SEIA : SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS AND ICT TEACHING AND LEARNING

June 2004 Jbregman SEIA Conference Dakar 1

SEIA : SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS AND ICT TEACHING AND LEARNING

Jacob BregmanLead Education Specialist (AFTH3)

Africa Region, World Bank

June 2004 Jbregman SEIA Conference Dakar

Continuous change in SE and thus in SMICT :

SMICT should be Interesting, Relevant and FunSMICT has higher unit costs (Lower- versus UPPER Secondary; Integrated / physical Science versus separate subjects

Which skills and competencies should SMICT deliver? Little Biology, Chemistry, and Physics specialists at the age of 16? Or SMICT literates?

What is needed? Graduates with flexible and relevant skills and competencies. Science and ICT NEW job categories and niches.

Jbregman SEIA Conference Dakar

Overhaul Science & Maths content to reflect changing economic & social demands

Science subjects linkages with other subjectsEveryday usefulness as a Citizen (environment)Relevance for Economy & SocietyEmphasis on “problem identification, understanding & formulating solutions” and team workScience Concepts and their applications in the economy & society (integrated environmental sciences)

Most countries : integrated science at primary (grade 4-6), followed by “subjects” in Lower SE Some countries : Integrated science at lower secondary OR alternate Physics, Biology and Chemistry


Scientific Literacy in 3 Dimensions: Scientific concepts to understand the natural

world and changes made through human activity (related to physics, chemistry, biological sciences and earth and space sciences, but applied to real-life problems in three broad application areas: science in life and healthscience in earth and environment science in technology

(source: project 2061)


Scientific processes, centered on the ability to acquire, interpret and act upon evidence:

Related to five processes:1. Recognition of scientific questions, 2. Identification of evidence, 3. Drawing of conclusions, 4. Communication of these conclusions 5. Demonstrate understanding scientific

conceptsScience questions should always require

understanding of key scientific concepts


MathematicsNumbers Measurement Geometry Proportionality Functions, relations, and equations Data representation, probability, and statistics Elementary analysisValidation and structure

ScienceEarth sciences and Life sciences Physical sciences Science, technology, and mathematics History of science and technology Environmental issues Nature of science Science and other disciplines

TIMSS uses curriculum frameworks as basis for tests; consensus-building / endorsed by all participating countries


Classic / CurrentSubject Oriented (sciences) and non-integratedDifficult to integrate new subjectsLimited information sources, fixed classroom & lab hours Teacher source of knowledge: collects, organizes & presents / pupil memorizesLack of structured time for projects, teamwork, integrated activitiesExam-driven teaching misses aptitude skills testing

21st CenturyScience subject areas: learning targets per level and linkedPupils’ reflection and analysis; teacher facilitatesDiverse information sources combined with classroom teaching and learning (teamwork, ICT and new scientific developments) Role of Humanity / World-we-live-in are returning science and technology themes Ethics, “ways of thinking”, problem solving attitude, excellent “core” skills are important Continuous assessment / exams ; aptitude and professional skills


CRACKED PLANET : growing rift over how volcanoes formWAR ON SPAM : Reverend Bayes to the rescue (Brightmailbrings anti-spam services)LAZARUS THE SHARK : Stroke research surpriseLATEST NEWS : Universe could rip itself apart; standby for the BIG RIPEVOLUTION AND GENETIC SECRETS : undoing the twist in Sickle cellsSPARKING THE ULTIMATE EXPLOSION : fast molecules leap ahead of shockwaveRETHINKING THE GENOME : silencing the pests


THE NUMBERS DON’T ADD UP : blind faith in statistical recipes is good for churning out papers, but don’t believe everything you read (statistics and lies) (Keith???)ANGEL OF AFRICA : Uganda more successful in controlling HIV / AIDS than any other African countryTHIS IS YOUR LIFE : ultimate organizer; how to discover your brain and vital information RACE TO FIND A VACCINE : SARS a new global threat?BRIGHT NEW WORLD : Plasmonics next big thing in NanotechnologyQUICK FIX : just a single dose of African Folk remedy can free you from cravings. Why aren’t doctors welcoming it with open arms?




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SEIA : SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS AND ICT TEACHING AND LEARNING