Sample interview questions for the Principal and/or
science coordinator/teacher re: science provision in the setting.
Responses from the Principal and/or science
coordinator/teacher re: science provision in the setting.
Is there a science coordinator and/or how many
specified science teachers are there in the school?
Yes there is a science coordinator. In
Elementary section, every home room teacher teacher Math, Science & English. In High School , we have subject specialists for Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In middle school, the qualified lab technician and subject specialists teacher middle school. The science coordinator overlooks curriculum design and implementation from K- 12. Monitors assessment and instructions within classrooms. Create and implement action plan Identify areas for improvement and set curricular targets The science coordinator teaches Biology ( 9 12)
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.
Who is responsible for science policy and
provision within the setting?
Head of Science Department
(Can we obtain a copy of the policy?)
Online/Blended Learning:
What science equipment/manipulatives/resources Our Science labs are a work in progress.
can be found the setting? (Is there a list? Differentiate Every year the school sets apart a budget
Blended learning has been effectively
implemented from grade 5 7 . Grade 1 Does the setting have its own website? If so, what is the 4 students access the pearson website URL, who created it and who is responsible for within classrooms. managing and updating it? Grade 6& 7 use E learning as a part of Is there any online/blended learning taking place related their science lessons. to science? If so, how is this delivered? Tabs have been purchased by students which are used in class. High speed What ICT resources are used specifically for teaching internet access has been provided by science? school to facilitate blended learning.
between the classroom; the science lab and other areas in the setting e.g. library)
and we acquire equipments on a priority
basis. Is there a budget for materials? The suppliers train the teachers and staff on how to use the equipment Who trains teachers and staff in the use the equipment? The lab technician is primarily responsible to maintain the equipment. Who manages the equipment and materials?
Is/Are there dedicated science labs in this
setting?
If yes, how is it used and by whom? How is it
organised? What equipment can be found here? If no, why not? e.g. lack of funds? No need? Enough science equipment and expertise in each classroom? Does the setting feel it has enough specialist science teachers, technicians and dedicated science rooms?
Which science resources does the setting feel it
needs or would like to have to achieve its vision or better science teaching and learning?
Yes, We have 2 labs. The physics lab is
open to elementary students. Teachers organize lab periods with the help of the lab tech and ensure that students have access to the labs under controlled settings. The chemistry and biology lab has been designed to accommodate middle and high school students only. We have microscopes, chromatograph, titration equipments, dissection sets and related instruments etc. Lab equipments
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?
Are the safety rules posted in the science setting? Who developed these and are they mandatory/enforced?
What safety equipment is available and when is it
used commonly? Is safety equipment available for all students in the classrooms?
Yes safety rules are posted in the lab and
cop y of the safety contract has been given to all students and it has been made sure that they have read and signed them . The parents signature is also ensured on the document. The eye wash, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, first aid kit Managed by lab technician
Is equipment cleaned, if so by whom? Who manages
this duty? 9
Planning for learning- how are the science
lessons planned for in the setting? Does the MOE/Zone/KHDA provide unit plans/lesson plans? (can we obtain a copy of this?) Are there weekly planning meetings? What is usually done in the planning meetings? Who attends the planning meetings? Does the school have specific goals related to science (TIMMS scores etc.)?
HOD approved lesson plans
Weekly planning meetings are conducted by elementary teachers on a grade level to discuss labs, assessment and lesson planning.
10
How is learning assessed in the science
classroom? Is there an assessment plan for the semester? What does it include? Do teachers collect student data? What data, when, and what is it used for? How do students get feedback so that they can make improvements?
11
What science professional development / training
do teachers currently receive or have recently had?
Formative and summative assessments
are conducted regularly. Teachers collect data and analyze the data regularly and modify instruction to suit the needs of the students. Students get regular feedback based on their performance. Parent teacher conferences are conducted every term to give feedback to students.
The publishers of the text books that are
used by the students conduct PD at the beginning of the year and midyear. How frequently and from whom did they /are they Intel has provided E-learning training. receiving this? Internal PD by Principal, Head of Teaching and Learning, Head of Department. Do they have a document that outlines this PD? Internal PD. What PD do they think teachers in the setting still need? STEAM