Evaluation of the Nigerian Physics Curriculum Contents and Physics Textbooks towards the Attainment of the Goals of the History and Philosophy of Science

Augustine Ugwumba Okoronka; Femi Adetunji Adeoye

doi:10.51724/ijpce.v3i2.115

Authors

Augustine Ugwumba Okoronka Adamawa State University
Femi Adetunji Adeoye National Open University of Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51724/ijpce.v3i2.115

Keywords:

Physics Curriculum, Physics Textbooks, History and Philosophy of Science, Nature of Science, Science/Physics Instruction

Abstract

This qualitative study examined the Nigerian Physics Curriculum contents and some purposively selected physics textbooks to ascertain the attainment of the goals of the History and Philosophy of Science (HPS). Content analysis of both the National Physics Curriculum and selected Physics textbooks was carried out. Only 17.4% of the topics in the curriculum contained issues concerned with HPS key among which is the models of the atom. Only one textbook out of five reviewed dealt measurably well with the HPS topics as contained in the curriculum. The students and teachers most preferred physics textbook has almost nothing in it to justify its attainment of HPS goals, while the rest of the physics textbooks dealt with HPS matters implicitly. The implication of these results is discussed.

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