ERIC Number: EJ883550
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1756-1108
EISSN: N/A
Representative Nature of Scientific Literacy Themes in a High School Chemistry Course: The Case of Zambia
Mumba, Frackson; Hunter, William J. F.
Chemistry Education Research and Practice, v10 n3 p219-226 2009
The purpose of this study was to find out how the scientific literacy themes are represented in the current Zambian high school chemistry syllabus, textbooks and grade twelve chemistry examination papers in an attempt to find out whether or not the chemistry course has adequate potential to contribute to the preparation of scientifically literate citizens. The results show some disparity among the high school chemistry course materials. The chemistry syllabus had a better representation of the scientific literacy themes than the chemistry textbooks and examination papers. The chemistry textbooks mostly emphasized science as a body of knowledge theme, whereas the examination papers mostly covered the investigative nature of science theme. Both the chemistry syllabus and examination paper 2 placed some emphasis on the interaction of science and technology theme. Despite the disparity in the representation of scientific literacy themes among the high school chemistry course materials, the course has adequate potential to contribute to the preparation of scientifically literate citizens. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Scientific Literacy, Chemistry, High Schools, Secondary School Science, Grade 12, Textbooks, Course Descriptions, Science Tests, Scientific Principles, Science and Society, Content Analysis, Foreign Countries
Royal Society of Chemistry. Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK. Tel: +44-1223 420066; Fax: +44-1223 423623; e-mail: cerp@rsc.org; Web site: http://www.rsc.org/cerp
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 12; High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Zambia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A