THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN TURKISH ELEMENTARY SCIENCE CURRICULUM

Authors : Sinem Demirci

Pages : 54-61

View : 23 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 2017-12-30

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Ministry of Education introduced the notion of Sustainable Development (SD) into the revised curricula in 2013. Moreover, SD included as a chapter for 8th graders. In the current study, national elementary science textbooks were examined by means of the integrating SD into the contents. Moreover, the objectives of the SD chapter were analysed. The context of curriculum stated that students develop awareness about benefits of efficient use of natural resources by means of society, individual, and economy. However, when the chapters were explored, no special emphasis or integrations were attributed to SD. Rather, a chapter for the 8th graders was added into the curriculum and it was related to the recycling and SD. When the objectives of the chapter were examined, some objectives were too general that 4 lecture hours might not be enough to attain the objectives. Besides the written objectives, no objectives were found for promoting competencies reported by UNESCO. The content and the objectives of the SD lecture in science are too general and need some revisions. Moreover, it could be better to integrate the context of SD into the whole curriculum rather than having one chapter in grade level 8.The objectives may be simplified and retrofitted in order to construct meaningful learning. Besides, teaching the concept of SD via recycling may not be sufficient to embrace the notion of SD. The national science curriculum should also include some other SD issues.
Keywords : Education for Sustainability, Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary