Department of Science, Farhangian University, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Science education is one of the most important subjects in primary schools. Researchers believe that the difficulty in science learning is related to the nature of science and to methods of science teaching. Douglas Tepper considers the barriers to science education as squeezing out of science in the curriculum in elementary schools, teachers with expertise in reading instruction instead of science teaching, fear to require expensive equipment and difficult to assess. Focusing on science education in preschool and primary schools, enhancement of teaching quality by using inquiry based methods, attention to the role of the teacher in science education, studying the challenges facing humanity at the 21st century, and reforming the present curriculums to overcome these challenges are suggestions of researchers to improve science education. According to the results of TIMSS studies and comparing science education methods in Iran with vanguard countries, it seems necessary to reform the methods of science teaching in Iran.
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