A Conceptual Change Teaching Strategy to Facilitate High School Students' Understanding of Electrochemistry

Recent research in chemistry education has shown an increasing interest in the facilitation of conceptual change in student understanding of chemical concepts. Most of the studies have tried to show the difference in student performance on algorithmic and conceptual problems. The objective of this study is to go beyond and design a teaching strategy based on two teaching experiments that could facilitate students' conceptual understanding of electrochemistry. The study is based on two sections (control, n = 29; experimental, n = 28) of 10th grade high school students at a public school in Venezuela. Experimental group participated in two teaching experiments designed to generate situations/experiences in which students are forced to grapple with alternative responses leading to cognitive conflicts/contradictions. Results obtained show that learning electrochemistry involves both algorithmic and conceptual problems. On Posttest 1, 93% of the experimental group students responded correctly, in contrast to 39% of the control group. On Posttest 2, 39% of the experimental group responded correctly, in contrast to 0% of the Control group. The difference in performance on both posttests is statistically significant (p < 0.001). It is concluded that the teaching experiments facilitated students' understanding (progressive transitions) of electrochemistry.     

Overcoming Junior High School Students' Misconceptions About Microscopic Views of Phase Change: A Study of an Analogy Activity

This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of an analogy activity, which was designed to overcome junior high students' misconceptions about the microscopic views of phase change. Eighty Taiwanese 8th graders were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. For the control group, the subjects were instructed through traditional teaching whereas for the experimental group, an analogy activity was conducted on students. This specific analogy activity was presented in the form of role-playing in which students acted as particles and worked together to perform the conditions of phase changes. Through analyzing these students' drawings of the atom arrangements for the three states of some substances, it was found that the students of experimental group, though in many cases, did not perform statistically better than did those of control group in an immediate posttest. The comparisons of a delay test between these two groups indicated that the analogy activity had clearly positive impacts on students' conceptual change on these scientific concepts in terms of long-term observations.     

An Investigation of Effectiveness of Conceptual Change Text-oriented Instruction on Students' Understanding of Solution Concepts

This study investigated the effect of conceptual change text-oriented instruction over traditional instruction on students' understanding of solution concepts (e.g., dissolving, solubility, factors affecting solubility, concentrations of solutions, types of solutions, physical properties of solutions) and their attitudes towards chemistry. The sample of this study consisted of 87 undergraduate students from two classes enrolled in an introductory chemistry course. One of the classes was assigned randomly to the control group, and the other class were assigned randomly to the experimental group. During teaching the topic of solution concepts in the chemistry curriculum, a conceptual change text-oriented instruction was applied in the experimental group whereas traditional instruction was followed in the control group. The results showed that the students in the experimental group performed better with respect to solution concepts. In addition, it has been found that there was no significant difference between the attitudes of students in the experimental and control groups towards chemistry.     

Algorithms,Visualization, and Mental Models: High School Students' Interactions with a Relative Motion Simulation

Galileo's contemporaries as well as today's students have difficulty understanding relative motion. We hypothesize that the construction of visual models, resolution of these visual models with numeric models, and, in many cases, rejection of commitments such as the belief in one true velocity, are necessary for students to form integrated mental models of relative motion events. To investigate students' relative motion problem solving, high school science students were videotaped in classroom and laboratory settings as they performed collaborative predict-observe-explain activities with relative motion computer simulations. Half of the students interacted with simulations that provided animated feedback; the other half received numeric feedback. Learning, as measured by a diagnostic test, occurred following both conditions. There is evidence that many numeric condition students used faulty mechanical algorithms to solve problems, while many animation condition students used mental imagery to solve problems. In this paper, interactions in which student involvement was visual model based will be contrasted with interactions in which involvement was algorithm based. Implications for pedagogy and educational uses of computer simulations will be discussed.     

Evaluation of Short-Term Impact of a High School Summer Science Program on Students' Perceived Knowledge and Skills

Summer science programs held in university research facilities provide ideal opportunities for pre-college students to master new skills and renew, refresh, and enrich their interest in science. These types of programs have a positive impact on a student's understanding of the nature of science and scientific inquiry and can open a youngster's eyes to the many possible career opportunities in science. This paper describes a study of high school students enrolled in the Summer Science Academy program at the University of Rochester that investigates the program's impact on students' knowledge of laboratory skills, as well as the impact on student interest in pursuing a career in science. Students' exposure to advanced laboratory techniques and their interaction with professional scientists provided them with a very positive hands-on experience. Students who attended the program felt more confident in their ability to use sophisticated laboratory skills and that the Summer Science Academy program provided a positive influence on their performance in advanced science courses, as well as their desire to pursue a career in science.     

The Durability of Conceptual Change in Learning the Concept of Weight in the Case of a Pulley in Balance

This study concerns the question of how teachers can help pupils to perceive the concept of weight (gravitation). Fifth and ninth graders were asked in a paper-and-pencil test to compare the weight of two objects suspended in a pulley-in-balance half a year after the learning intervention consisting of three successive pulley-in-balance demonstrations. The understanding, that some of the fifth graders seemed to have formed from the weight concept after the teacher-independent learning intervention, had almost totally vanished in the delayed study. In the demonstrations the pulley served as an efficient prosthetic device for thinking, helping pupils to pay attention to the behaviour of the whole system instead of looking only at the separate objects. In the ninth grade about 45% of the pupils achieved general understanding about the pulley in balance by transferring the scientific explanation from the pulley demonstrations to the paper-and-pen test. A learning-with-conflict model is proposed based on pupil's alternative explanations about a discrepant event. These explanations are then challenged with a conflicting event. When pupils see and understand how the concept works in different contexts it is possible for the pupils to reach a context independent conceptual change.     

基于思维建模的概念学习过程探析——以小学科学课为例

针对小学科学概念教学中出现的问题,在对学生前概念调查的基础上,该研究基于思维建模的思想,选取典型的迷失概念作为研究内容,设计相应的建模软件,并进行实证研究,最终探究一种适合小学生的思维建模学习方式。     

A Lakatosian Framework to Analyze Situations of Cognitive Conflict and Controversy in Students' Understanding of Heat Energy and Temperature

The objective of this study is to analyze secondary school students' interactions (conflicts, controversies, and arguments) as they participate in an intact classroom activity designed to facilitate their understanding of heat energy and temperature. The study is based on 32 ninth-grade students in a public school in Londrina, Brazil. Results obtained show that the differentiation between heat energy and temperature constitutes considerable difficulties for the students, and can be considered as part of the hard-core of their understanding (Lakatos, 1970, Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 91–196). Student interactions (video taped) were classified into an Alternative Model, Transitional Model, and Scientific Model, depending on the degree to which they reflected a progressive transition in their hard-core. Students generally resisted a change in their conceptual understanding. Some students were able to question the hard-core of their beliefs and construct a Transitory Model. Some students experienced a further progressive transition by constructing a Scientific Model, based on the understanding that Temperature only measures the energy of agitation. Methodology used also provided a glimpse of how a particular student grappled with the conflicts in order to facilitate progressive transition in understanding. It is concluded that given the opportunity to discuss, reflect, consider alternative/conflicting situations, students can construct models that increase progressively in their heuristic/explanatory power.     

德国高中科学新标准探析

2020年6月,德国出台了《高等学校入学资格生物、化学、物理化育标准》作为高中阶段科学标准,并同时在线发布了大量示范性教学任务.德国高中科学标准是德国近20年课程改革的最新成果,首次在科学标准中要求真正实现德国传统的化育目标,并形成了能力的结构化体系.该体系涵盖四大能力领域,以基本概念为基础,以主要内容为落脚点,通过三级划分实现具体化、操作化.分析发现,德国高中科学标准和配套任务具备以下特点:回归学科的基本概念、全面融入的数字化战略、多元的评估方式和面向真实世界的教学任务.     

基于VR的论证教学对初中生科学学习的影响研究

论证教学可以促进学生对科学概念的学习,论证教学的充分开展有待于优化教学设计和实施.研究者已指出,适宜的教学策略和互动技术能进一步提升学生的学习效果.研究将VR整合于科学论证教学,并应用于七年级"科学"课中"地球与宇宙"单元,开展准实验研究以探究该方法对初中生科学学习的影响.两个班80名七年级学生参与本次实验,其中,一个班级的40名学生为实验组,使用基于VR的方式展开学习;另一个班的40名学生为控制组,在一般教室环境下开展论证式学习.实验结果表明,整合VR的科学论证教学更能促进学生对科学概念的理解,有助于学生在论证过程中提供证据和反证,提升学生在论证学习过程中的集体效能、批判性思维倾向,而论证教学过程中使用VR并未显著影响学生的认知负荷.研究将为VR应用于科学教学提供参考和更多实践证据.     

中学生数学焦虑的调查与分析

数学焦虑作为一种消极的数学学习体验已成为数学教育中的一个热点问题.对数学焦虑与数学成绩、数学兴趣、自我效能、性别差异和年级差异的关系进行调查,结果发现:数学成绩与数学焦虑显著相关;数学兴趣、自我效能均与数学焦虑呈显著负相关;男、女生在数学焦虑上存在显著差异,女生焦虑水平比男生高;中学各个年级的数学焦虑水平没有显著差异,初三学生的焦虑水平在中学阶段是最高的.     

