Teachers’ Struggling in the Midst of Reform: Teachers’ Implementation of Reformed Ninth Grade Physics Curriculum

Authors : Nuri BALTA, Ayşegül SAĞLAM ARSLAN

Pages : 16-33

Doi:10.17275/per.16.07.3.2

View : 21 | Download : 30

Publication Date : 2016-08-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :A new national physics curriculum has recently been implemented across Turkey. This paper examines the experience of physics teachers through their experience of implementing the ninth grade physics curriculum all over the Turkey. A cross-sectional survey design was used to examine to what extent physics teachers comply with, teach and comprehend the curriculum. Data which were collected within the spring semester of 2014-2015 academic year, was gathered via an online questionnaire that was applied to 71 physics teachers. Chi square analysis was conducted to see whether scores determined for each main topics changed according to school type, teaching experience, education level, graduated faculty and gender. Results indicated that a considerable part of participants were not even aware of the limitations of the curriculum and almost half of them did not comply with these limitations in their classes. Moreover, it was determined that an important part of participants could explain the meaning of objectives that were newly added to the curriculum. Furthermore, upon analyzing the findings that were acquired in terms of different parameters insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(gender, graduated faculty, school type and school experience);; some important results were obtained within the scope of the study. This study implies that reforms done on the curricula require cautions, that is, without pilot studies modifications in the curricula may arise significant problems.
Keywords : physics education, physics curriculum, curriculum reforms