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The development, diffusion and adoption of the regionally developed JMB 'A' level course in environmental science

The development, diffusion and adoption of the regionally developed JMB 'A' level course in environmental science Thumbnail


Abstract

This present study traces the origin, development, diffusion and adoption of a non-funded and regionally developed science syllabus - the JMB Environmental Science 'A' level - as a contrast to previous studies which were of national, and funded, Nuffield Science Teaching Projects.
Information was collected by questionnaires from teachers and students of the 'A' level, and from interested but non-adopting teachers; by interviewing persons involved in its development and having access to their files; and from examination data supplied by the examination board.
The origins of the syllabus are traced to people associated with Project Environment and arise from proposals submitted to the JMB by two teacher groups in different LEA's. It was approved by the Schools Council in April, 1975, and teaching commenced in September, 1975.
Data gathered on how teachers and students came to hear of this syllabus show that dissemination of information was mainly through JMB publications and the activities of two LEA advisers.
Characteristics of implementing, adopting and nonadopting establishments and their LEA's were collected.
While many of the schools implementing and adopting Environmental Science, but not those rejecting it, had a tradition of CSE and 'O' level in Environmental Science, many of the establishments in each of the three categories were colleges of further education in which there was no such tradition. Reasons offered by teachers for nonadoption show their decisions to be justified in part by their questioning the status of the Environmental Science syllabus with respect to the opportunities available for its students after 'A' level and in part on the basis of some degree of misinformation.
A number of factors affecting the continuance of the 'A' level in establishments were identified, with the subject having a "Rural Science image" frequently being associated with discontinuance.
While the findings about the diffusion of this regionally developed ’A' level contrast with those of earlier studies, the findings on the patterns of adoption and the rates of uptake are broadly similar to those of national projects.

Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024

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