The perceptions of Newfoundland and Labrador junior high science teachers concerning the grade seven 'Searching for Structure' program

Sutton, George Herbert (1986) The perceptions of Newfoundland and Labrador junior high science teachers concerning the grade seven 'Searching for Structure' program. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The innovative grade seven junior high science program Searching For Structure had been taught for six consecutive years. Within this period of time the program had matured and could be expected to be defended on its own merits. The researcher considered that no one was more aware of the problems of this existing program in Newfoundland and Labrador schools than the teachers who were in daily contact with the students. -- Typically, teachers’ views on the educational process have been neglected. The teacher point of view is indeed important, and this study was an attempt to give teachers an opportunity to express their views or perceptions. -- The need for the study lay in two major considerations: (1) the value of understanding the way teachers perceived the science curriculum as compared to the prescribed or formal curriculum, and (2) knowledge of the process of curriculum development as it actually occurred. -- The researcher sent a self administered Likert style questionnaire to every grade seven science teacher in Newfoundland and Labrador. The statements and items on the questionnaire were designed to elicit information regarding the following six basic questions: -- 1. Is the professional preparation perceived by junior high school teachers in agreement with the requirements of the Newfoundland Department of Education? -- 2. Are the goals and objectives perceived by the junior high school science teachers in agreement with those stated in the science curriculum? -- 3. Do teachers perceive the techniques recommended in the science curriculum as appropriate for the achievement of the prescribed goals and objectives? -- 4. Do teachers perceive the facilities available for teaching science in the junior high school as adequate? -- 5. Do teachers perceive the equipment and supplies available for teaching science in the junior high schools as adequate for the development of the activities prescribed in the curriculum? -- 6. Do teachers perceive a need for a revision of the junior high school science curriculum? -- A Pearson Product Moment Correlation was run on the VAX computer system. Appropriate correlation statements were selected by the researcher to be correlated with all possible statements and items on the questionnaire. The correlations can probably be best summed up with reference to how the teachers responded to the question regarding course revision. Generally, those teachers who taught the "prescribed curriculum" disagreed, whereas those who were unable to teach the "prescribed curriculum” agreed that a search should begin for a more appropriate course.

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