Focus on Topics. Learning in Science Project. Working Paper No. 4.

The first (exploratory) phase of the Learning in Science Project focused on science teaching/learning in the Form 1 to 4 level (ages 10 to 14) and sought to identify problems and difficulties in several areas. Provided in this paper are comments obtained during structured/unstructured interviews (from students, ex-students, teachers, headmasters, science advisers, and inspectors) and observations made by project staff related to problems/difficulties with science topics (or aspects of science topics) of the Form 1-4 science syllabus. The intent of presenting these comments/observations is not primarily to provide a balanced view of good and bad aspects for Form 1 to 4 science, but rather to open up problem issues as project staff and others see them. Comments/observations focus on topics in general, considering difficulties involving concepts, language/mathematics skills, time, and resources and/or conditions. Additional comments/observations related to difficulties in biology, physics (radiant energy, forces/force, motion/mass, electrical energy, astronomy), and chemistry (matter, mixtures), are presented in an appendix. Three questions are posed based on the comments/observations. Questions consider whether particular problem topics, aspects of topics which are a problem, or themes which occur over a number of topics should be identified and studied. (JN)