Scientific literacy of HK students Implications for curriculum & instruction

Have the scientific knowledge & skills needed for everyday life. Use the key ideas in science to make informed decisions decisions & participate in society. What is scientific literacy ?

How is scientific literacy measured? Ability to  use scientific knowledge  ask scientific questions  identifying evidence  drawing/evaluating conclusions  communicate scientific ideas/conclusions 15 (16) 5 (5) 6 (7) 3 (5)

Performance of HK students in scientific literacy

OECD averageHong Kong 95 th percentile th percentile th percentile th percentile th percentile th percentile th percentile

Student scores at different percentiles

Implication for curriculum & instruction ? Lower achievers of Hong Kong are less disadvantaged in scientific literacy.

HK secondary schools: High degree of segregation in terms of abilities of student intake Reduced difference in science achievement between the low and high achievers ? 

ALA schools are not disadvantaged in terms of supply of qualified teachers, supporting staff staff and equipment. Majority of HK schools are supported by the government with equal funding & resources Science curriculum – core & extension components

 Design  Design and implementation of school-based curriculum  Development  Development of teaching skills that facilitate the learning of low achievers  Greater  Greater emphasis on learning & thinking skills ALA schools Additional support from EMB and other organisations (CUSP) in various ways:

Performance in different components of scientific literacy ****

Strengths & weaknesses of HK students:  understanding scientific concepts  identifying evidence  drawing conclusions  recognising scientific questions  communicating conclusions/scientific ideas

Focus of HK science curriculum:  Mastery  Mastery of scientific knowledge  Junior  Junior science encourages integration of practical work with learning of science concepts – investigatory approach  Adequate  Adequate supply of trained science teachers

Didactic teaching style Highly prescriptive instruction on practical work: little opportunity for students to - pose problems problems & formulate hypotheses - design experiments experiments & work according to their own design

Little demand on communication skills in interpreting results, discussion and drawing conclusions. Completion of worksheet A lesson on teaching of electrical resistance

We can control the loudness of a radio or the brightness of a table lamp. How to vary the current size in an electric circuit?  Concept of resistance  How to change the resistance of an electric circuit? We can control the loudness of a radio or the brightness of a table lamp. How to vary the current size in an electric circuit?  Concept of resistance  How to change the resistance of an electric circuit?

Experiment 1 Which wire conducts better, the copper wire or the nichrome wire?  You are given 1 copper wire and 1 nichrome wire – same length & thickness. Design a circuit to test which wire conducts electricity better. Experiment 1 Which wire conducts better, the copper wire or the nichrome wire?  You are given 1 copper wire and 1 nichrome wire – same length & thickness. Design a circuit to test which wire conducts electricity better.

Carry out the experiment  What is the use of the bulb in the circuit? Conclusion: We can conclude that the ____ wire conducts electricity better because ______ Carry out the experiment  What is the use of the bulb in the circuit? Conclusion: We can conclude that the ____ wire conducts electricity better because ______

Experiment 2 Resistance of a wire and its thickness Experiment 2 Resistance of a wire and its thickness Experiment 3 Resistance of a wire and its length Experiment 3 Resistance of a wire and its length Set up a circuit with a thin nichrome wire:

What can students learn ? manipulative skillsmanipulative skills observationobservation drawing conclusionsdrawing conclusions What can students learn ? manipulativemanipulative skills observationobservation drawingdrawing conclusions but no opportunities to: identify problems for investigationidentify problems for investigation formulate hypothesisformulate hypothesis design experimentsdesign experiments but no opportunities to: identifyidentify problems for investigation formulateformulate hypothesis designdesign experiments

A more inquiry-based approach A more inquiry-based approach A more inquiry-based approach

Which material conducts electricity better, copper or nichrome?  You are given some copper & nichrome wires (different length & thickness). Design a circuit to test which material conducts electricity better  How would you compare the resistance (or size of the electric current) ? Which material conducts electricity better, copper or nichrome?  You are given some copper & nichrome wires (different (different length & thickness). Design a circuit to test which material conducts electricity better  How would you compare the resistance (or size of the electric current) ?

Concepts of independent variables dependent variables controlled variables Concepts of independent variables dependent variables controlled variables

Suggest 2 factors that may affect the resistance of nichrome wire. Design experiments to test your suggestions. Suggest 2 factors that may affect the resistance of nichrome wire. Design experiments to test your suggestions.  You have studied 3 factors that affect the resistance of a wire: material, thickness, length How would you design a circuit for controlling the current size in a radio or table lamp? You have studied 3 factors that affect the resistance of a wire: material, thickness, length How would you design a circuit for controlling the current size in a radio or table lamp?

Worksheet-directed approach  A more systematic way to develop mastery of the methods of science Worksheet-directed approach  A more systematic way to develop mastery of the methods of science identifying problems formulating hypothesis making predictions designing experiments drawing & evaluating conclusions identifying problems formulating hypothesis making predictions designing experiments drawing & evaluating conclusions

Strengths & weaknesses of HK students:  understanding scientific concepts  identifying evidence  drawing conclusions  recognising scientific questions  communicating conclusions/scientific ideas

HK junior science  dominated by academic & cognitive orientations  Deficient in understanding of the nature of scientific knowledge, the potentials & limitations of the scientific process important for solving everyday life problems, and to make informed decision on social and personal issues - important for solving everyday life problems, and to make informed decision on social and personal issuesHK junior science  dominated by academic & cognitive orientations  Deficient in understanding of the nature of scientific knowledge, the potentials & limitations of the scientific process - important for solving everyday life problems, and to make informed decision on social and personal issues

Science curriculum (S1-5) should include nature of science  Historical development of science concepts (e.g. S & T curriculum) Implications for the science curriculum? If science education aims at promoting development of scientific literacy …

Further analysis of PISA 2000: Gender differences No. of science periods Time spent on homework Time on reading Further analysis of PISA 2000: Gender differences No. of science periods Time spent on homework Time on reading

Future PISA studies: Tracking changes in literacy with time  Impact of education innovations on literacy Future PISA studies: Tracking changes in literacy with time  Impact of education innovations on literacy PISA 2006