Document Type

Science Education

Keywords

high school chemistry, chemistry curricula, chemical education

Abstract

A survey of Iowa's 485 high school chemistry teachers and information from the Department of Public Instruction provide the basis for a description of the "typical" Iowa chemistry teacher in terms of age, experience, academic background, salaries, and teaching practices. Trends in student attitudes and modification of teaching practice during the 1981-84 period when the "crisis" in science education in the United States was being emphasized in the media were assessed from responses from 365 teachers. Results indicate that Iowa's chemistry teachers are conservative in making innovations in teaching practice, and the goal of increasing student exposure to chemistry is thwarted by the course's reputation of being "difficult." Future prospects are described for making chemistry studies available to more students by improving course content, improving laboratory activities, and providing for better teacher preparation.

Publication Date

March 1986

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

Issue

First Page

Last Page

Copyright

Language

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Hanson, R. W. (1986) "High School Chemistry in Iowa: Current Status, Recent Trends, and Future Prospects," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 93(1), 1-6.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol93/iss1/3

Download

Comments?

COinS

High School Chemistry in Iowa: Current Status, Recent Trends, and Future Prospects

Authors