Ludwigsburg 1999 – scientific programme

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DD: Didaktik der Physik

DD VIII: HV VIII

DD VIII.1: Invited Talk

Wednesday, March 10, 1999, 09:00–10:00, L 301

PHYSICS EDUCATION WITHIN A NEW CONTEXT OF SENIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE NETHERLANDS — •Harrie Eijkelhof — Centre for Science and Mathematics Education, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

From 1999 onward senior secondary education in the Netherlands will change drastically. The system of freedom to choose examination subjects will be abandoned. Students have to spend 50 percent of their time on a common curriculum which includes four languages, science, social science, mathematics and arts. In the rest of the time students opt for sets of subjects which prepare them for particular studies in higher education. The freedom to choose specific subjects has been limited to a few optional courses. At the same time students are expected to learn more independently with a different, more guiding role of the teacher. This innovation has been the topic of a fierce debate between those with high expectations and those who expect disastrous effects. In the presentation the background of this innovation will be outlined and the consequences for physics education will be discussed. As 25 percent of the schools already started this year with the new curricula, some first impressions will be given.