Task 4:
An interview with a Primary School Science
coordinator/Teacher
Sample interview questions for the Principal and/or
science coordinator/teacher re: science provision in the
setting.
Is there a science coordinator and/or how many
1 specified science teachers are there in the school?
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.
The lesson plan is included as a
attachment after the reflection
section.
2 Who is responsible for science policy and provision
within the setting?
(Can we obtain a copy of the policy?)
Pennsylvania Policy Standards
Responses from the Principal and/or science
coordinator/teacher re: science provision in the setting.
-Regards Well Spring school, it is a new school
that opened from two years. So, there is only
one Science teacher (Mr. Jordan). Because of
that, most of elementary teachers in private
schools teaches multiple subjects and they
focus specifically in language and reading
literacy.
-There is not a specific duty for science
coordinator. But, the science teacher plans for
the connected lessons and she goes through
the curriculum objective and do some
experiments, crafts in classroom to achieve the
goals. Furthermore, the science coordinator
has an accommodation between him and the
principle.
-Science coordinator teacher which is the main
teacher in school teaches from grade 6 to 10.
Secondary students take a higher level and
heavy science subject. While, students in
elementary from Kindergarten to grade 5 they
have one teacher who teaches them (literacy
language, math, and science/social studies).
-There is a weekly plan for all three subjects,
each week Ms. Jaci did a week before. She
prepared-well for the lessons in next week.
Also, she ordered science books to have same
standards.
-In terms of science policy that Well Spring
school used for teaching science is that they
used Pennsylvania Policy Standards. However,
my Mentor tries to do International Science
 current used policies for science:
The policy is attached in the E-Portfolio
Tasks section, under the reflection of task 5.
You can look at the PDF file attached. These
standards are similar to what my mentor
used.
3 Online/Blended Learning:
Does the setting have its own website? If so, what is
the URL, who created it and who is responsible for
managing and updating it?
Is there any online/blended learning taking place
related to science? If so, how is this delivered?
What ICT resources are used specifically for teaching
science?
4 What science equipment/manipulatives/resources
can be found the setting? (Is there a list? Differentiate
between the classroom; the science lab and other areas in the setting
e.g. library)
Standards to match ERO with student
learning outcomes.
-Besides, my mentor thought about
implementing International Standards for
science for a purpose which have clarified and
more informal tasks in International science
standards.
-Well Spring School have a website in the
Internet URL: https://tws-rak.org/
-However, for secondary students they have a
website with science teacher for practicing and
it is like a Dashboard that the teacher can
upload useful things for learners. The science
coordinator used Edmodo application for
secondary students.
Elementary young learners, does not have a link
to work with. They are small young learners;
because of that in science they took Inquiry-
Based activities more than complex information
and science speeches.
-Regarding ICT recourses, there are some
devices that students can work with it like
iPad, Tablets, Computer. But, there is lack of
technological recourses that students use.
Sometimes science teacher use iPad to present
the first 5Es which is Engagement or the last
one which is Evaluation.
-Science equipment is provided for all levels in
the school. There is some science equipment
that related to mathematics. But, they
separate all math tools in one side in each class
 Is there a budget for materials?
Who trains teachers and staff in the use the
equipment?
Who manages the equipment and materials?
;.
while science tools in the science coordinator
teacher class or lab.
-Well Spring school decided to open a
laboratory in next year in the new campus
because this building is temporary now. Some
of the tools that I looked forwarded for
elementary students are; cylinder, Trays,
scales, liquids, pH indicators, seeds, rocks,
plastic and glass cups, microscopes.
-On the other hands, elementary classrooms
used as a lab also in science classes. There are
no labs for elementary yet in this building. My
mentor have a space and free area besides her
class that can do some experiment with
students outside sometimes.
-In terms of budget for science tools, there is
no budget for science tools. The school
provides only the basic materials however, the
teacher must pay for the tools that she wants
if it does not provided in the school. However,
for science coordinator he requests the tools
that he needs from the principle and he
provided for him.
-Regarding training teachers and staff for
equipment, there are no specific person who
trainee them. Teachers and staff learned by
themselves how to use the science and math
materials using the labels in the tool and read
it. If they do not understand how to use it,
they google it and search about how to use it in
classroom for experiments and as a class tool.
So, they follow some instructions that directs
them how to use a specific tool.
- However, the students need to be taught how
to use the materials before they use it in
science experiments.

