance as a 21st-century skill required in all subjects, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Due to the impact of initial teacher education (ITE) and the science curriculum on Initial Science Teachers' (ISTs) understanding, the paper aims to explore the impact of including entrepreneurship in NOS with ISTs. Design/methodology/approach: The qualitative study investigated the changes in three ISTs by examining their understanding of entrepreneurship within NOS and their perspectives on the inclusion of entrepreneurship in the science curriculum following an intervention. The results were analysed through thematic and network analysis (NA). Findings: The results indicated that following an intervention, ISTs developed a more holistic understanding of entrepreneurship in NOS and could see the benefits and rationale for including entrepreneurship in the science curriculum. However, certain concerns remained. Originality/value: Although entrepreneurship may contribute to NOS by promoting scientific development, enhancing interest in science and developing a holistic understanding of science, a thorough review of the relevant research literature suggests that studies investigating entrepreneurship in NOS are rare. The current paper fills this gap by exploring Irish ISTs' perspectives on positing entrepreneurship in NOS. The study suggests conducting further research on the integration of entrepreneurship in the science curriculum and its impact on ITE. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Network analysis entrepreneurship Teacher Education Initial science teacher Nature of science

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Faculty of Education, Aǧrı İbrahim Çeçen Üniversitesi, Agri, Agri, Turkey
School of Education, University of Limerick, Limerick, Munster, Ireland
Department of Education, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, Universitetet i Oslo, Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Department of Business Strategy and Innovation, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 Journal of Science and Vocational Education, (2013)
2 International Journal of Academic Research in Business Arts and Science Ijarbas, (2020)
3 Akbayrak, Melike, Fifth-grade students’ understanding of social-institutional aspects of science, International Journal of Science Education, 42, 11, pp. 1834-1861, (2020)
4 Allchin, Douglas, Evaluating knowledge of the nature of (whole) science, Science Education, 95, 3, pp. 518-542, (2011)
5 Global Journal of Human Social Science Research, (2013)
6 Paradigm Shifters Entrepreneurial Learning in Schools Research Report Mitchell Institute Report 07 2017, (2017)
7 Future of Skills Employment in 2030, (2017)
8 Barnes, Mary, Assessment: The engine of systemic curricular reform?, Journal of Curriculum Studies, 32, 5, pp. 623-650, (2000)
9 Phi Delta Kappan, (1995)
10 Berkovich, Izhak, No we won't! Teachers' resistance to educational reform, Journal of Educational Administration, 49, 5, pp. 563-578, (2011)
Quick Actions
Full Text via DOI
Citation Metrics
2
Times Cited (Scopus)

References 10
Document Identifiers