Evaluation of Elementary School Science Curriculum according to Hamadan Province Teachers and Education Experts: An application of Akker's curriculum components

This study evaluated elementary school’s science curriculum by using the Akker's curriculum components. The three research questions were studied using descriptive methods. The population consisted of elementary science teachers and education experts. Through stratified random sampling 381 teachers were recruited, while experts were fully enumerated (46). Data were collected using a checklist (with a reliability of 0.797), questionnaires (teachers with the reliability of 0.968 and experts with the reliability of 0.943). Data analysis method consisted of measures of central tendency, factor analysis and the Friedman test. The results showed Akker's curriculum components classification for the evaluation of a curriculum is not perfect and factors such as curriculum integration, flexibility in implementation, with appropriate content for learning, student-centered etc. should also be considered. Elementary science teachers and experts believed the curriculum is at an acceptable state. Teachers believed the emphasis in terms of objectives was on coverage of physics’ concepts, knowing the environment, essential scientific knowledge, observation skill and the concept of health.