This book offers a comprehensive introduction to Nature of Science (NOS), one of the most important aspects of science teaching and learning, and includes tested strategies for teaching aspects of the NOS in a variety of instructional settings. In line with the recommendations in the field to include NOS in all plans for science instruction, the book provides an accessible resource of background information on NOS, rationales for teaching these targeted NOS aspects, and – most importantly – how to teach about the nature of science in specific instructional contexts. The first section examines the why and what of NOS, its nature, and what research says about how to teach NOS in science settings. The second section focuses on extending knowledge about NOS to question of scientific method, theory-laden observation, the role of experiments and observations and distinctions between science, engineering and technology. The dominant theme of the remainder of the book is a focus on teaching aspects of NOS applicable to a wide variety of instructional environments.

Table of Contents:
1.Forward to Series; Kostas Kampourakis.- 2.Preface to Book; Richard Duschl.- 3.Introduction; William McComas.- 4.Acknowledgements; William McComas.- SECTION ONE: Nature of Science in Science Teaching and Learning: Introduction.- 5. Nature of Science in the Science Curriculum: Meaning, History of Advocacy and Rationales; William McComas and Michael Clough.- 6. Considering a Consensus View of Nature of Science Content for School Science; William McComas.- 7. Principal Elements of NOS: Informing Science Teaching While Dispelling the Myths; William McComas.- 8. Nature of Science and Classroom Practice: A Review of the Literature with Implications for Effective NOS Instruction; William McComas, Michael Clough, and Noushin Nouri.- SECTION TWO: Nature of Science Instruction: Foundation Knowledge for Nature of Science Instruction.- 9. Beyond Experiments: Exploring Valid and Reliable Methods in Science; Sandra West-Moody and Susan Schwinning.- 10. Exchanging the Myth of the Scientific Method for a More Authentic Description of Science; Rebecca Reiff-Cox.- 11. Challenges and Opportunities of Theory-Laden Observation and Subjectivity; William McComas.- 12. Distinguishing Science, Engineering and Technology; Gerry Rau and Allision Antink-Meyer.- SECTION THREE: Teaching about Nature of Science: Generalized Instructional Perspectives.- 13. Using Metacognitive Prompts to Foster Nature of Science Learning; Erin Peters Burton and Stephen R. Burton.- 14. Teaching Nature of Science through a Critical Thinking Approach; Hagop Yacoubian.- 15. The Nature of Science Card Exchange: Introducing the Philosophy of Science; William Cobern and Cathleen Loving.- 16. Reflecting on Nature of Science through the Philosophy of Science; Lynda Dunlop and Jelle DeSchrijver.- 17. Preparing Science Teachers to Overcome Obstacles to Teach Nature of Science; Michael Clough, Benjamin Herman and Joanne Olson.- 18. Perspectives for Teaching about How Science Works; Fred J.J.M. Janssen, H.B. Westbroek, I. Landa, Britt van der Ploeg, and Jacqueline Muijlwijk-Koezen.- 19. Framing and Teaching Nature of Science as Questions; Michael Clough.- 20. Real and Imagined Cases to Communicate Aspects of Nature of Science; David Boersema.- 21. Avoiding De-Natured Science: Integrating Nature of Science into Science Instruction; Norman Lederman, F. Abd-El-Khalick & Judith Lederman.- 22. Blending Nature of Science with Science Content Learning; Irene Neumann, Hanno Michel and Nikos Papdouris.- 23. Using Digital Technology to Enhance Learners’ Conceptions of Nature of Science; Isha DeCoito.- 24. Using Exemplars to Improve Nature of Science Understanding; Jennifer Parrish, Grant Gardner and Cindi Smith-Walters.- 25. Practical Learning Resources and Teacher Education Strategies for Understanding Nature of Science; Sibel Erduran, Ebru Kaya, Alison Cullinane, Onur Imren & Sila Kaya.- 26. Arguing to Learn and Learning to Argue with Elements of Nature of Science; Hasan Deniz, Lisa Borgerding and Elif Adibelli-Sahin.- 27. New Frontiers in Classroom NOS Assessment; Deborah Hanuscin, Mojtaba Khajeloo and Benjamin Herman.- SECTION FOUR: Teaching Aspects of the Nature of Scienc: Specific Instructional Strategies and Settings.- 28. Using Core Science Ideas to Teach Aspects of Nature of Science in the Elementary Grades; Meredith Park Rogers, Ranu Roy and Alexander Gerber.- 29. Improving Nature of Science Instruction in Elementary Classrooms with Modified Trade Books and Educative Curriculum Materials; Jeanne Brunner and Fouad Abd-El-Khalick.- 30. Using a Problem Based Learning Approach to Teach Nature of Science; Charbel El-Hani, Nei de Freitas Nunes-Neto and Pedro Luís Bernardo da Rocha.- 31. Storytelling as a Pedagogical Tool in Nature of Science Instruction; Nausica Kapsala and Evangelia Mavrikaki.- 32. The Story Behind the Science; Michael Clough.- 33. A Typology of Approaches for Using History of Science in Science Instruction; William McComas.- 34. Using Anecdotes from the History of the Sciences to Illustrate General Aspects of Nature of Science; William McComas and Kostas Kampourakis.- 35. Using the Pendulum to Teach Elements of Nature of Science; Michael Matthews.- 36. Using Historical Inquiry Cases to Learn Nature of Science Analytical Skills; Douglas Allchin.- 37. Teaching the Limits of Science with Card Sorting Activities; Lena Hansson.- 38. Supporting Science Teachers’ Nature of Science Understanding through a Specially Designed Philosophy of Science Course; Kostas Kampourakis.- 39. Learning Aspects of Nature of Science through Authentic Research Experiences; Elizabeth Edmondson, Stephen Burgin, Dina Tsybulsky and Jennifer Maeng.- 40. Embedded Research Experiences to Enhance Nature of Science Understanding for Preservice Teachers; Julie Angle.- 41. Introducing Human Elements of Science through a Context-Rich Thematic Project; Lotta Leden and Lena Hansson.- 42.Informal Learning Environments and their Potential Role in Communicating Nature of Science; Michael Reiss andWilliam McComas.