Table 4: An interview with a Primary School science coordinator

Sample interview questions for the Principal
and/or science coordinator/teacher re:
science provision in the setting.
Is there a science coordinator and/or
1 how many specified science teachers are
there in the school?
Responses from the Principal and/or
science coordinator/teacher re:
science provision in the setting.
Yes, there is a science coordinator. 10
science teachers.

Teaching/ making the lesson plans/ weekly

What are the duties/responsibilities of the
science teacher/coordinator?
Does she teach any, all students or just specific
year groups?
Obtain a teaching schedule and any schemes of
work, lesson plans, software used etc. from the
science coordinator/teacher.
plans/ assessments/ correcting students
works/ assemblies/ participating in the
school activities.
Teaching grade one/c, three A,B,C, and four
A.

2 Who is responsible for science policy and HOD

provision within the setting?
(Can we obtain a copy of the policy?)

3 Online/Blended Learning:

Does the setting have its own website? If so, Think central.com
what is the URL, who created it and who is
responsible for managing and updating it?

Is there any online/blended learning taking It is used in the classrooms to ease deliver
place related to science? If so, how is this information.
delivered?
Computers, projects, and Inetrnet.
What ICT resources are used specifically for
teaching science?
4 What science
equipment/manipulatives/resources can Flash cards, experiments, Picture cards,
be found the setting? (Is there a list? Differentiate Models, and Projects.
between the classroom; the science lab and other areas in the
setting e.g. library) No.

Is there a budget for materials? Using internet to learn and by experience.

Who trains teachers and staff in the use the Ms. Suudos (she is in charge of the lab).
equipment?

Who manages the equipment and materials?

5 Is/Are there dedicated science labs in

this setting? Yes, there is.
 If yes, how is it used and by whom? How is it
organised? What equipment can be found It is organized by the teacher, and all the
here? equipments needed for the activities are
available there.
If no, why not? e.g. lack of funds? No need?
Enough science equipment and expertise in
each classroom? Yes, it does.

Does the setting feel it has enough specialist

science teachers, technicians and dedicated
science rooms?
6 Which science resources does the setting
feel it needs or would like to have to
achieve its vision or better science All the resources mentioned below are used
teaching and learning? regularly in science classed or labs.

e.g. Science Kits, books, wifi,

manipulatives/models, digital
cameras/camcorders, lab equipment OR soft
materials (consumables- colored paper, glue,
popsicle sticks etc.).
7 What are the safety rules? The rules that help students to stay safe.

Are the safety rules posted in the science Yes, they are.
setting?
The teacher.
Who developed these and are they
mandatory/enforced?
8 What safety equipment is available and Gloves, white coats.
when is it used commonly?

Is safety equipment available for all students in Yes ,it is.

the classrooms?

Is equipment cleaned, if so by whom? Who

The teacher with help of the students clean
manages this duty?
the materials.
9 Planning for learning- how are the Basic information has to be delivered
science lessons planned for in the through activities.
setting?
Teacher make the lesson plans. ( Yes sure)
Does the MOE/Zone/KHDA provide unit
plans/lesson plans? (can we obtain a copy of
this?) Yes, there are. Discuss and put the lesson
plans.
Are there weekly planning meetings? What is
usually done in the planning meetings?
All science teachers and HOD.
Who attends the planning meetings? Participating in science activities outside
the classroom.
Does the school have specific goals related to
science (TIMMS scores etc.)?
1 How is learning assessed in the science Teacher observation.
0 classroom?
Three to four short assessments.
Is there an assessment plan for the semester?
What does it include?
Worksheets, and regular assessments.
Do teachers collect student data? What data,
when, and what is it used for?
Orally, or a short letter to the parents.
How do students get feedback so that they can
make improvements?
1 What science professional development / Training courses inside or outside the
1 training do teachers currently receive or school.
have recently had?
How frequently and from whom did they /are Five to six courses each semester and all
they receiving this? teachers has to attend these courses.

Yes, they do.

Do they have a document that outlines this PD?
Class management.
What PD do they think teachers in the setting
still need?