title: Enhancing Thai students' learning of chemical kinetics

authors: Chairam, Sanoe

subjects: chemical kinetics

abstract: Chemical kinetics is an extremely important concept for introductory chemistry courses. The literature suggests that instruction in chemical kinetics is often teacher-dominated at both the secondary school and tertiary levels, and this is the case in Thailand - the educational context for this inquiry. The work reported here seeks to shift students from passive learning to more active, student-centred learning and involved some 413 first year undergraduate science students in Thailand. Drawing on inquiry-based learning, the participants were asked to design an experiment investigating the reaction of acids and bases. The research findings suggest that participants were able to explain the changes of the rate of a chemical reaction, and developed good conceptual understanding of chemical kinetics both qualitatively and quantitatively. It also showed this more active teaching approach, which is radically different from normal teaching in Thailand, was an enjoyable experience for the students.

text: Enhancing Thai students' learning of chemical kinetics Chemical kinetics is an extremely important concept for introductory chemistry courses. The literature suggests that instruction in chemical kinetics is often teacher-dominated at both the secondary school and tertiary levels, and this is the case in Thailand - the educational context for this inquiry. The work reported here seeks to shift students from passive learning to more active, student-centred learning and involved some 413 first year undergraduate science students in Thailand. Drawing on inquiry-based learning, the participants were asked to design an experiment investigating the reaction of acids and bases. The research findings suggest that participants were able to explain the changes of the rate of a chemical reaction, and developed good conceptual understanding of chemical kinetics both qualitatively and quantitatively. It also showed this more active teaching approach, which is radically different from normal teaching in Thailand, was an enjoyable experience for the students.

year: 2009

title: Analysing pedagogical change: Physics teachers' responses to a new curriculum.

authors: Fernandez, Teresa Sushama

subjects: teaching

abstract: This paper describes teachers' attempts to implement the 1994 New Zealand physics curriculum in the first year of its introduction to secondary schools in 1998. Analysis of interviews with 10 physics teachers and the three curriculum writers led to the identification of a number of barriers to changes in pedagogical practices. The barriers identified aligned with factors that had been identified by other researchers as important influences on teachers undergoing change. It is argued that a sociocultural perspective suggests that there were three main reasons why significant pedagogical change was not occasioned by the curriculum document. Firstly, there was very limited knowledge about why changes were being implemented. Secondly, there was little social and system support for the curriculum change. Finally, teachers had no time to focus on and reflect on the change.

text: Analysing pedagogical change: Physics teachers' responses to a new curriculum. This paper describes teachers' attempts to implement the 1994 New Zealand physics curriculum in the first year of its introduction to secondary schools in 1998. Analysis of interviews with 10 physics teachers and the three curriculum writers led to the identification of a number of barriers to changes in pedagogical practices. The barriers identified aligned with factors that had been identified by other researchers as important influences on teachers undergoing change. It is argued that a sociocultural perspective suggests that there were three main reasons why significant pedagogical change was not occasioned by the curriculum document. Firstly, there was very limited knowledge about why changes were being implemented. Secondly, there was little social and system support for the curriculum change. Finally, teachers had no time to focus on and reflect on the change.

year: 2003

title: Equity, equality, and biculturalism in the restructuring of New Zealand schools: A life-history approach

authors: Middleton, Sue

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: Interview data from the initial phase of "Monitoring Today's Schools," a research project to monitor the impact of New Zealand's educational restructuring, are examined.

text: Equity, equality, and biculturalism in the restructuring of New Zealand schools: A life-history approach Interview data from the initial phase of "Monitoring Today's Schools," a research project to monitor the impact of New Zealand's educational restructuring, are examined.

year: 1992