A Survey on the Actual Performance of and Rationale for Observation and Experiment in Lower Secondary School

Abstract

A questionnaire determined to what degree the observations and experiments described in textbooks were carried out, according to differences of gender, age and individual specialties for 128 science teachers. Moreover, the study investigated the rationale for observation and experiment in the science classroom. 29% of the teachers carried out 80% or more of the observations and experiments, while 58% carried out 50 to 80%. It seems that teachers understand that many students become interested and involved in the contents of study by performing observations and experiments. They understand too that observation and experiment are required in the science classroom. However, under present conditions, there are important obstacles: teachers have little time to prepare for observations or experiments, and there is a lack of equipment and instruments.