Curriculum Reform Movements and Science Textbooks: A Retrospective Examination of 6th Grade Science Textbooks

Abstract

Over 50 years, two major reform efforts in science education took place. The purpose of the present study is to explore how the educational reforms were reflected in nine 6th grade science textbooks published in 1975, in 1985 and in 1997 in terms of (a) the materials used, (b) the contexts to which the electricity concept was related, (c) the type of student activities, and (d) the domain of learning objectives dealing with text activities. For the analysis, a checklist was developed. Our findings show that the concept of teaching electricity has moved from transmitting a body of knowledge and the discipline of science orientation to a more social learning and a student centered pedagogical orientation.