Context-based curriculum, Netherlands

Context and Chemistry Going Dutch The Development of a Context-Based Curriculum in the Netherlands... 

Abstract In the Netherlands a new context-based curriculum has been designed to cope with the problem of the diminishing attention for chemistry as a subject. The curriculum consists of a number of modules in which a context is introduced. Based on scientific questions related to the context chemical concepts are discussed with the students. An experiment preliminary to implementation is being carried out in 20 schools. The design of the curriculum and the first results of this experiment are presented in this paper. A number of problems have been encountered. It seems possible to attain the ultimate goal of nationwide implementation in 2012. 

Prof. Dr. Albert Pilot is professor emeritus of curriculum development and also professor emeritus of chemistry education at Utrecht University (The Netherlands). His research focuses on context-based chemistry education and professional development of science teachers. In recent years this involved the design and development of a new chemistry curriculum for the secondary school in the Netherlands. Professional development of teachers was a major component in this innovation project, planned for many years and involving all teachers in the chemistry domain. 

This committee advised the installation of a second committee that should propose a renewal of chemistry education in the Netherlands. This committee reported in 2003 [4] a context - concept-based approach for chemistry education. Contexts are to be used as a bridge between the material world and chemical concepts. The committee stressed the role of the teachers as designers of education. The new curriculum is to be developed in small networks of teachers. The committee advised the installation of a steering committee aimed at the development of a new chemistry curriculum. 

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