The Influence of Context on Science Curricula: Observations, Conclusions and Some Recommendations for Curriculum Development and Implementation

Title
The Influence of Context on Science Curricula: Observations, Conclusions and Some Recommendations for Curriculum Development and Implementation
Publication Date
2008
Author(s)
Coll, RK
Taylor, Neil
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8438-319X
Email: ntaylor6@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:ntaylor6
Editor
Editor(s): Coll, RK and Taylor, N
Type of document
Book Chapter
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Sense Publishers
Place of publication
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Edition
1
UNE publication id
une:2659
Abstract
The genesis of this project and book was our experiences of teaching science and science education at various levels in developing countries; in the Pacific and the Caribbean. These experiences along with numerous conversations with other teachers and educators who had worked in Africa and elsewhere left us with something of a sense of despair. We constantly confronted Western or foreign science curricula which were plainly alien to science learners in non-Western contexts. We witnessed numerous curricula reforms and professional development initiatives, many of which seemed doomed to failure. In fact Helu-Thaman (1991) referred to the 'wreckage' of aid-funded curricula initiatives all around the Pacific. Probably the most alarming aspect in all of this was the role of the foreign expert. Someone, normally 'aid-funded', who turned up for a short period of time to tell the locals what they should be doing! The naivete of some of these people was truly remarkable (or perhaps they just didn't care?). Failure of the program or reforms was generally attributed to the locals not 'seeing it through' or not quite understanding the new curriculum initiatives. There was little effort made to take into account local conditions or the views of local experts, especially teachers.
Link
Citation
Science Education in Context: An International Examination of the Influence of Context on Science Curricula Development and Implementation, p. 355-362
ISBN
9789087902476
Start page
355
End page
362

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