Analysis of science and technology curriculum of Turkey with respect to different aspects of scientific literacy

Scientific literacy is the most important purpose of contemporary sciencecurriculum in western and some Asian countries. Similarly, the purpose ofelementary science education in our country was stated to be the development of thescientific literacy in Elementary Science Education Curriculum which was developedin 2000 and Science and Tecnology Education Curriculum which was developed in2004. Besides, the development of the science process skills was also emphasized inboth of the curricula.The distribution of different aspects of scientific literacy in learningoutcomes and activities was at 4th and 5th grade Science and Tecnology EducationCurriculum analyzed. The aspects of scientific literacy were the knowledge ofscience, the investigative nature of science, science as a way of knowing, and theinteraction of science, technology and society. In addition, the distribution of scienceprocess skills in learning outcomes and activities was analyzed. In summary short,the capasity of Science and Tecnology Education Curriculum to develop scienceprocess skills and scientific literacy was investigated in the study.A qualitative methodology was applied in the study. Firstly, two researchercoded learning outcomes and activities independently and then compared eachother?s codes, and reached a consensus in weekly meetings. Secondly, codes wereivclassified under learning areas for each grade and interpreted. Thirdly, codes underlearning areas were combined to obtain a whole picture for each grade. At the end,two data for each grade were compared. The methodology was inductive. The samemethodology was applied in the analysis of the aspects of scientific literacy.According to the research results, in respect to the dimensions of thescientific literacy, the investigative nature of the science was the most emphasizedaspect. Knowledge of science and interaction of science, technology and societyaspects were found to be second and third respectively. It was found that science as away of knowing aspect was rarely emphasized. The basic science process skills werefound to be more emphasized than integrated science process skills.In conclusion, in order to develop scientific literacy, the curriculum shouldbe improved to provide a better support in science as a way of knowing aspect.Science and Tecnology Education Curriculum has potential to develop basicscientific process skills. But, it should be improved with respect to integrated scienceprocess skills.Key Words: Scientific Literacy, Science Process Skills, Science AndTechnology, Curriculum Development, Program Evaluation.