Analysis of inquiry activities in high school chemistry II textbooks based on the 2009 revised science curriculum: Focus on 8 science practices

Abstract

The cultivation of scientific literacy in recent science education can be improved by experiencing and understanding scientific inquiry by which scientific knowledge is formed. The National Research Council(NRC) released the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) including 8 practices of science that help students experience scientists' inquiry and subdividing achievement standards to perform 8 practices of science into by grade clusters. This study was intended to examine science inquiry activities included in 4 high school chemistry II textbooks developed by the 2009 revised curriculum using the 8 scientific practices and their achievement standards for 9th-12th grade. The science inquiry activities and the science practices included in the 4 textbooks were 173 and 678. The science practices included in the inquiry activities of 4 textbooks included the most 'analyzing and interpreting data.' The 'engaging in argument from evidence', 'Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information' were less than other practices. The 'asking questions and defining problem' and 'developing and using models' were not nearly included in the 4 high school chemistry II textbooks.