Students’ Biotechnology Literacy: The Pillars of STEM Education in Malaysia

Nurnadiah Mohamed Bahri; Evi Suryawati; Kamisah Osman

doi:10.12973/eurasia.2014.1075a

Full Text (PDF)

Nurnadiah Mohamed Bahri ¹, Evi Suryawati ², Kamisah Osman ¹ ^*

More Detail

¹ The National University of Malaysia, MALAYSIA² Riau University, INDONESIA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Biotechnology has been widely applied in various products throughout the 21st century. Malaysia selected the biotechnology sector as one of the key strategic technologies that would enable Malaysia to transform into a fully developed nation by the year 2020. However, to date, there has been very little research on the level of biotechnology literacy amongst school students in Malaysia and the aim of this study is to determine the presence of biotechnology literacy, based on knowledge, perception, and attitude. Besides, this study also determines the factors affecting the students’ attitude towards biotechnology. This study is a quantitative study involving 292 secondary school students from science and non-science classes. The findings showed that overall students have what we describe as a medium level of knowledge, perception, and attitude towards biotechnology. It is anticipated that this pattern of findings can help teachers, the Ministry of Education and the media to strategically plan ahead so that improvements in the national curriculum can be proposed and implemented.

Keywords

biotechnology
biotechnology literacy
knowledge
perception
attitude

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, 2014, Volume 10, Issue 3, 195-207