5 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?
-Furthermore, managing tools and materials is
done by the teacher itself. When she cleans
the classroom, decorate it, and organize it. She
does not actually depend on someone who
manage the tools. Unless she gives her TA
teacher assistant directions where to put
some tools and what we are going to use for
todays science lesson. In science lab, Mr.
Jordan he is responsible of managing the
equipment for learners.
-Hint:
(go back to task 2&3 and look at the
manipulatives and the function of it in details if
you interested to).
-Science labs are needed in every school. At
least one science lab will be enough for
elementary students. In terms of Well Spring
school, it is elementary and secondary school
from Kindergarten 1 to grade 10. There are
lacks of science setting. I do not think there is
a lack of funds but the school is new and in
progress.
-In the new building, the school coordinator
decided to have 3 sections of each class.
According to current classes, there is only one
section for each class. For example, 3rd graders
have only one class. Once the enrollment for
school and the new year begins everything will
be prepared. I hope that I can visit the school
next year though to look forward the specialist
places for elementary students. Like science
labs, mathematic club, art club, computer labs.
-In my point of view, I think the setting for
science has a lack of teachers. There is only
one specified teacher for science which he is
teaching higher graders. However, young level
students in elementary have only one teacher
who holds the three main subjects math,
science, and literacy. The school follows

6 Which science resources does the setting feel it
needs or would like to have to achieve its vision or
better science teaching and learning?
e.g. Science Kits, books, Wi-Fi, 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?
American Curriculum which is teaching part of
whole. Thats mean the school teachers focus
on one point step by step each week.
Main Question Answer: there few resources
related to the technology because right now
Im using my mobile phone to record videos, so
its kind of not good quality so I hope that we
have a video camera such as
- Dino-lite camera: its made of plastic,
and its so feasible because of its size,
however my microspore is big and I cant
take it everywhere, so this camera is
just a workable proof for my data so I
will be able to projected on my screen in
the class to show them what is
happening in the current experiment, its
really cool and beneficial, but because
its so expensive I couldnt buy it.
Main Question Answer: we used to update
the safety rules continuously according to
current science conditions and the concepts
that they are going to test it.
Question 1 Answer: yes, there are seven
safety rules posted in each lab which are:
Leave your personal items outside the lab
Never test in science labs
Clean up your area when class in over
Report accident as soon as they happen
Wear safety gaggles when completing a task
that makes them necessary
Use supplies carefully, try not to waste.
Dont touch the supplies until you are told
what to do.

8 What safety equipment is available and when is it
used commonly?
Is safety equipment available for all students in the
classrooms?
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?
Question 2 Answer: the science head and
operation manger Mr. Tapn, his role is to make
sure that we are following the safety rules just
in case.
Main Question Answer: we have Fire
Extinguisher, first aid kit, emergency numbers
and Safety shower or eyewash, but we did use
any one of them till now because we didnt face
any accident.
Question 1 Answer: yes sure, I we provide any
safety equipment we will address student about
it, otherwise we will not buy it.
Question 2 Answer: Yes, the equipment is
cleaned by lab technician, we usually even me I
went to the workshop provided by school to
learn how to clean equipment.
The lab technicians are their responsibility to
manage cleaning duties.
Main Question Answer: There are specific
standards which is Pennsylvania Standards
which have efficient and effective science
methods to teach students with various topics.

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?
For the Gems School, all the teacher has the
access to active learning online site so all the
resources including the lesson plan is provided
in the website, to be honest what I have found
as experienced teacher since 2001, I have
found that is one of the best software and
thats depend on the teachers way of
delivering the lesson
URL:
https://www.activelearnprimary.co.uk/login?c=0
Question 1 Answer: The Well Spring School is
private schools, so there are no Ministry of
Education unit plans or lesson plans for science
curriculum. The teacher usually looking forward
overseas and the required outcomes must be
achieved in a determined time.
For the Gems School, they used the lesson plan
which is provided in the active learning website,
its so clear for the teachers.
The lesson plan provided as an
attachment with the task.
Question 2 Answer: For Well Spring school,
there are no weekly planning meetings because
as I said there are only one teacher who
teaches 3rd graders as well as for 2nd graders
and 1st graders. The teacher prepared-well the
weekly plan a week before by herself.
Independently achieving the goals of standards
demands.

