Comparison Of Chemical Experiments Between Chinese And American High School From The Perspective Of Scientific Literacy

Experimentation is not only an important research method of chemistry,but also an important teaching method.The experiments in the textbook play a significant role in chemistry experiment teaching,which are vital to its quality.This paper compares and contrasts the experiments in two major Chinese and American mainstream high school chemistry textbooks:"Human Education Edition Standard High School Curriculum Standard Experimental Textbook" and American "Science Finder:Chemical Concept and Application".Scientific Literacy was proposed in 1950s.Since the continuous enrichment and perfection of its level and contents,Scientific Literacy has been a decisive goal of science teaching.In this paper,the four levels of Scientific Literacy are used:scientific knowledge,scientific method and inquiry,scientific attitude and STS.Combined with the characteristics of chemical experiments,this paper quantifies the experiments of the two versions of the textbooks comparatively.Conclusions are as follows:1.Chinese experiments put more emphasis on the details of the scientific facts and scientific principles,while the upper scientific rules and scientific model are concerned less.2.The use of simulation experiments in Chinese textbooks is far lower than that of the US version;3.The proportion of qualitative experiments in human education version is too large,lack of attention to quantitative experiments;4.The methods used in Chinese experiments are single;5.Chinese experiments prefer to use laboratory supplies than life materials.