On the nature of science education research and development: A european didaktik position

A close cooperation between science and science education is essential for designing powerful courses that lead to the kind of critical scientific literacy that is necessary to allow students understanding and actively engaging in our society that is deeply shaped by science and technology. The major theme of the conference, namely “BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM FOR EXCHANGE BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND SCIENCE EDUCATORS” is discussed within a framework provided by the European Didaktik approach. A Model of Educational Reconstruction plays a particular role. It holds, for instance, that science content as provided by science research may not be more or less directly transferred into science instruction. It needs to be significantly “reconstructed” taking into account educational issues.