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M100
Award in Creative Approaches towards Addressing
Controversial issues in STEM
This module offers course participants the possibility to discuss how uncertainty can be used to spark curiosity and better prepare learners for the real world, where answers are seldom clear-cut or permanent. Whether discovering black holes, the concept of Climate Change or other controversial topics, learners and employees should be comfortable challenging the received knowledge. If learners, citizens or employees can be made to feel comfortable with uncertainty and they are proactive in challenging facts, then they are more pertinent to be curious, creative and innovative in their thinking and doing. This module will use current STEM-related international news as the basis for discussion.
Applicants interested in following this programme are to satisfy one of the minimum eligibility criteria:
A Bachelor degree (MQF 6 with a minimum 180 ECTS), or higher in the areas of Science or Technology or Engineering or Mathematics, or a cognate area deemed relevant by the Institute for Education
By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:
a. Develop creative approaches to engage citizens and other stakeholders with topics that they find challenging to discuss;
b. Instil critical thinking, curiosity, passion, and thinking outside the box through case studies found in research studies and reports;
c. Identify good practices and implement them to different target audiences in relation to STEM engagement;
d. Develop an understanding of participatory research methods to engage with different audiences with STEM;
e. Evaluate activities based on the level of engagement with several publics.
a. Outline effective examples of citizen science projects;
b. Evaluate activities based on the level of engagement with several public;
c. Outline methods and processes used by the media, science communicators and anti-science groups to engage their audiences;
d. Demonstrate an understanding of how dialogue can be used to engage various groups within society;
e. Derive the importance of an informed democracy and active citizenship;
f. Express different ways of using arts and other creative tools to engage citizens in challenging topics.
a. Apply creative tools to real-life situations (e.g. anti-vax movement, myths, fake news etc.) such as fish-bowl discussions and other facilitation techniques etc.;
b. Apply monitoring techniques to evaluate their communication strategies;
c. Critically apply citizen science methodologies to instil curiosity, engage citizens with science and facilitate active citizenship and democracy.
This module adopts a blended approach to teaching and learning. Information related to the structure and delivery of the module may be accessed through the IfE Portal. For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures found on the Institute for Education’s website.
This programme adopts continuous and summative methods of assessment including assignments, online tasks, reflective journals, projects and video presentations. For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures.
Upon successful completion of this module, course participants will be conferred an accredited certification.
Upon successful completion of this module, course participants may use certification conferred to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning for accredited programmes. Teachers may also use this certification in their application for accelerated progression.
1. Jensen, E., & Laurie, C. (2016). Doing real research: A practical guide to social research SAGE Publications.en, E., & Laurie, C. (2016).
2. National Research Council. 2002. Scientific Research in Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10236. Online for free: https://www.nap.edu/read/10236/chapter/1#ii
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