Leaving cert science curriculum

steddyeddy

What do people here think of both the leaving cert curriculum and the way science is thought in general in secondary schools?

I'm a biologist by education specializing in biochemistry and I think the curriculum for both chemistry and biology is somewhat lacking. Every year the new science undergraduates are told that what they think of as biology isn't biology. Lecturers and various heads of science in this country have fought with the department of education over the inclusion and exclusion of certain important details within the science curriculum. No improvements where made based on those recommendations and the problems continue,.

Science in general is attracting the wrong people, has a high drop out rate and graduates are (in my opinion) are declining in quality. This is where my concern stems from and IMHO we need to inspire people to like science by changing the curriculum and making sure the correct teachers are matched to each subject.

Inspector Coptoor

I have the same background.
Biochem graduate from '05.

Teaching since '07

I think the LC chemistry course is quite good if all the experiments are being done by the class.
Its very tough on teachers to organize chemicals etc in free classes if not lucky enough to be in a private school with a technician.

The LC Bio curriculum is a serious pile of sh1t€.
Useless experiments, vast amounts of useless ecology, very limited human anatomy, too much in plants, not enough detail on respiration & photosynthesis & it's just boring to teach.

steddyeddy

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

I have the same background.
Biochem graduate from '05.

Teaching since '07

I think the LC chemistry course is quite good if all the experiments are being done by the class.
Its very tough on teachers to organize chemicals etc in free classes if not lucky enough to be in a private school with a technician.

The LC Bio curriculum is a serious pile of sh1t€.
Useless experiments, vast amounts of useless ecology, very limited human anatomy, too much in plants, not enough detail on respiration & photosynthesis & it's just boring to teach.

Great to see a biochemist in education. I would have loved that at my school. One of the chief architects of the biology curriculum was a botany undergraduate and without saying anything too much he inst favorably regarded in academic circles.

I remember at the start of every year the undergraduates where told "you dont know what biology is so forget most of it". This was particularly focused on the understanding of photosynthesis.

I'm a biologist yet people where surprised that I look at things on a fundamental level eg molecules, electrons or even photons. Well I'm glad that we're in agreement over biology anyway. Don't miss an opportunity to push a different curriculum if you get the chance!