Ontario is changing its science curriculum after 15 years and people have thoughts

After 15 long years filled with scientific and technological innovation, Ontario is finally bringing its science curriculum into the present day.

The provincial government announced the new science and technology curriculum for Grades 1 to 8, along with plans to de-stream the Grade 9 science course, Tuesday, stating that the new courses will "place an emphasis on critical life and job skills, including the fast-growing skilled trades."

Ontario is overhauling the elementary Science and Technology curricula to ensure students have the critical life and job skills to compete for the jobs of the future. pic.twitter.com/bKtGf1bq3C

The new curriculum will be implemented in September of 2022 and it includes coding instruction as early as Grade 1, a focus on STEM and how it connects to everyday life, lessons about robotics and AI, education about the skilled trades and learning related to food literacy.

Ontario Science Curriculum now includes Food Literacy!!

With this announcement from the Ontario Government today – we at Growing Chefs! are celebrating these first steps of integrating Food Literacy into the Ontario School Curriculum. https://t.co/YXA9KSZkNp pic.twitter.com/vF5YdkdBzL

The curriculum will also touch on climate change and the importance of Indigenous knowledge.

The 2022 Ontario Science Curriculum is finally here!!!🧬🔬✈️🚀🪴

Coding, STEM skills, investigations, the engineering design process, food literacy, climate change and recognizing the importance of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing. Link here⬇️https://t.co/3LGe7OBeXn

"Ontario has transformed the curriculum to now emphasize STEM education across all grades, embedding life and job skills that will support the next generation of scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs," said Minister of Education Stephen Lecce in a statement.

"From finding new cures for cancer, to space robotics that reach new planets, and the development of artificial intelligence and technologies that are changing the economy, Ontario's new science and technology curriculum is focused on giving young people the skills to think critically, dream boldly and chart new pathways forward for our economy."

How old was it?

The last time the science curriculum was updated, Steve Jobs had just unveiled the first iPhone

Our students deserve better. The new curriculum now teaches about engineering, the skilled trades, AI, food literacy, and more 👏👏https://t.co/fOOIlYFfy7

Considering the fact that the curriculum was last updated in 2007, before many of the technological advancements to which we've become accustomed, the province's announcement has been welcomed by many who say it's about time for education to reflect the real world.

Brand new Science curriculum…will we get to see it before we have to teach it? Asking for thousands of Ontario teachers. #onted

But Premier Ford and Lecce also have a norotiously rocky relationship with Ontario teachers, leaving some wondering how much time educators will have to actually learn the new curriculim before they have to teach it.

The new #Ontario Science Curriculum seems very exciting.

I hope that teachers are provided with PD opportunities that help them internalize the new documents, provide them with exemplars of successful strategies, and inform best classroom integration.https://t.co/Z0LUcruF4V

Overall, however, residents are celebrating the change as a win for Ontario students.