A Typology of Approaches for the Use of History of Science in Science Instruction

Weaving accounts of the history of science (HOS) into science instruction has been a popular technique by those interested in helping students understand the human side of science. Therefore, including elements of the HOS can be justified for this reason alone. However, a further justification for the use of HOS is its role in providing examples and context when teaching about elements of the nature of science. This chapter examples HOS instructional approaches and offers rationales for its use and an extensive taxonomy based on a review of the literature in this regard. Each of the seven distinct ways by which HOS can inform science teaching and learning is fully described with examples and considerations for use. The chapter concludes with a section detailing some of the challenges associated with a HOS focus in science instruction.