Elementary School Teachers' Perspectives on the Science Textbook

Abstract

Within the school context, the goal of developing scientific literacy in students can be achieved if certain provisions such as quality textbooks are made accessible to students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the objectives and content of existing science textbooks through the perceptions of elementary science teachers. The assumption was that the teacher could better judge the objectives and content of the textbook. The study followed the quantitative approach to the research design. More specifically, survey research was used. Data were collected using convenient sampling techniques. The sample comprised science teachers (Seventy-one teachers from private schools and thirty teachers from public schools) of elementary level. A self-constructed five-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data from elementary science teachers. The findings of the study show that the book, in its present form, does not fulfil the objectives of science. The weaknesses of the book are that it focuses only on covering the curriculum martial and ignores that content, which helps the students develop scientific literacy.