Science, ICT and mathematics as curriculum priorities in primary schools: What are the practices and needs of beginning primary teachers?

This study was formulated within the context of an increasing recognition nationally of science, technology and mathematics education as curriculum priorities in primary schools. Recent graduates of a pre-service primary education program that had an emphasis on innovation and ‘best practice’ in sci...

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Main Authors: Trinidad, Sue, Frid, Sandra, Sparrow, Len, Treagust, David
Other Authors: Ruth Jeffery
Format: Conference Paper
Published: AARE Inc. 2007
Online Access:http://www.aare.edu.au/data/publications/2007/tri07387.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6376
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author Trinidad, Sue
Frid, Sandra
Sparrow, Len
Treagust, David
author2 Ruth Jeffery
author_facet Ruth Jeffery
Trinidad, Sue
Frid, Sandra
Sparrow, Len
Treagust, David
author_sort Trinidad, Sue
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study was formulated within the context of an increasing recognition nationally of science, technology and mathematics education as curriculum priorities in primary schools. Recent graduates of a pre-service primary education program that had an emphasis on innovation and ‘best practice’ in science, ICT and mathematics education were surveyed to ascertain their teaching practices in science, ICT and mathematics, and their professional development needs within these three learning areas. Graduates within their first four years of teaching were asked to complete a written response, short answer questionnaire focused on: regularly used teaching practices, curriculum planning influences, professional development endeavours, formal or informal curriculum leadership roles or influences, and views of professional development needs. The responses (N=55) indicated: individual and class student learning needs and achievement levels, along with guiding curriculum documents were a major influence on curriculum planning and teaching practices; lack of appropriate resources impacted upon teaching particularly for ICT and science; science was receiving relatively little attention within overall school curricula and teachers had received little or no professional development in science; and resources and personalised professional development and support were seen as the greatest needs in efforts to enhance science, ICT and mathematics teaching.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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last_indexed 2025-11-14T06:11:19Z
publishDate 2007
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-63762022-11-21T05:19:39Z Science, ICT and mathematics as curriculum priorities in primary schools: What are the practices and needs of beginning primary teachers? Trinidad, Sue Frid, Sandra Sparrow, Len Treagust, David Ruth Jeffery Chris Shilton Mandy Davies This study was formulated within the context of an increasing recognition nationally of science, technology and mathematics education as curriculum priorities in primary schools. Recent graduates of a pre-service primary education program that had an emphasis on innovation and ‘best practice’ in science, ICT and mathematics education were surveyed to ascertain their teaching practices in science, ICT and mathematics, and their professional development needs within these three learning areas. Graduates within their first four years of teaching were asked to complete a written response, short answer questionnaire focused on: regularly used teaching practices, curriculum planning influences, professional development endeavours, formal or informal curriculum leadership roles or influences, and views of professional development needs. The responses (N=55) indicated: individual and class student learning needs and achievement levels, along with guiding curriculum documents were a major influence on curriculum planning and teaching practices; lack of appropriate resources impacted upon teaching particularly for ICT and science; science was receiving relatively little attention within overall school curricula and teachers had received little or no professional development in science; and resources and personalised professional development and support were seen as the greatest needs in efforts to enhance science, ICT and mathematics teaching. 2007 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6376 http://www.aare.edu.au/data/publications/2007/tri07387.pdf AARE Inc. restricted
spellingShingle Trinidad, Sue
Frid, Sandra
Sparrow, Len
Treagust, David
Science, ICT and mathematics as curriculum priorities in primary schools: What are the practices and needs of beginning primary teachers?
title Science, ICT and mathematics as curriculum priorities in primary schools: What are the practices and needs of beginning primary teachers?
title_full Science, ICT and mathematics as curriculum priorities in primary schools: What are the practices and needs of beginning primary teachers?
title_fullStr Science, ICT and mathematics as curriculum priorities in primary schools: What are the practices and needs of beginning primary teachers?
title_full_unstemmed Science, ICT and mathematics as curriculum priorities in primary schools: What are the practices and needs of beginning primary teachers?
title_short Science, ICT and mathematics as curriculum priorities in primary schools: What are the practices and needs of beginning primary teachers?
title_sort science, ict and mathematics as curriculum priorities in primary schools: what are the practices and needs of beginning primary teachers?
url http://www.aare.edu.au/data/publications/2007/tri07387.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6376