Natuurwetenskaponderwysers se vakinhoudelike kennis en begrip van die Aardwetenskappe

[摘要] The numerous changes to the South African education system since January 1998have had far reaching effects on schools and the training of educators (GovernmentGazette, 31 May 2002:13). Changes in subject content have occurred in varioussubjects, and the General Science (now Natural Science) syllabus is no exception.The General Science syllabus previously catered mainly for Chemistry, Physics andBiology, but the Curriculum 2005 (C2005) Natural Science syllabus includes subjectmatter on Physical Geography (Climatology, Astronomy, and Geomorphology)(Department of Education, 2002b:6). The problem with this is that educators thatpreviously taught General Science are not necessarily qualified to present the PhysicalGeography component of the new syllabus. This study investigates the impact of thechanges in the new curriculum.The review of existing literature on curriculum development in Natural Scienceeducation in South Africa emphasises key changes made in the development andimplementation of C2005 and the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS). Italso explores the characteristic features of misconceptions, before considering specificmisconceptions in Natural Sciences.The first part of the two-tiered empirical investigation is based on the results ofquestionnaires and interviews completed by different groups of Natural Scienceseducators. The questionnaires, which drew in part on existing questionnaires used insimilar studies, were based on information used for the literature review.The second part of the empirical investigation consisted of interviews conducted withNatural Sciences Departmental Heads at randomly selected schools. An attempt wasmade to determine how these senior educators experienced the implementation ofC2005 and RNCS and what their attitude to the new curriculum were. The dataobtained from the questionnaires and the subsequent interviews were categorised,interpreted and coded for statistical processing.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University