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The theme of this research was to evaluate the probability of incorporating history of science(HOFS)with physical science (PS) teaching in secondary schools. The purposes of this research were as follows. First, we analyzed the content in current PS textbooks with the view of HOFS. Second, we tried to understand the opinions of PS teachers in secondary schools about incorporating HOFS with PS teaching. Third, we asked for three case teachers to offer better opinions for the experimental teaching material(ETM).
According to the three purposes above, this research adopted three methods-content analysis, questionnaire survey, and interview survey. Besides, we developed two kinds of questionnaires for teachers and an ETM incorporated with HOFS. Mechanics was the scope of content analysis. For questionnaire survey ,we found the samples from the PS teachers in southern Taiwan secondary schools and then asked for three willing PS teachers to examine the ETM.
The results of this research are:
1. Content analysis
Of the portion of mechanics in current PS textbooks in secondary schools, the area percentage about HOFS is only 2.99%. And, the only description is over-simplified. Unless teachers themselves have profound literacy of HOFS to supplement the teaching material, the multiple teaching functions of HOFS can''t be very effective. 2. Questionnaire survey
Most teachers enjoy exploring HOFS and have the experience of looking for the material about history and philosophy of science. However, they seldom apply HOFS in their teaching. Of the teaching methods, giving examples is used most frequently; however, adding HOFS has not been valued by teachers. The analysis of queationnaire survey shows that there are still some practical obstacles to incorporate HOFS with teaching. That is, we lack the ready-made suitable teaching material incorporated with HOFS and teachers do not understand HOFS. Furthermore, the assertion that PS textbooks in secondary schools should be HOFS-directed has not come to an agreement.
3. ETM Incorporated with HOFS
According to the suggestions from the three case teachers, the ETM incorporated with HOFS developed by this research still needs to be improved. We should continue developing the teaching material for students, combining with STS, and quoting more information of Chinese science history based on theory.
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