Science Education in Canadian Schools. Volume II. Statistical Database for Canadian Science Education. Background Study 52 [microform] / Graham W. F. Orpwood and Isme Alam

A major study of Canadian science education was undertaken in 1980 to establish a documented basis for describing the present purposes and general characteristics of science teaching in Canadian schools, to provide a historical analysis of science education in Canada, and to stimulate active deliberation concerning future options for science education in Canada. As part of this study, a national survey was conducted to determine: (1) which of 14 objectives (representing eight categories of aims contained in ministry guidelines) science teachers consider to be important for the level at which they teach; (2) science teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of their teaching in enabling students to achieve these objectives; and (3) obstacles to the achievement of the various aims of science education. Factors related to physical facilities, institutional arrangements, and support for science teaching were also examined. This volume discusses the survey objectives, methodology, and questionnaire (included in an appendix) used; characteristics of the teachers surveyed; and the findings. Among the findings are those indicating that, at the elementary level, more male than female teachers rated science content objective as fairly or very important and that teachers at all levels considered science-related attitudes important. (JN)