Quebec Science Education
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DOCUMENT RESUME ' Ns ED 222 095 HE 019 091 AUTHOR Souque, Jean-PaScal, Ed.- Dufour, Paul, Ed. TITLE Quebec Science Education: Which Diredtions? Proceedings of a Symposium:Sponsored by the Science Council of Canada and the Association des Ptofesseurs de Sciences du Quebec (March 1982). P82/2. / INSTITUTION Association ,of Professors of Science of Quebec (Quebec).; Science Council of Canada, Ottawa (Ontario) . REPO*NO . 1,SBN-0-662-11989-4 Pus kar 82 NOT(q: 125p.; Published in French under-the title "Les sciences au Quebec: Quelle education"-(October 1981). 4 EDRS,PRICE MF'01 Plus Postage.'PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS *Educational fistory; Educational Objectives; Elementary School Science; Elementary Secondary Education; Foreign Countries; *Futures (of Society); Aigher Education; Learning Motivation; *Science Education; Science Teachers; Social Change; *Student Development; Trend'Analysis IDENTIFIERS -*Quebec ABSTRACT Proceedings are presented of a Irmposium on science education in Quebec, which was sponsored by the Science Council of Canadt and the Association des Professeuts de Sciences du Quebec. Papers and authors addressing the backgiound and present state of Quebec science education are as follows: "Science Teaching at the Secondary fievel: An Evaluation" (Louis Ste-Marie); and "Science' Teaching: An Answer or a Question?" (Marcel RiSi).In addition, comments'are offered by Graziella Levy concerning developments at the secondary and primary levels and by Alexander Liutec concerning the present and future situation of science education in the English sector. Future directions for science teaching in Quebec are addressed in "What Sort of Scientific Education for What Sort of .Society7" (Jacques Desautels). Graeme Welch also discusse$ the future directions for science education aid suggests that science teachers must assume ,responsii)ility for reinorcing linguistic, mathematical, and cognitive skills'developffient of Students. Future directions in Quebec are also addre'ssed by Germain Gauthier,-who identifies some important characteristics of the social and educati'onal environment in Quebec and outlines possible approaches to science education. The topic of popularization is discussed by Pierre Sormany with regard to the accuracy of scientilic subject matter in.popuiar texts and approaches toTinterest students in science; A concLuding statement by Gilbert Lannoy summarizes the scOpe of the comments and papers presented in the symposium, and additional summaries are presented of these presentations and of discussions. Appendga materials include a symposium program and a paper, "Science Teaching in Quebec. Why? For WhoM?" .(Raymond Duchesne).'(SW) a 4 4 Nt 8cience QuebecScienceWhich Council of iiiirk) Education: Directions? Canada L.L.f 4. "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCETHIS MATERIAL INMICROFICHE ONLY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN GRANTEDBY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EOUC TIONAL RESOURCESANFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) is document has been reproduced as received from the person or orgarutahon originating it I Minor changes have bean made to improve TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES . reproduction quality INFORMATION CENTER(ERIC)." Points of view or opium otrited in this doctl ment do not nocessnoty represent otlictaINIE Position or policy Proceedings Of a symposium sponsored by the Science Council of Canada and l'Assoolation des prOfeSSBUTS de dcienoSs du Quebec. - March 1982 rz, P82/2 4 , o , , 44 .1* , f , QUEBEC SCIENCE EDUCATION: e/ , WHICH DIRECTIONS? 1 , ) 7'.. f , Proceedings of a symposium sponsored by the > Science-Council of Canada and the Association des professeurs de *March 1982 sciences du Québec. r (Québec Science Education': Which airections?_gas published in French in October 1.981 under the title Les sciences au Quebec: Quelle Iducation?) , 3 1 ./. Proceedings are published by the Science Council af Canada to share with a Oder , audience of interested readers the ideas , and perspectives brought to Council con- ferences or seminars by experts iri a variety of fields. The papers presented and viewt expressed in these Proceedings . are not mcessarily endorsed by the Science Council nor by the Association des profes-. seurs de sciences du Québec. \ a , 4 Copies of; .1 , QUEBEC SQIENCE EDUCATION: WHICH DIRECTIONS? 1 C are available free of charge from: ... The Publjcations Office _ Science Council of Canada 100 Metcalfe Street, 1 , 'Otta+4, Ontario .K1R 5M1 Vous,pouvez 4.6alement . vous procurer la version . française , .. .41 Les scienpes au Quebec: . Quelle Mucation? % Miniter dr Supply and , . Sertfices, 1982 ' Catalogue No. S524-16/198E , ,ISBN 0-662-11989-4 , .1 I . TABLE, OF CONTENTS Foreword 5 I. Perspectives on the Background and Present State of Québec Science Education 7 Dr. Louis Ste-Marie 9 y 19 : Mrs. Graziella Levy Mr. Alexander Liutec 27 Mr. Marcel Risi 41 . 