ABSTRACT
Partnerships todayplace emphasis on lifelong learning, equitable opportunities to learn, and the fruitfulness of instruction for science-related decisions at home, at work, or in daily life. They have extended the goals for science education to include language literacy and technology literacy (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1994; Bybee, 1997; National Research Council, 2000). They highlight elements of language learning relevant to science such as the challenges of learning from science texts, distinguishing the specialized meanings of science terminology, engaging in the discourse practices of science, appreciating the epistemological basis for scientific argumentation, and interpreting persuasive messages about such topics as genetically modified foods. They explore the role of technology in scientific advance and the impact of modern technologies such as computer programs, visualization tools, and probeware on learning (Snyder et aL, 1999).
