The Use of History of Science Texts in Teaching Science: Two Cases of an Innovative, Constructivist Approach

This study proposes an empirical classification of ways to introduce elements of the history of science into science teaching, as well as describing a special way to do so characterized by the introduction of short extracts from historical texts. The aim is to motivate students to participate in problem-solving activities and to transform their alternative conceptions about various natural phenomena. Finally, the study presents two cases of introducing the history of science into the teaching of science in Greece; the basics of Electromagnetism (primary level) and the Simple Pendulum (lower grade of secondary education).