The Curriculum Development of Primary School Science Programme

What is Curriculum?

Field of curriculum :

1. Specific and general interpretation

2. Inside and outside the classroom 3. Manifest curriculum with Hidden / latern curriculum

Specific – various type of learning activities conducted inside and outside the classroom.

General – process of activities experienced by certain individuals from immature childhood to matured adult level.

Curriculum as subject taught in classroom. Outside the classroom considered as semi-curriculum / co-curricular activities.

Both inside and outside are equally important.

Manifest curriculum – formal / official curriculum Latent curriculum – informal curriculum to integrate noble

values, attitude and positive social interaction. William B. Ragan (1960) – curriculum covers all actual

experiences in real life. D.Tawner & L.Tanner (1975) – curriculum consist of

organisation in planned learning experiences. J.Caven Saylor & William M. Alexander – curriculum is an

organized learning scheme for pupils to master various types of activities.

The purpose of curriculum in education is to build a complete student’s development in terms of physical, spiritual, mental & emotional as well as to inculcate desirable moral values & deliver knowledge. In Malaysian context, curriculum plays the role to produce citizens who will carried out the nation’s vision to create unity based on our Rukun Negara as well as providing highly-trained human resources.

[Laporan Kabinet Mengkaji Pelaksanaan Dasar Pelajaran (1979)]

Consists of three types of Programmes1. 1968- 1984- Kurikulum Sains Projek Khas

2. 1985- 1993- Alam dan Manusia

3. 1994- 2010 – Kurikulum Sains Sekolah Rendah4.2010-now- Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah

1968- School Division of the Ministry of Education initiated a project.

1973- Developed by Pusat Sains ( Science Center. Evolve into Pusat Perkembangan Kurikulum(PPK)/ Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) in 1994

The Objective: Able to compare the past curriculum with the present science curriculum.

The Aim: To raise the teaching standard of science and mathematic

Rational: Children today have different attitudes from children in the past, so teacher should change their teaching-learning approach, strategy and methods. Teachers must more confident in using the inquiry approach to make children interested in investigating and understanding the environment.

Teacher’s Guide: Panduan Mengajar Sains Teaching-learning Strategy: Scientific Method.

1985- Introduced syllabus for Alam dan Manusia taught to Year 4 students in New Curriculum for Primary School / Kurikulum Baru Sekolah Rendah (KBSR)

Purposes- to help students acquire basic knowledge and understanding of aim and his surroundings.

It integrated subjects such as Geography, History, Science and Health Science.

Teacher’s Guide: Buku Panduan Khas Teaching-learning Strategy: Inquiry-discovery

1994- It replaced Man and His Environment subject with Science and Local Studies in the Integrated Curriculum for Primary School/ Kurikulum Bersepadu Sekolah Rendah (KBSR).

KBSR formulated and implement to improve and enhance the standard of education. It also order to achieve the aim of Philosophy of National Education.

Teacher’ Guide: PuLSaR Teaching –learning Strategy: Constructivism

From 1994 until now, there have 4 changes:i) Primary School Science Curriculum for Smart

Schoolsii) Primary School Science Revised Curriculum for

Level 2iii) Primary School Science Curriculum for Level 1iv) Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (ETeMS)

Special Project in Curriculum – Scientific method. Man and His Environments – Inquiry-discovery. Primary School Science Curriculum- Constructivism

Students were given activities/problem Define the problem Discuss Make trial Test the hypothesis Make a conclusion

5 steps:1. Identify the issue/problem2. Decide the way to solve3. Collect information- questioning, observation, carry

out experiment4. Study information- classifying, comparison, analyse5. Make a conclusion-generalization

Based on 1.Constructivism- construct their on knowledge based on their prior

experiences to lear new knowledge2.Hands-on and mind-on activities3.Inquary approach- to find information4.Discovery by students themselves

First: Primary School Science CurriculumSecond: Smart School ( Kurikulum Sains KBSR Sekolah Bestari, use technology as tool ► emphasis: information technology (IT) ► school infrastructure development ► training of teachers and management staff

Third: Primary School Science Revised Curriculum for level 2 ( will implemented in 2003) under five themes; 1) Investigating the Living World 2) Investigating the Physical World 3) Investigating the Material World 4) Investigating the Earth and the Universe 5) Investigating the World of Technology

Forth: Primary School Science Curriculum for Level One in 2003; - taught in the English medium Steps to ensure that teaching science in English is

success :-- Formulate new primary school science syllabus on

enhancing of English through the learning science

- To train teachers to be proficient in using English to teach science. An intensive in-service training called English for Teaching of Mathematics and Science (ETeMS)-( a history)

- Support Materials: Teaching Guides, dictionaries, bilingual terms and glossary are provided.

- Infrastructures: notebook computer, LCD, Screen- Textbooks- five items package( textbook, activity book,

teacher’s manuals, student’s CD and teacher’s CD-ROM)- Multimedia Software- Science courseware- Bilingual examination papers- Buddy supports