The physical science evaluation, Western Australia, 1978-79: An application of the illuminative model

In Western Australia, the education system is structured so that, of a child’s possible twelve years of formal schooling, seven are spent in the primary school and the remaining five in the secondary school. In fact, the need for a less specialized, more practically oriented curriculum for the year 11 and 12 physical sciences was identified as far back as 1975, when the Education Department carried out a needs analysis. In addition, a full time Research Assistant’s position was advertized, as a consequence of which Lesley Parker, experienced in science teaching and research in Western Australia and elsewhere, joined the evaluation team. Dave Boud, however, viewed the act of feedback collection as a major departure from the original illuminative model and a movement towards a bureaucratic model of evaluation. Although pure science is the predominant theme, continuous emphasis is given to the supporting themes, by explanation and discussion on technological applications of science and their concomitant cultural impact.