https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1075a

Publication date: 15 Dec 2014

Article Views: 2521

Article Downloads: 1738

Open Access References How to cite this article

References

Adey, P., Hewitt, G., Hewitt, J., & Landau, N. (2004). The professional development of teachers: Practice and theory. Kluwer Academic Publishers. New York, USA.
Abdul Latif, S., Latifah, A., Mohamad Sabri, H., Mohd Fadhil, H. & Mohamad Sabri, H. (2011). Awareness and knowledge on modern biotechnology. African Journal of Biotechnology, 10(58), 12448-12456.
Abdul Munir, M., Ahmad Sofiman, O., Fauzi, D., Mohd Yusof Radzuan, S., Mohd. Firdaus-Raih, Nik Marzuki, S., et. al. (2005). A nationwide biotechnology outreach and awareness program for Malaysian high schools. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, 8(1), 9-16.
Aerni, P. (2002). Stakeholder attitudes toward the risks and benefits of agricultural biotechnology in developing countries: a comparison between Mexico and the Philippines. Risk Analysis, 22(6), 123–1137.
Allum, N., Sturgis, P., Tabourazi, D. & Brunton-Smith, I. (2008). Science knowledge and attitudes across cultures: a meta-analysis. Public Understanding of Science, 17(1), 35- 54.
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). (1989). Project 2061--science for all americans. Washington, DC: AAAS.
Arujanan, M. (2007). Enhancing awareness of biotechnology in Malaysia: The role of an NGO. Asia Pacific Biotech News, 11(8).
Bowling, B., Vice, H., Carl, A., Wang, L., Myers, M.F., Markle, G.C, et al. (2008). Genetic literacy of undergraduate non-science majors and the impact of introductory biology and genetics courses. Journal of BioScience, 58(7), 654-660.
Bybee, R.W. (2008). Scientific literacy, environmental issues, and PISA 2006: The 2008 Paul F-Brandwein Lecture. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 17, 566-585
Chen, S.Y. & Raffan, J. (1999). Biotechnology: student’s knowledge and attitudes in the UK and Taiwan. Journal of Biological Education, 34(1), 17-23.
Chua, Y.P. (2006) .Kaedah dan Statistik Penyelidikan, Kaedah Penyelidikan, Buku 1. McGraw Hill Education (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. 141-144.
Cohen, J. & Cohen, P. (1983). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Dawson, W., & Schibeci, R. (2003). Western Australian school students’ understanding of biotechnology. International Journal of Science Education, 25(1), 57–69.
Dawson,V. & Venville, G.J. (2009). High-school students’ informal reasoning and argumentation about biotechnology: An indicator of scientific literacy? International Journal of Science Education, 31(11), 1421-1445.
Erdogan, M., Prokop, P., Usak, M., & Ozel, M. (2009). High school and university students' knowledge and attitude regarding biotechnology. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 37(2), 123-130.
Fishbein, M. & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, Attitude, Intention and Behavior: An Introduction To Theory And Research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
France, B. (2003). Location, location, location: Positioning biotechnology education for the 21st century. Studies in Science Education, 43(35), 88-122
Gastrow, M. (2010). The public understanding of biotechnology in media. A Report for The National Advisory Council on Innovation and The National Advisory Committee
Ibrahim, F.M. & Babayemi, O.F. (2010). Knowledge and attitude of a group of Nigerian undergraduates towards enviromentalism. Global Journal of Environmental Research, 4(1), 47-53.
Kementerian Sains dan Teknologi (MOSTI). (2010). Maklumbalas kenyataan akhbar. Retrieved from http://www.mosti.gov.my/mosti/images/pdf/maklum balas_media/kenyataan%20akhbar.pdf
Keskin-Samanci, N., Özer-Keskin, M., & Arslan, O. (2014). Development of ‘Bioethical Values Inventory’for Pupils in Secondary Education within the Scope of Bioethical Education. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education, 10(2), 69-76.
Kidman, G. (2009). Attitudes and interests towards biotechnology: the mismatch between students and teachers. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology, 5(2), 135-143.
Klop, T, & Severiens, S. (2007). An exploration of attitudes towards modern biotechnology: A study among Dutch secondary school students. International Journal of Science Education, 29(5), 663-667.
Klop, T., Severiens, S. E., Knippels, M. C. P., van Mil, M. H., & Ten Dam, G. T. (2010). Effects of a science education module on attitudes towards modern biotechnology of secondary school students. International Journal of Science Education, 32(9), 1127-1150.
Kok, E. J. & Kuiper, H.A. (2003). Comparative safety assessment for biotech crops. Trends In Biotechnology, 21(10), 439–444.
Latifah, A. & Jamaluddin, M.J. (2009). Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi penerimaan bioteknologi oleh masyarakat malaysia. Jurnal Pengajian Umum, 6
Latifah, A., Mohd Hanafy, G. & Nik Marzuki, S. (2012). Public perception of ethical aspects of cross species gene transfer in animals. International Journal of Sustainable Development, 3(7), 21-28.
Laugksch, R. C., & Spargo, P. E. (1999). Scientific literacy of selected South African matriculates entering tertiary education: A baseline survey. South African Journal of Science, 95(10), 427–432.
Miller, J. D. (1983). Scienti fic literacy: A conceptual and empirical review. Daedalus, 112(2), 29-48.
Miller, J. D. (2004). Public understanding of, and attitudes toward, scientific research: What we know and what we need to know. Australian Science Teachers Journal, 46(4), 27-33.
Miller, J. D. (2007).The public understanding of science in Europe and the United States. A paper presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Morren,M. , Rijkena, M., Baandersa, A.N, & Bensinga, J.(2007). Perceived genetic knowledge, attitudes towards genetic testing, and the relationship between these among patients with a chronic disease. Patient Education and Counseling, 65(2), 197-204.
Murcia, K. (2007). Science for the 21st century: Teaching for scientific literacy in the primary classroom. Teaching Science, 53(2), 16-19.
OECD – Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (2006). Assessing Scientific, Reading and Mathematical Literacy - A Framework for PISA 2006. Retrieved from http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/ education/pisa_19963777
Oyeniyi, S. (2009). Knowledge, perception and attitudes of library personnel towards preservation of information resources in Nigerian Federal University Libraries. Library Philosophy and Practices (ejournal), 303.
Prokop. (2010). Slovakian students’ knowledge and attitudes towards biotechnology. International Journal of Science Education, 29(7), 1-23.
Pallant, J. (2007). SPSS survival manual (3rd Ed.). Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.
Pusat Perkembangan Kurikulum. (2005). Sukatan Pelajaran Biologi Tingkatan 4, Kurikulum Bersepadu Sekolah Menengah. Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia.
Rota, G. & Izquierdo, J. (2003). Comics as a Tool for teaching biotechnology in primary schools. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, 6, 85-89.
Sagar, A., Daemmrich, A. & Ashiya, M. (2000). The tragedy of the commoners: biotechnology and its publics. Nature America Inc. Retrieved from http://biotech.nature.com
Simon, R.M. (2009). Gender difference in knowledge and attitude towards biotechnology. Public Understanding of Science, 19(6), 642-653.
Sturgis, P., Cooper, H. & Schaw, C. F. (2005). Attitudes to biotechnology: Estimating the opinions of a betterinformed public. New Genetics And Society, 24(1), 31-56.
Subahan. T, Mohd Fairuz, A.H, Lilia, H. (2012). Malaysian secondary students’ knowledge and attitudes towards biotechnology. Journal of Baltic Science Education, 11(2), 153-163.
Tabachnick, B.G. & Fidell, L.S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics (4th ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
RMK9. (2006). Ucapan Perdana Menteri YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Pembentangan Usul Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan, 2006-2010 Di Dewan Rakyat Pada 31 Mac 2006. Retrieved from http://Www.Epu.Gov.My/Html/Themes/Epu/Html/ Rm9/Bahasa/Misi.Pdf
Wells, J., & Kwon, H. (2008). Inclusion of biotechnology in US standards for technological literacy: Influence on South Korean technology education curriculum. In Proceedings of the 19th Annual PATT Conference, Salt Lake City, UT [online].
Wells, J.G. (1994). Establishing a taxonometric structure for the study of biotechnology in secondary school technology education. Journal of Technology Education, 6(1), 58-75.
Wingebach, G.J., Rutherford, T.A & Dunsford, D.W. (2003). Agricultural communications students’ awareness and perception of biotechnology issues. Journal of Agriculture Education, 44(4), 80-93.

How to cite this article

APA

Bahri, N. M., Suryawati, E., & Osman, K. (2014). Students’ Biotechnology Literacy: The Pillars of STEM Education in Malaysia. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 10(3), 195-207. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1075a

Vancouver

Bahri NM, Suryawati E, Osman K. Students’ Biotechnology Literacy: The Pillars of STEM Education in Malaysia. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2014;10(3):195-207. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1075a

AMA

Bahri NM, Suryawati E, Osman K. Students’ Biotechnology Literacy: The Pillars of STEM Education in Malaysia. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2014;10(3), 195-207. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1075a

Chicago

Bahri, Nurnadiah Mohamed, Evi Suryawati, and Kamisah Osman. "Students’ Biotechnology Literacy: The Pillars of STEM Education in Malaysia". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2014 10 no. 3 (2014): 195-207. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1075a

Harvard

Bahri, N. M., Suryawati, E., and Osman, K. (2014). Students’ Biotechnology Literacy: The Pillars of STEM Education in Malaysia. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 10(3), pp. 195-207. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1075a

MLA

Bahri, Nurnadiah Mohamed et al. "Students’ Biotechnology Literacy: The Pillars of STEM Education in Malaysia". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 10, no. 3, 2014, pp. 195-207. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1075a