scholarly journals PREFERRED CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM PERSPECTIVE: TEACHERS’ PERCEPTION OF LOWER-SECONDARY SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 316-331
Author(s):  
Karel Vojíř ◽  
Martin Rusek
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
School Science ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Chemistry Curriculum ◽  
Lower Secondary School ◽  
Chemistry Teaching ◽  
Secondary Chemistry ◽  
Teaching Conceptions

The (written) state curriculum is one of the cornerstones influencing education. Its specifically mediated by textbooks. In an open textbook market, the influence of the state curriculum is limited, and the main responsibility passes to individual schools or teachers. In order to understand education from the potential attainment of curriculum goals’ point of view, it is necessary to pay attention to the teachers’ textbook preferences. This research was focused on the field of lower-secondary chemistry education in Czechia, with special attention paid to the textbooks in use, their choice, and teachers’ perception of them. The data were gathered using a questionnaire distributed to a representative sample of 387 lower-secondary school chemistry teachers. The results showed that teachers favor traditional chemistry teaching conceptions. Most teachers stated that textbooks play a vital role for them when preparing lessons and new textbooks are mostly chosen by the most experienced teachers. Most teachers also expressed their preference for textbooks which contain subject-matter ordered according to the structure of chemistry, i.e. not adjusted for learners, as well as textbooks dominantly orientated towards the transmissive approach to education. Regarding the teachers’ perception of textbooks, potential limits were identified in implementing innovations in (chemical) education. Keywords: chemistry textbooks, lower-secondary school science education, teachers' teaching conception

scholarly journals Scientific Perspectivism in Secondary-School Chemistry Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 1361-1388
Author(s):  
Ilse Landa ◽  
Hanna Westbroek ◽  
Fred Janssen ◽  
Jacqueline van Muijlwijk ◽  
Martijn Meeter
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Chemistry Curriculum ◽  
Secondary Chemistry ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Fundamental Relationship ◽  
Structured Problems ◽  
Ways Of Thinking

Abstract The importance of learning chemical ways of thinking is widely recognized. Various frameworks have been developed to address the essence of chemistry and chemical thinking. However, very few studies have focused on how chemical ways of thinking can be defined. To elaborate chemical ways of thinking, this paper draws on scientific perspectivism (Giere 2010; Wimsatt 2007; Thagard 2012). Scientific perspectivism states that, within each general domain, several broadly accepted theoretical models exist side by side. These general theoretical models, or theoretical perspectives, determine which research questions are generated, which types of models are developed, and which criteria are important for evaluating models. A theoretical perspective can be captured in a core reasoning that embodies the fundamental relationship between model and the “real world.” Starting with their most basic form, perspectives can be used in learning how to reason about all types of ill-structured problems, directing and organizing knowledge development, and integrating knowledge and skills. The study is part of a research project on how perspectivism can be applied to the design of secondary-school chemistry education. This particular study concerns the identification, elaboration, and validation of four chemical perspectives for secondary-school chemistry education. We use these perspectives to indicate the consequences of taking a perspectivism approach to a curriculum framework. We conclude with discussing the consequences for secondary chemistry curriculum.

TEACHERS’ VIEW ON THE LOWER SECONDARY CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Bilek ◽  
◽  
Katerina Chroustova ◽  
Jiri Rychtera ◽  
Veronika Machkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Critical Points ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
Chemistry Curriculum ◽  
Secondary Chemistry ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Chemistry Teachers ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Key Topics

The research was focused on the teacher’s opinions about the key and critical points of the lower secondary chemistry curriculum in the Czech Republic. Through the interviews with 40 chemistry teachers from four Czech regions was gained information about what teachers named as critical topics and what as key topics in early chemistry school contents. Some problems were identified mainly with cognition overload of learners and the necessity to realize stronger connections to everyday life and forming science literacy. Keywords: chemistry teachers’ opinions, early chemistry education, key points of the curriculum, critical points of the curriculum.

scholarly journals Mapping Landscape Values and Conflicts through the Optics of Different User Groups

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1306
Author(s):  
Hana Vavrouchová ◽  
Petra Fukalová ◽  
Hana Svobodová ◽  
Jan Oulehla ◽  
Pavla Pokorná
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
University Students ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Lower Secondary School ◽  
School Students ◽  
Online Data ◽  
Landscape Values ◽  
The Individual

The paper presents the results of the study on participative mapping of landscape values and conflicts and a subsequent interpretation of the indicated localities from respondents’ point of view. The study focused on younger groups of landscape users—lower-secondary-school students (aged 11–15) and university students (aged 20–25)—in comparison with experts’ points of view. The research presumed that the perception of landscape values and issues are determined by age, level of education and by experience in the field. The study was conducted in the southeastern area of the Czech Republic (49° N, 16° E) via online data collection. Based on the obtained records, we conclude that, in terms of the typology of the valuable and problematic locations, the individual groups of respondents did not differ significantly and the selection of location types was similar across all groups. Lower-secondary-school students rather identified cultural values associated with everyday activities, and the descriptions contained emotional overtones. University students preferred natural values associated with formal values based on general consensus or conflicts associated with society-wide impacts. The experts base served as the benchmark for other groups.

Increasing student motivation and the perception of chemistry's relevance in the classroom by learning about tattooing from a chemical and societal view

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Stuckey ◽  
Ingo Eilks
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Chemistry Teaching ◽  
Secondary Chemistry ◽  
Chemistry Learning ◽  
Tattoo Inks ◽  
Selection Of

This paper presents a study on tattooing as a topic for chemistry education. The selection of the topic was inspired by a newly suggested framework, which focuses on the question of relevance of science education. The aim of this case was to get evidence on how topics selected based on the suggested model of relevance of science education affect learners' overall motivation and perception of chemistry learning. For the purpose of the study a lesson plan was cyclically developed and tested within a project of Participatory Action Research. The lesson plan focuses both the chemistry behind tattoo inks and the societal perspectives surrounding tattoos. The study description first includes some background information about tattooing and tattoo inks. It then continues with a description of the lesson plan and ends with reporting experiences and findings taken from lesson plan evaluations at the lower secondary chemistry teaching level (age 14–15). The topic and lesson plan proved themselves to be very motivating for students. Indicators that this lesson plan can potentially contribute to positive changes in students' perceptions of learning chemistry were observed. Implications arising from this case are also discussed.

scholarly journals Inquiring chemistry teacher: The teaching and learning of chemistry concepts and phenomena (part V): Historical approach to chemistry teaching 2

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-424
Author(s):  
Simo Tolvanen ◽  
Maija Aksela ◽  
Maija Ahola ◽  
Outi Haatainen ◽  
Jarkko Huusko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Upper Secondary School ◽  
Chemistry Teaching ◽  
Historical Approach ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
History Of

In spring 2013, students attending the course The Central Areas of Chemistry Education II studied the history of key chemistry concepts as well as the research on the use of historical approach to chemistry teaching. Based on the research literature, they produced materials for chemistry teaching in secondary and upper secondary school. In addition to teaching the concepts and phenomena of chemistry, the historical approach was used to deal with nature of chemistry as a science. In the articles, the students present the theoretical background for historical approach and history related to the produced material. The teaching materials (in Finnish) can be found online from the site of KEMMA Centre for Chemistry Education: http://www.luma.fi/kemma.

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