Examination of the Secondary School Science Curriculum in Türkiye in Terms of Balance Principle

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Title: Examination of the Secondary School Science Curriculum in Türkiye in Terms of Balance Principle
Language: English
Authors: Gürbüz Ocak, Burak Olur, Mustafa Enes Tepe
Source: African Educational Research Journal. 2025 13(2):245-257.
Availability: Net Journals. 25 Akintola Road, Sapele, Delta State, 331107, Nigeria. e-mail: service@netjournals.org; Web site: https://www.netjournals.org/aer_index.html
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Elementary Education
Grade 5
Intermediate Grades
Middle Schools
Grade 6
Grade 7
Junior High Schools
Grade 8
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Science Curriculum, Secondary School Science, Student Centered Learning, Curriculum Design, Curriculum Implementation, Experiential Learning, Teacher Attitudes, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Course Content, Student Needs, Educational Innovation
Geographic Terms: Turkey
ISSN: 2354-2160
Abstract: In this study, which is aimed to investigate the balance principle of the secondary school science curriculum, a case study, one of the qualitative research methods, was employed. In the study, which was conducted by using case design, data analysis was performed by using teacher opinions, observation, and document analysis. The weighted kappa coefficient was calculated to ensure the validity of the observation results and to purify the results from the chance factor. It is not possible to make a definite definition of the balance principle and to state that a curriculum is in full balance. The concept of balance is always considered as an element that will be incomplete in one aspect. In this respect, it is concluded that student-centered curriculum understanding is in the forefront instead of subject-centered curriculum in the secondary school science curriculum, and it is compatible with student-society needs and width-depth element. In terms of learning areas, it was observed that the balance cognitive domain came to the forefront and the customized education dimension was lack. It is seen that the harmony between being open to innovations and traditional knowledge in the curriculum has been replaced by an instructional design based on the subject logic. In addition to general needs, suitable designs are applied successfully in situations requiring special needs. Similarly, it is seen that the curriculum has an adequate and balanced structure in terms of plans and measures to meet the needs of different students with academic development levels. For the implementation phase of the curriculum, it seen that different variables limit this dimension in terms of methods and techniques used. It has been observed that interdisciplinary harmony cannot be achieved with the connection established between past and present in relation to discipline and that students cannot demonstrate their expected transfer skills. It is thought that the lack of physical activity required by the students to transfer and internalize information is among the reasons for this situation. It was concluded that the opportunity to provide learning outside the classroom and the use of society as an educational laboratory was not included in the implementation of the curriculum.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1475968
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Examination of the Secondary School Science Curriculum in Türkiye in Terms of Balance Principle
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gürbüz+Ocak%22">Gürbüz Ocak</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burak+Olur%22">Burak Olur</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mustafa+Enes+Tepe%22">Mustafa Enes Tepe</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22African+Educational+Research+Journal%22"><i>African Educational Research Journal</i></searchLink>. 2025 13(2):245-257.
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  Data: Net Journals. 25 Akintola Road, Sapele, Delta State, 331107, Nigeria. e-mail: service@netjournals.org; Web site: https://www.netjournals.org/aer_index.html
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  Data: 13
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+6%22">Grade 6</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+8%22">Grade 8</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Curriculum%22">Science Curriculum</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Science%22">Secondary School Science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Centered+Learning%22">Student Centered Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curriculum+Design%22">Curriculum Design</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curriculum+Implementation%22">Curriculum Implementation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+Learning%22">Experiential Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+6%22">Grade 6</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+8%22">Grade 8</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Course+Content%22">Course Content</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Needs%22">Student Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Innovation%22">Educational Innovation</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Turkey%22">Turkey</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2354-2160
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In this study, which is aimed to investigate the balance principle of the secondary school science curriculum, a case study, one of the qualitative research methods, was employed. In the study, which was conducted by using case design, data analysis was performed by using teacher opinions, observation, and document analysis. The weighted kappa coefficient was calculated to ensure the validity of the observation results and to purify the results from the chance factor. It is not possible to make a definite definition of the balance principle and to state that a curriculum is in full balance. The concept of balance is always considered as an element that will be incomplete in one aspect. In this respect, it is concluded that student-centered curriculum understanding is in the forefront instead of subject-centered curriculum in the secondary school science curriculum, and it is compatible with student-society needs and width-depth element. In terms of learning areas, it was observed that the balance cognitive domain came to the forefront and the customized education dimension was lack. It is seen that the harmony between being open to innovations and traditional knowledge in the curriculum has been replaced by an instructional design based on the subject logic. In addition to general needs, suitable designs are applied successfully in situations requiring special needs. Similarly, it is seen that the curriculum has an adequate and balanced structure in terms of plans and measures to meet the needs of different students with academic development levels. For the implementation phase of the curriculum, it seen that different variables limit this dimension in terms of methods and techniques used. It has been observed that interdisciplinary harmony cannot be achieved with the connection established between past and present in relation to discipline and that students cannot demonstrate their expected transfer skills. It is thought that the lack of physical activity required by the students to transfer and internalize information is among the reasons for this situation. It was concluded that the opportunity to provide learning outside the classroom and the use of society as an educational laboratory was not included in the implementation of the curriculum.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1475968
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1475968
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 245
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Curriculum
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Science
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Centered Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Curriculum Design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Curriculum Implementation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experiential Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 5
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 6
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 7
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 8
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Course Content
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Needs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Innovation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Turkey
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Examination of the Secondary School Science Curriculum in Türkiye in Terms of Balance Principle
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            NameFull: Gürbüz Ocak
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            NameFull: Burak Olur
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            NameFull: Mustafa Enes Tepe
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              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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