Alberta Students Tops In Science

Calgary Herald
June 6, 2000

By Raquel Exner

Alberta has the brightest young science minds in the country and many students who are learning above their age level, according to a recently released national study.

In a written 1999 nationwide science assessment, the province's 13-year-olds and 16-year-olds outperformed all their peers while improving on their results from the latest study in 1996. About 1,872 students in Alberta were tested, while the total participation across the country topped 31,000 students.

RiverWatch students are actively involved in research

Mary McDougall, science supervisor for Calgary Separate Schools, said she's not surprised by the results, because teachers have been focusing on active learning with students since 1996.

"Science is actively learned," said McDougall. "It's not just answering questions and just reading about science. They're doing the science. They're actively participating. They're solving the problems. They're working with what's happening around them instead of just reading about it."

Learning Minister Lyle Oberg said the testing is an example of the collaboration among teachers, school boards and the province. "I think it is something we can all be proud of. It's about getting our students to succeed. And, once again, Alberta students have certainly done that."

Among Alberta's 13-year-olds, 83 percent of students achieved results that were expected of them or higher. B.C. and Saskatchewan came in second and third respectively with about 76 percent of tested students achieving expected results; while the national average was 73 percent.

In the 16-year-old category, 86 percent of the province's students achieved marks at their level or higher compared to the national average of 76 percent. Fifty percent of Alberta students in this age category achieved one of the highest levels possible in science. The national average was 32 percent.

The national science assessment was conducted by the Council of Ministers of Education Canada.