Modernisation of Science: Textbook and Workbook Analysis in Relation to Teacher Attitudes toward Changes in the Croatian Curriculum

Abstract

ABSTRACT Educational reform tries to raise students’competencies on the higher thinking level by improving curriculum and experimental materials. The attitudes of teachers toward outcome level in curriculum and experimental material is key to their effective use in teaching science. This study aimed to compare outcome levels of questions for science in1st grade experimental textbooks and workbooks (from 2018) with previous ones (from 2008, 2013). Furthermore, teachers from 39 experimental schools completed the online survey toward the modernisation of science. Although a major shift has been noted in experimental materials (levels: analysis and synthesis), there is an urgent need for the decrease of lower thinking level questions (levels: knowledge and understanding). The online survey indicates a high positive attitude toward the experimental science curriculum (3.69) and outcome levels in textbooks (3.43) and workbooks (3.69). Further improvement of the science materials is prerequisite for curriculum reform and high-quality textbooks.