Research On The Changes Of Experiments In Chemistry Textbooks Of Middle School In The Past60Years In China

Chemistry is a discipline based on experiments. As an important part ofChemistry textbook, chemical experiments varied with different textbooks. Since thefounding of China, the department of education has edited several chemistry textbooks(from1952edition to2012edition). In detail, it can be divided into the following stages:before the economic reform (1952-1978), the preliminary stage of the reform(1978-1989) and after the introduction of compulsory education (since1989). Amongthem, the last stage can be also divided into two parts, one is the use of the syllabusversion textbooks (1989-2011), and the other is the use of curriculum standardtextbooks (since2001). Textbook experiment at every stages has its characteristics.According to the four stages above, this thesis made a research on the typicalexperiments in chemistry textbooks of middle school since the founding of China byvarious research methods.First of all, typical chemistry textbooks of middle school, each syllabus andcurriculum standard were collected. And the statistical method was used to analyze theexperiment requirements, the number of experiments, experiment types, experimentalapparatus and the composition of experiments. Then, the content analysis method wasused to analyze experimental composition and structure, and to reveale thecharacteristics of experiment in every typical middle school chemistry textbook sincethe founding of China. Moreover, comparative research was used on textbooks indifferent periods, including experimental requirements, experiment types, the number ofexperiments, experimental apparatus, experiment preparation, experiment exercises, etc.Through it, we got the experiments’ developmental and changing characteristics inmiddle school’s chemistry textbook in various periods.On the content this paper mainly focuses on students’ experiment, and is expandedfrom the following three parts: experimental requirements and layout, experimentcontent and experimental composition and structure. And experimental requirements and layout also can be divided into three parts: experimental requirements, experimenttypes and the number of experiments. Through statistics and analysis, the author findthat the experimental requirements are enhanced from versions to versions, for example,the experimental designing ability request has been gradually enhanced. Experimentaltypes were changed from simplex to diverse, increasing family experiments andscientific inquiry. The number of experiments is steadily increasing, for example, highschool textbook increased from130to160. Experiment content mainly listed students’experiments in textbooks, analyzed the change, summarized and analyzed about30classical experiments, such as coarse salt purification, preparation of ethyl acetate andneutralization titration. Experimental composition and structure can be divided into fourparts: experimental apparatus, experiment preparation, experiment structure andexperiment exercises. Through the study we could find experimental apparatus isenriched, from simple tube and sheet glass to big glass apparatus. Some school alsointroduce advanced apparatus like electronic scales. Experiment preparation isoptimized, and students can understand the experiment and laboratory more easily.Experiment structure is barely changed, all include experimental apparatus, the purposeof the experiment and experimental steps. Experiment exercises are put higher requeston scientific inquiry and experimental design ability.Through the research, this paper not only presents panoramic changes ofexperiments in our middle school’s chemistry textbooks, but also could make peoplehave a comprehensive understanding on the development of our chemical experiment.Besides, it could make people have new understanding on experiments in currenttextbooks, find its advantages and disadvantages, provide useful advice for current andfuture textbooks, and optimize chemical experiment teaching...