11. Future Directions for Science Teaching in Qupbec ' 49 Dr. Jacques Désautels 51 Dr. Graeme Welch 61 Dr. Germain Gauthier 71 III. Address by Mr. Pierre Sormany 79 IV. Concluding Statement by Mr. Gilbert Lanny 91 103, V. ' Summary of'Symposium Presentations and Discussions Appendices Appendix A - Symposium Program .Y 125 Appendix B Simposium Feedback Mr. Raymord Duchesne - 127 3 FOkEWORD In the wake of the increasing criticism being made of science education over the past few years, and the concern about k,,low well science is being presented to primary and secondary school students,the Science Council ofCanadalaunched a major stUdy onsCience education in October 1979. The Councilof Ministers of Education, canada, After welComing.this initiative, demonstrated its willingness to cooperate in . each phase of the study. In addition, we are pleased by the consider- able interest and participation shown by the country's sciente teachers' associations. The symposium helsl jointly under the sponsor- shipof the Science Council.and the Association desprofesseurs de sCiences du Québec (APSQ). on 7 March 1981 in Montréal-is a good example Of this cooperatiOn. Ina society where'science and technology determine,a large part of the way we- live, science.education deserves particular attention. 'Morethan everdecisions affectin ts_ course must be made using well-grounded research based on inforftjationathered from all those who play a direct -or indirect role in science teaching. The collection of this information, along with the deliberations that may ensue, are two major objectives' of the study. The symposium was a natueal element,of this strategy; its purpose was to highlight diverse points ofiview on sciviceeducation in Québecwhile pertittingthe Participants to examine the history of scienceteachiing, its current situation, the' questions that arise, and future posisibilities'. 1 5 -r- '4X , The symposium participants identified a great variety of critical issues. Not surprisingly, all agreed on the need for change, without agreeing on'concrete'i.ecommendations: The organizers had not expected any unanimous agreement on the orientation of science education. They .had deliberately structured the symposium so.as to stimulate a.series _ 4 .o1f ideas, and it will be apparent to the reader of these proceedings t at Ois objective was achieved. The discussions even trickled .out of the symposium itself, .as evidenced by the press accounts that followed; as an example, we have included an article with an original perspec- tive; by Raymond Duchesne. The organization of symposia comprises only a part of the activi-v ties undertaken by the Science and Education Study. Several new dis- cussion papers are currently being prepared for publication, a large questionnaire. survey of science teachers is underway, and a Series of case studies is commencing. Those who areinterested in further informatjon. regarding these activities are invited to communieate,with us. v. on behalf of the Science and Education Committee,I Would 1.ike -to thank all those who gave preseqtation.s at the symposium and thoe who actively participated. I would.41so like to thank Mr. Claude Marineau andr Mr.Gilbert Lannoy,the President and the Director of Information of the APSQ respectively, as well as Mr. Jean-Pascal Souque and Mr. Paul Dufour, both of whom were responsible for ihe organiiation of the symposium and the preparation of these proceedings. Maurice L'Abb6 Executive Director Science Council of Cana.da # i I , : i t 1 \ I , (-. ;. I I. PERSPECTIVES ON THE BACKGROUND AND PRESENT STATE OF SQ/AENCE EDUCATION IN QUeBEC r , . ( 7 ,--, 0 Science Teaching at the Secondaiy Level: An Evaluation by Dr. Louis Ste-Marie Faculti des sciences de VP,ducaticin Universite de Montr6al 9 10 Irj 1972 a research team was ornied at the' Faculty of Education ofthe Université de Montréalfor the purpose of evaluating science teaching at the end orthe secondary level and where appropriate,tlhe beginning of the college level. The team was christened EVALENSCI,an acronym for ."eva1uay6 de l'ensei nement des sciences." 4 At the time,the majori of the programs and methods used in science teaching were 'adaptations of American productsOf the 1960s. Furthermore, regardless of the textbooks used, the, teaching and learning of scienCe were presenting serious difffulties ?forteachers \_and -student§. In,the beginning, the team 'agreed on a synthesis of the goals'of. * . science teeching that Were already contained in the programs ofthe Department.of Educati n,the recommended textbooks and other publica- tions on the subject. Three groups of goals were selected. The first. two are directly related to science