Science Education in Canada: Consistencies, Commonalities, and Distinctions

Description

This book offers a meso-level description of demographics, science education, and science teacher education. Representing all 13 Canadian jurisdictions, the book provides local insights that serve as the basis for exploring the Canadian system as a whole and function as a common starting point from which to identify causal relationships that may be associated with Canada’s successes. The book highlights commonalities, consistencies, and distinctions across the provinces and territories in a thematic analysis of the 13 jurisdiction-specific chapters. Although the analysis indicates a network of policy and practice issues warranting further consideration, the diverse nature of Canadian science education makes simple identification of causal relationships elusive. Canada has a reputation for strong science achievement. However, there is currently limited literature on science education in Canada at the general level or in specific areas such as Canadian science curriculum or science teacher education. This book fills that gap by presenting a thorough description of science education at the provincial/territorial level, as well as a more holistic description of pressing issues for Canadian science education. Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Introduction: Setting the Scene for a Meso-level Analysis of Canadian Science Education (Todd M. Milford, Christine D. Tippett)....Pages 1-12 Science Education in British Columbia: A New Curriculum for the 21st Century (David Blades)....Pages 13-36 Science Education in Alberta: A Complex History of Shifting Educational Influences (Jerine M. Pegg, Dawn Wiseman, Carol A. M. Brown, Marie-Claire Shanahan)....Pages 37-63 Science Education in Saskatchewan: Inquiry and Indigenizing (Tim A. Molnar, Dean Elliott, Janet McVittie)....Pages 65-84 Science Education in Manitoba: Collaborative Professional Communities (Dawn Sutherland)....Pages 85-102 Science Education in Ontario: Profile and Perspectives (Xavier E. Fazio, Astrid Steele)....Pages 103-127 Science Education in Québec: La science et la technologie pour tous (Jrène Rahm, Patrice Potvin, Jesús Vázquez-Abad)....Pages 129-150 Science Education in New Brunswick: Canada’s Only Officially Bilingual Province (Grant Williams, Michel T. Léger, Ann Sherman, Nicole Ferguson)....Pages 151-182 Science Education in Nova Scotia: Building on the Past, Facing the Future (G. Michael Bowen, A. Leo MacDonald, Marilyn Webster)....Pages 183-200 Science Education in Prince Edward Island: The Perspective from Canada’s Smallest Province (Ronald J. MacDonald, Clayton W. M. Coe, David Ramsay)....Pages 201-218 Science Education in Newfoundland and Labrador: Mapping the Landscape (Karen C. Goodnough, Gerald J. Galway)....Pages 219-243 Science Education in the Yukon: Signaling a Time of Change for Canada (Brian E. Lewthwaite, Christine D. Tippett, Todd M. Milford)....Pages 245-264 Science Education in the Northwest Territories: Aspiring to Culture-Based Curricula as a Foundation for Education (Dawn Wiseman, Steven Daniel)....Pages 265-286 Science Education in Nunavut: Being Led by Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Dawn Wiseman, Jim Kreuger)....Pages 287-310 Epilogue: The Current Context of Canadian Science Education and Issues for Further Consideration (Christine D. Tippett, Todd M. Milford, Larry D. Yore)....Pages 311-337 Back Matter ....Pages 339-349