The Role of Microscopes to Promote Sustainable Development Goals at School: A Literature Review

Microscopes are instruments usually associated with the field of Science Education. Unfortunately, despite their great potential for education, their use at school is not generalised. This implies fewer opportunities for students to understand the microscopic world, thus affecting the quality of the...

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Main Authors: Susana Rams, Sila Pla-Pueyo, Ángel Blanco-López
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Education Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/11/1264
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author Susana Rams
Sila Pla-Pueyo
Ángel Blanco-López
author_facet Susana Rams
Sila Pla-Pueyo
Ángel Blanco-López
author_sort Susana Rams
collection DOAJ
description Microscopes are instruments usually associated with the field of Science Education. Unfortunately, despite their great potential for education, their use at school is not generalised. This implies fewer opportunities for students to understand the microscopic world, thus affecting the quality of their Environmental Education. In the present systematic literature review, proposals for Primary and Secondary (6–18 years) microscopy education are analysed, as well as their relation to the promotion of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has been carried out in the databases Web of Science and Scopus, followed by a content analysis of 82 journal articles. The main results show that non-formal educational contexts pay more attention to the relation between school microscopy and the SDGs than the formal ones, and, within these, basic education is the least represented in comparison to middle and high levels. Optical microscopes are the most used in relation to SDGs, in contrast to electron microscopes, while new digital, virtual and remote-controlled models are also mentioned. Within the Science and Technology fields associated with SDGs through school microscopy, ‘Life Sciences’ and ‘Technological Sciences’ stand out, and these fields are particularly varied in the case of SDG4 (Quality Education) and SDG3 (Good health and well-being). In conclusion, microscopes play a diverse and conspicuous role in promoting SDGs in school contexts at an international level, and their use should be encouraged in Environmental Education formal and non-formal Primary and Secondary Education.
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spelling doaj-art-1bd3473cf82d4ddcaef88a10d12ca9992024-11-26T18:01:34ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022024-11-011411126410.3390/educsci14111264The Role of Microscopes to Promote Sustainable Development Goals at School: A Literature ReviewSusana Rams0Sila Pla-Pueyo1Ángel Blanco-López2Department of Mathematics Education, Social Sciences Education and Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, SpainDepartment of Didactics of Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Granada, 18011 Granada, SpainDepartment of Mathematics Education, Social Sciences Education and Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, SpainMicroscopes are instruments usually associated with the field of Science Education. Unfortunately, despite their great potential for education, their use at school is not generalised. This implies fewer opportunities for students to understand the microscopic world, thus affecting the quality of their Environmental Education. In the present systematic literature review, proposals for Primary and Secondary (6–18 years) microscopy education are analysed, as well as their relation to the promotion of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has been carried out in the databases Web of Science and Scopus, followed by a content analysis of 82 journal articles. The main results show that non-formal educational contexts pay more attention to the relation between school microscopy and the SDGs than the formal ones, and, within these, basic education is the least represented in comparison to middle and high levels. Optical microscopes are the most used in relation to SDGs, in contrast to electron microscopes, while new digital, virtual and remote-controlled models are also mentioned. Within the Science and Technology fields associated with SDGs through school microscopy, ‘Life Sciences’ and ‘Technological Sciences’ stand out, and these fields are particularly varied in the case of SDG4 (Quality Education) and SDG3 (Good health and well-being). In conclusion, microscopes play a diverse and conspicuous role in promoting SDGs in school contexts at an international level, and their use should be encouraged in Environmental Education formal and non-formal Primary and Secondary Education.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/11/1264science educationenvironmental educationeducation for sustainable developmentmicroscopy educationSDG4primary education
spellingShingle Susana Rams
Sila Pla-Pueyo
Ángel Blanco-López
The Role of Microscopes to Promote Sustainable Development Goals at School: A Literature Review
Education Sciences
science education
environmental education
education for sustainable development
microscopy education
SDG4
primary education
title The Role of Microscopes to Promote Sustainable Development Goals at School: A Literature Review
title_full The Role of Microscopes to Promote Sustainable Development Goals at School: A Literature Review
title_fullStr The Role of Microscopes to Promote Sustainable Development Goals at School: A Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Microscopes to Promote Sustainable Development Goals at School: A Literature Review
title_short The Role of Microscopes to Promote Sustainable Development Goals at School: A Literature Review
title_sort role of microscopes to promote sustainable development goals at school a literature review
topic science education
environmental education
education for sustainable development
microscopy education
SDG4
primary education
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/11/1264
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