Scientific Literacy in East Asia: Shifting Toward an Inquiry-Informed Learning Perspective

In all six East Asian countries, there is a reconceptualization of scientific literacy from a curriculum dominated by content specification to one where the goals of scientific literacy are more broadly defined. A key goal is the shift toward an inquiry-based curriculum. These developments in the East Asian countries that form the focus of this book mirror the worldwide reform trends in science education. This shift has resulted in difficulties teachers experience that emanate mainly from their lack of preparedness in advancing such reform. The education ministries of each country address this concern by putting in place strategies to support practicing teachers. We also see in teacher education at the pre-service level university curricula that empower pre-service teachers with skills and knowledge that address new goals of scientific literacy in their teaching.