The Broadening and Developing the Teaching Content-domains in the Physics Education -As an Example「Energy Supply by Nuclear Power Plant」Unit in the IPN Curriculum Physics -

Abstract

Recently it is a characteristic to increase the content-domains of science education. In this paper; IPN Curriculum Physics ‘unit : "Energy supply by nuclear power plant" is analyzed, in order to examin the viewpoints of organizing subject matter, problem of selection and arrangement of content concerning the new content-domains introduced in science education. Also this analysis extends to the conceptions of education, science (physics) education and science (physics) in the background of organizing this unit. Through this analysis followings were cleard. (1) In this unit there were viewpoints of physics, technology, economy, polit cs, influence on environment and historical development as to organizing real problem in scientific and technological socienty : "Energy supply by nuclear power plant" to subject matter. (2) The position of selection and arrangement of contents from those viewpoints aimed at understanding various aspects of this problem on the basis of the knowledges in physics and technology, still more fosterring and futherring the ability of behavior necessary for solving this problem. And this position applied well in the form of teaching this unit. (3) This position was caused by the conception of physics education which aimed at fosterring the social-democratic qualification. And futher this conception was formed under the influence of the conception of education which was related to critical-educational science (kritische Erziehungs wissenschaft), of the conception of the science which gave light on social and political aspects, and of the critical conception of science in some sense. (4) Some viewpoints and methods in organizing this unit seemed to be significant for our dealing with the content-domain : "science and society" in physics education and other science education in Japan.