Who attends the planning meetings?
Does the school have specific goals related to science
(TIMMS scores etc.)?
For Gems School, we dont have a meeting
specifically for science, but there is weekly
planning meeting for all grades, and in that
meeting we discuss the curriculum for the
whole week for all subjects English math and
science also.

Question 3 Answer: for Gems School, usually

the teachers, the grade leader and SLT
members of ours first leaders who handle
grade 3, 4 and 5

Question 4 Answer: yes, we have specific

targets and skills that the children should
achieve by the end of the year.
One of target is that they have to able to think
like a scientist and question like a scientist, and
inquiry discover, experiment and come with a
conclusion by themselves which is the most
important skills in science.

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?
Main Question Answer: by giving them a test
includes the concepts that they learned it.
Question 1 Answer: we give them a test at the
of the terms includes the lessons that the
teacher covered
Question 2 Answer: we collect data from their
mini test, progress tests and we consequently
collecting data from their work in the class by
their oral participations
Besides that, we passed a sheet for the
students to write how they feel about the topic
for example if they feel good about the topic,
not good or very good, which is self-evaluation

Question 3 Answer: we give them oral and

written also, for example after each lesson we
write what went well and even better if.
When we give them a feedback for the science

Figure: written feedback


11 What science professional development / training
do teachers currently receive or have recently had?
How frequently and from whom did they /are they
receiving this?
Do they have a document that outlines this PD?
What PD do they think teachers in the setting still
need?
we give them also a feedback for their English
mistakes.
Main Question Answer: we went for several
science workshops
Question 1 Answer: we did workshops in class
with all science teacher, that was so cool.
It was like a modern lesson of how rocks can be
taught
Question 2 Answer: yes, we do, we put our
meetings and everything in minutes and we have
our own calendar and I always forward it to my
SLT, and I checked also how each teacher
check teacher documents especially for
science
Question 3 Answer: to be honest some
teachers do not have subject knowledge, and if
they have the subject knowledge they dont
know how to deliver it in the class because
their cultures background is so different.
They also needs to love their students as there
are own children.
 Reflection Task 4:

Interviewing Science Coordinator reflection

In terms of interviewing the science teacher, I cannot find an elementary

science teacher. I think I face difficulties managing a meeting for questioning a

science teacher. However, my mentor helps me as well to answer most of the

questions because elementary teachers are multiple subject teachers. I suffer

from getting the more provision from the copies of science lesson plans because

there is a lack of lesson planning for only science. Furthermore, I enjoyed doing

the interview with my mentor who makes our relationship stronger and connected.

The role of science is not taking big time of students each week. I observed

that students take two science sessions each week. Every Mondays and

Wednesdays, in the other day's students, takes social studies. However, I noticed

that the policies of science, syllabus are connected for example students for the

first week will take about evaporation water and rainforest and the next week the

teacher connect to environmental issues. I liked that she feasibly goes from one

topic to another. The transition in science is flexible and could be changed because

it is an idea that students get the concept of it. 50% of the conceptual process

depends on students thinking. I think students have an excellent opportunity to

focus on science topics.

Furthermore, science recourses are provided for all students who are a good

point for science coordinators and students. Actually, I was upset because

students have only one science coordinator. But, I hope they get more science

coordinators. The thing that I dislike is that there is a principal teacher for the
grade level. For instance, grade 3 students have one teacher Ms.Jaci who teaches

them science, mathematics, and literacy. I cannot judge the situation that

students are in now. But, also in the other hands, it is beneficial for the teacher to

know students weaknesses points. For example, a student has a real mathematics

skill while he does not like literacy and reading stuff.

Overall, having a good time with my mentor which helped me a lot to gain the

most relevant information about the task. She is caring which makes me

comfortable that she is helping and discussing with me central questions in the

task. I tried my best to understand the roles and the responsibilities for a science

teacher in school.

385 words.