Some Issues on the Recognition of the Natural Phenomena and the Science Education

Abstract

When the auther posed some questions about the heat production of the nichrome wire to his students in the faculty of education, against his expectation, only ten to twenty percent of them were able to answer correctly to the problems, notwithstanding they have already learned the contents included in the questions as the 5th grade of their elementary schools. Becoming aware of the university student's shortage of the basic knowledges in science, the auther extended the survey to the student of the elementary, junior and senior high schools with the same questions. The results of the survey showed a tendency that 6th grade children revealed the highest correct answer, about 40%, and the grade in the school progressed, the correct answer decreased. On the basis of these data gained, the auther intends to discuss the following issues. (1) The consistency of the science curriculum from elementary school, to junior high, senior high school. (2) The processes of the science instruction in conformity with the developmental stage. (3) The certainty of the understandings of the scientific knowledges and their systematization. (4) The meaning and philosophy of the experiment in science.