高中生英语课堂焦虑差异的实证分析

以268名高中生为有效被试,采用英语课堂焦虑问卷,考察不同性别、独生与非独生子女、城市与农村高中生英语课堂焦虑的差异。研究结果发现:不同性别高中生在英语课堂焦虑总均分及担心、紧张不安、害怕课堂提问三个因子均分上存在显著差异,男生得分均高于女生;独生与非独生子女、城市与农村高中生在英语课堂焦虑总均分及各因子均分上均没有显著差异。最后,给出了未来英语教育教学研究与实践的启示。     

初中生解决贝叶斯推理问题的认知研究

背景、年级及其交互作用显著影响被试正确估计贝叶斯推理问题,信息表征影响不显著,九年级被试成绩优于八年级;初中生解决贝叶斯推理问题仍然是困难的,无论是频数表征还是概率表征,正确解答的比率都不高;被试虽不了解贝叶斯公式,但能在具体情境中发现贝叶斯原理,问题情节、数据大小差距等影响被试的策略选择与正确估计.     

国际科学教育视野下的高中综合科学课程改革——透视香港高中《综合科学》课程

综合科学课程改革是现代学校课程改革的重要组成部分。20世纪80年代以来，世界许多国家和地区在科学教育课程领域中都进行了越来越深入的改革实践。我国香港地区进入新世纪以来在全球国际科学教育发展的大趋势下，为了更好地培养和提升学生的科学素养，在高中阶段的《综合科学》课程中采用了跨学科主题的形式设计，选择了具有时代性和跨时代性的题材选材；在课程的内容设计、学习目标、学生学习成果与学业评价的基本维度等方面都较传统综合科学课程有着一定的突破，并有着很好的启示与借鉴意义。     

高职院校高中生源的挫折心理分析及其对策研究

高职院校中,高中生源和“三校生”反映出了不同的精神面貌和学习态度。是否高中生源和“三校生”的心理状态不同,高中生源承受了更大的心理挫折,进而由于心态调整不适影响到了以后的学习生活呢？抽样调查结果证明了高中生源在进入高职院校后体验的挫折感显著高于“三校生”生源．而这一原因很有可能是导致高中生源适应不良的重要原因。笔者对高中生源的挫折心理进行分析,并提出了对高中生源心理状态的调整目标以及具体可行的操作方法。     

职前成人学员个性化职业技能培训探索

本文从职前成人学员个性化技能培训的美国范例入手,结合本国职业教育的本土特色,从理论基础、实践需要以及内在动因着手,探讨个性化职业技能培训的实施路径,并对实施过程中有待突破的难点问题进行思考。     

高中新课程实施过程中学生心理的调查研究

为了研究高中新课程实施过程中的学生心理状况,采用自编的《高中新课程实施过程中学生心理的调查问卷》对江苏省盐城市近500名高一年级学生进行调查,结果发现:学生对新课程持基本支持态度,但对新课程改革有一定的心理压力,部分学生对新课程改革认识不足,不适应新课程的评价方式,自主学习、探究学习方式的开展面临困境,现行高考方式在一定程度上影响了新课程改革的进展。     

高中生科学观的质性研究:现象图析学的视角

我国关于学生科学观的已有研究多是自上而下的"应然"研究,缺少对学生科学观"实然"状况的质性研究。本文应用现象图析学的方法得到高中学生的九种科学观,结果表明学生的科学观是多样化的,不只包括科学知识观、科学探究观和科学事业观;部分学生对科学的理解是"以学校为中心"的,将"科学"等同于"学科"或"实验";一些学生将科学看得太宽泛,将"生活"等同于"科学",带有"科学主义"的思想倾向;许多学生过多地关注科学的实用性,将"科学"与"技术"或"产品"混为一谈;还有些学生不能区分"自然"与"科学",对科学本质的思考比较欠缺。提出科学教育须关注科学本质的教学,学生的科学观不同于科学家和科学哲学家,科学观教育须以学生的认知为起点。     

高中生函数核心概念认知水平测评分析——基于结构化视角

从结构化的视角自编一份函数核心概念测试卷,对上海市浦东新区J中学的高二和高三创新班学生进行测试。研究发现:整体上被测学生的函数核心概念认知水平较高,绝大多数达到了3水平或4水平;高三学生的认知水平显著高于高二学生;男生的认知水平显著高于女生;低认知水平的学生仅能处理简单的函数问题,不能系统地建构函数核心概念认知结构,而高认知水平的学生不仅具备良好的认知结构,而且体现出一定的探索与创新能力。究其成因,主要有教师教学、学生学习、教材设计三方面。     

台州方言中隐喻性谚语的概念隐喻探析

根据概念隐喻理论,台州方言中隐喻性谚语也可分为结构隐喻、方位隐喻和本体隐喻这三种认知类型。这些谚语善于借用日常生活中熟悉的事物或经验去阐释陌生的或抽象的概念,引发不同认知域间的相似性联想。概念隐喻理论有助于从认知角度认识和理解方言谚语。