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Chapter 13
Enhancing Scientifc Literacy
through the Industry Site Visit
AbstrAct
Citizens in contemporary societies are encountering more and more issues that are somehow related
to science and technology. Therefore, science and technology education plays an important role in
providing students with the knowledge and the competences they need in their life. The research and
development project discussed in this chapter focuses specifcally on scientifc literacy. It is considered
as a crucial element of multiple literacies required in modern life. These profciencies are often referred
to in terms such as information literacy, media literacy, environmental literacy, political literacy, com-
puter literacy etc. (see e.g., Lankshear & Knobel, 2003). In order to enhance student scientifc literacy
the authors introduce a model of industry site visit for lower secondary school science education as a
form of out-of-school learning. The potential of the site visit and other learning activities connected to
it are discussed in the frameworks of scientifc literacy, motivation and interest. The site visit and the
activities, such as the use of ICT in reading and writing, are scrutinised with regard to the specifed
Jari Lavonen
University of Helsinki, Finland
Antti Laherto
University of Helsinki, Finland
Anni Loukomies
University of Helsinki, Finland
Kalle Juuti
University of Helsinki, Finland
Minkee Kim
University of Helsinki, Finland
Jarkko Lampiselkä
University of Helsinki, Finland
Veijo Meisalo
University of Helsinki, Finland
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60566-690-2.ch013