The Application of Problem Solving Method on Science Teacher Trainees on the Solution of the Environmental Problems

Mustafa Dogru

Published: Jan. 10, 2008

Helping student to improve the problems solving skills is the primary target of the science teacher trainees. In modern science, for training the students, methods should be used for improving their thinking skills, make connections with events and concepts and scientific operations skills rather than information and definition giving. One of these methods are problem solving.With this study, it is shown that problem solving is not just solving a movement problem like in the physics as it is understood by most of the science teachers but it can be used also in social problems like environmental problems. Further more, scientific …

Models in Science Education: Applications of Models in Learning and Teaching Science

Funda Ornek

Published: April 10, 2008

In this paper, I discussed different types of models in science education and applications of them in learning and teaching science in particular physics. Based on the literature, I categorized models as conceptual and mental models according to their characteristics. In addition to these models, there is another model called “physics model” by the physics-education community. And then, I discussed applications of these models for learning and teaching science particularly physics along with examples that can guide teachers and students in their science courses.

A Science Summer Camp as an Effective way to Recruit High School Students to Major in the Physical Sciences and Science Education

Paul J. Bischoff,

Devin Castendyk,

Hugh Gallagher,

John Schaumloffel,

Sunil Labroo

Published: June 10, 2008

Now in its fifth year, PR2EPS is a National Science Foundation funded initiative designed to recruit high school students to attend college majoring in the physical sciences, including engineering and secondary science education, and to help ensure their retention within these programs until graduation. A central feature of the recruitment effort is a free, one-week residential summer science camp for high school students. This report describes the rationale for using a camp as a recruitment tool as well as the camp structure. Two focus questions are addressed: 1) How successful is the camp at providing a learning environment where participants …

Enhancing Botswana Children’s Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices through the School Civic Clubs

Josiah O. Ajiboye,

Nthalivi Silo

Published: June 10, 2008

An intervention study was set up through the School Civic Clubs to improve Botswana Children’s environmental knowledge, attitudes and practices. The underlying assumption in using this informal approach was based on the premise that the school time table is already overcrowded and that the infusion approach currently adopted in the country has not produced the desired results. Hence, the Civic Clubs were introduced into ten Primary schools in Botswana. Using this informal approach, the children were given requisite training in civic and environmental issues, and they engaged in various activities for a period of six weeks. Data was collected before …

Turkish Students’ Ideas about Global Warming

Ahmet Kılınç,

Martin Stanisstreet,

Edward Boyes

Published: April 10, 2008

A questionnaire was used to explore the prevalence of ideas about global warming in Year 10 (age 15-16 years) school students in Turkey. The frequencies of individual scientific ideas and misconceptions about the causes, consequences and ‘cures’ of global warming were identified. In addition, several general findings emerged from this study. Firstly, many students believed that radioactivity is causally linked to global warming; they believed that radioactive leakage from nuclear power stations exacerbates global warming, and that reducing the global nuclear arsenal could reduce it. Secondly, students appeared to confuse the causes and consequences of global warming with those of …

Effects of Full and Quasi – Participatory Learning Strategies on Nigerian Senior Secondary Students’ Environmental Knowledge: Implications for Classroom Practice

Josiah. O. Ajiboye,

S. O. Ajitoni

Published: April 10, 2008

Environmental education is considered an appropriate intervention for creating awareness of, and an understanding of the challenges of environmental degradation. The introduction of EE into the Nigerian school curricular creates a challenge of how to teach it. A majority of the teachers still employ the old, traditional “chalk and talk” method. This study experimented with two modes of participatory strategies, the full and quasi participatory modes in teaching secondary school students in Nigeria some EE concepts. Three hundred and sixty students were randomly selected and assigned to the three treatment groups. Five hypotheses were tested at P<.05 and data …

Utility of Concept Cartoons in Diagnosing and Overcoming Misconceptions Related to Photosynthesis

Fatma EKICI,

Erhan EKICI,

Fatih AYDIN

Published: June 10, 2007

In this study, the effectiveness of concept cartoons in diagnosing and overcoming students’ misconceptions related to photosynthesis subject was examined. Firstly, the literature has been thoroughly examined and misconceptions about photosynthesis subject have been listed and then grouped. Concept cartoons related to these groups have been prepared and were introduced to the students in order to identify their misconceptions. Similar misconceptions as in the literature have been found. Then, new concept cartoons addressing to elimination of these misconceptions have been prepared and were used in class discussions. The excerpts from these discussions and after-class student interviews show that concept cartoons …

Applying the Subject “Cell” Through Constructivist Approach during Science Lessons and the Teacher’s View

Mustafa Doğru,

Suna Kalender

Published: Jan. 7, 2007

In this study our purpose is to determine how the teachers are applying the structuralist approach in their classes by classifying the teachers according to graduated faculty, department and their years in the duty. Besides understanding the difference of the effects of structuralist approach and traditional education method on studennt success and knowledge sustainability For the study the teachers are given likert type surveys and primary school 6th clas students are used as final test and the repeat of the last test as data collecting tools The study, has been carried in 23 schools in Mersin City Center with 53 …

I can’t teach science! A case study of an elementary pre-service teacher’s intersection of science experiences, beliefs, attitude, and self-efficacy

Mahsa Kazempour

Published: Jan. 10, 2014

The case study reported in this paper is part of a larger multiple cross case analysis focusing on pre-service teachers with various initial confidence and attitudes toward science and science teaching. In this paper, the focus will be on one elementary teacher candidate, Lisa, who began the science methods course with a negative attitude and low self-efficacy. An in-depth description of her beliefs, attitude, and self-efficacy, before and after the course, the impact of her prior science experience and the science methods course on shaping these domains, and the possible interrelationship between the three variables are discussed. The findings revealed …

Students’ Misunderstandings about the Energy Conservation Principle: A General View to Studies in Literature

Erdal Tatar,

Münir Oktay

Published: June 10, 2007

This paper serves to review previously reported studies on students’ misunderstandings about the energy conservation principle (the first law of thermodynamics). Generally, studies in literature highlighted student’ misunderstandings about the energy conservation principle stem from preliminaries about energy concept in daily life. Since prior knowledge of students’ misunderstandings of scientific content knowledge is the first step in preventing these misunderstandings, it is considered that such a study will provide an important source for studies which aims to reduce or eliminate misunderstandings on the energy conservation principle.