Grant amount
NIS 2,800,000
Development and Implementation of a Curricular Program to Teach Ninth Grade Physics in 200 Schools
The Weizmann Institute will develop content and train 100 high school physics teachers to teach in junior high school
The Weizmann Institute will develop content and train 100 high school physics teachers to teach in junior high school
The teaching of physics, chemistry and biology in junior high school in Israel is organized in one integrated science subject. The Ministry of Education allots schools a standard of five weekly teaching hours for this subject, although in practice many schools allocate only four. The teachers are typically biology teachers, and as a result students are less exposed to physics and do not acquire a strong foundation and skillset in this subject. This is cited as one of the reasons for the relatively low selection rate and the high dropout rate of students from the physics track in high school.Over the years, several intervention programs have tried to compensate, bypass and propose diversions from and additions to the existing curriculum. For example, the “scientific-technological reserve,” which was initiated, led and funded by the Ministry, is a six-year resource-rich program which currently operates in 250 schools (mainly larger ones) and includes a significant component of physics. Another example is a program run by the Hemda Science Teaching Center in Tel-Aviv. However, it is estimated that approximately 200 junior high schools do not operate any intervention program in physics, and their students are not adequately exposed to the subject prior to choosing their high school majors.
Consequently, the Physics Academic Committee of the Ministry of Education has proposed that the Ministry establishes a physics intervention program in junior high schools where there is no program in operation. They recommend opening a separate class in ninth grade for those students who are in in the higher mathematics streams and are interested in majoring in a science subject in high school. This class will study physics three hours weekly (2 on account of the existing ones and 1 additional hour) which will be taught by upper secondary school teachers.
In preparation for this program, the Ministry approached the Weizmann Institute in order to develop the required content and train 100 high school physics teachers to teach in junior high school. The Weizmann Institute proposes to focus the program on laboratory work skills, and the transition between mathematical expressions and physics. A menu of curricular units will be offered to teachers who will be able to choose from materials developed encompassing geometric optics, mechanics and energy, based on their preference and professional judgement.
Following the development of three study units, each containing 25-30 lessons, and their trial and feedback in pilot classrooms, the Weizmann Institute will operate a 30-hour training course and individual coaching for 100 physics teachers. In each year of the program, two physics teachers’ communities will specialize in teaching for 9th grade, trying out learning materials and teaching methods in their classrooms, and giving feedback. Of these 100 teachers, at least 50 will receive individual pedagogic instruction including observations in school by the professional development leaders.
* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 212