Paradigms in 21st Century Global Science Education,
A Review Essay of Derek Hodson’s Looking to the Future: Building a Curriculum for Social Activism
This is a “Review Essay” based on the ideas and theoretical foundations of science education as
espoused by Derek Hodson in his book Looking to the Future: Building a Curriculum for Social
Activism (2011). Taking a more analytical and creative approach to reviewing and commenting on
Hodson’s work, the author explores the book chapter by chapter, highlighting the main ideas in
science education and drawing parallels to concurrent movements and trends. The author explores
the different paradigms in science education as communicated within the contents of each chapter
and compares them to current trends, problems, challenges and issues in the field. The author
critically, yet objectively and fairly, examines the different ideas and strategies suggested by
Hodson for improving and promoting science literacy in modern society. Extended analysis and
commentaries highlight the major challenges and problems of science education and the idea of
Science Ethics or Applied Science Ethics is introduced consistent with the call for focus on
sociopolitical action and confrontation of socioscientific issues in science education.
Keywords: Science education, scientific literacy, ethics, science ethics, paradigm shift.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows