How wide is the gap between high school and first-year chemistry at University of the Witwatersrand?

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the nature and extent of the gap between high school and first-year chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand. The investigation was done at the macro and micro levels. At the macro level high school physical science and first-year chemistry syllabuses were compared. The testing in the chemistry examinations written at both stages was also compared. At the micro level the focus was on the teaching styles employed by the teachers and the lecturers, the content knowledge of the students at the point of entry, and lecturers' expectations regarding the content knowledge of the students. The study found no gap between the two syllabuses matched, and between students' content knowledge and lecturers' expectations. However, there was a gap between the testing in the chemistry examinations, and between the teaching styles employed by the teachers and lecturers. These findings and their implications are discussed.


South African Journal of Higher Education Vol.16(3) 2002: 148-156