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Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Science Education and Its Integration in Grades 7 and 8 Canadian Science Curriculum Documents

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Abstract

Though science education has been prominent in the Canadian educational system, researchers increasingly recognize the scientific and educational value of integrating traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) into their curriculum. Despite national strategies to integrate TEK, Canada has yet to initiate a comprehensive study of its prevalence and representation within the curriculum. This study is the first to explore the current status of TEK in provincial Grade 7 and 8 science curricula and to make recommendations for further research. The results from a mixed methods content analysis of the official curricula reveal a high variation in the prevalence and representations of TEK.

Résumé

L’enseignement des sciences a toujours prévalu dans le système d’éducation au Canada, et les chercheurs reconnaissent de plus en plus l’intérêt pédagogique d’intégrer les savoirs écologiques traditionnels dans les curriculums. Cependant, malgré des stratégies nationales pour intégrer ces savoirs, le Canada n’a pas encore amorcé une étude exhaustive de leur prévalence et de leur représentation dans les curriculums. Cette étude est la première à analyser le statut actuel des savoirs écologiques traditionnels dans le curriculum scientifique provincial des 7e et 8e années et à faire des recommandations pour des recherches ultérieures. Les résultats de notre analyse des curriculums officiels, fondée sur des méthodes mixtes, révèlent que le niveau de représentation de ces savoirs varie beaucoup.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Integrated Studies in Education, Faculty of Education, McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 1Y2, Canada

    Eun-Ji Amy Kim

  2. Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Liliane Dionne

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  1. Eun-Ji Amy Kim
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  2. Liliane Dionne
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Correspondence to Eun-Ji Amy Kim.

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Kim, EJ.A., Dionne, L. Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Science Education and Its Integration in Grades 7 and 8 Canadian Science Curriculum Documents. Can J Sci Math Techn 14, 311–329 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1080/14926156.2014.970906

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