Effect of conceptual change approach accompanied with concept mapping on understanding of solution concepts

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of conceptual change texts accompanied with concept mapping instruction, compared to traditional instruction (TI), on 8th grade students understanding of solution concepts and their attitudes toward science as a school subject. Solution Concept Test was developed as a result of examination of related literature and interviews with teachers regarding their observations of students difficulties. The test was administered to a total of 64 eighth grade students from two classes of a general science course, taught by the same teacher. The experimental group received the conceptual change texts accompanied with concept mapping in a lecture by the teacher. This instruction explicitly dealt with students misconceptions. It was designed to suggest conditions in which misconceptions could be replaced by scientific conceptions and new conceptions could be integrated with existing conceptions. The control group received TI in which the teacher provided instruction through lecture and discussion methods. The results showed that conceptual change text accompanied with concept mapping instruction caused a significantly better acquisition of scientific conceptions related to solution concept and produced significantly higher positive attitudes toward science as a school subject than the TI. In addition, logical thinking ability and prior learning were strong predictors for the concept learning related to solution.     

The effect of a conceptual change approach on understanding of students’ chemical equilibrium concepts

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a conceptual change approach over traditional instruction on tenth‐grade students’ conceptual achievement in understanding chemical equilibrium. The study was conducted in two classes of the same teacher with participation of a total of 44 tenth‐grade students. In this study, a pre‐test/post‐test control group semi‐experimental design pattern was used. During teaching the topic of chemical equilibrium concepts in the chemistry curriculum, a conceptual change approach was applied in the experimental group whereas traditional instruction was followed in the control group. Data were analysed with an independent samples t‐test, and an analysis of covariance using the pre‐test scores as the covariate. The results showed that the conceptual change approach was statistically more effective than traditional instruction in terms of students’ conceptual understanding. After the six‐week intervention, interviews were conducted with 18 selected students in the study. In the interviews a prevailing alternative conception was detected beside many alternative conceptions. When they were asked to compare equilibrium constants of two different reactions they mostly responded to mean that ‘the bigger the mol number of the products, the bigger the equilibrium constant’ without considering what proportions the reactants were transformed into products in a reaction. Also, in this study a two‐tier multiple choice test was developed related to chemical equilibrium to detect students’ concepts and alternative concepts.     

Response to Contradiction: Conflict Resolution Strategies Used by Students in Solving Problems of Chemical Equilibrium

The main objective of this investigation was to show that a novel problem of chemical equilibrium based on a closely related sequence of items can facilitate students' conceptual understanding. Students were presented a chemical reaction in equilibrium to which a reactant was added as an external effect. A series of three studies were designed. In Study 1, the sequence of items started with a major alternative conception, namely, After the reaction has started, the rate of the forward reaction increases with time and that of the reverse reaction decreases, until equilibrium is reached. In Study 2, the major alternative conception was presented the last. In Study 3, instead of the sequence, only the following statement was presented: Rate of the reverse reaction increases gradually. In all three studies students had to agree/disagree with the statements and provide justifications. Results obtained show that at least one group of students, in Study 1 used a contradictory response pattern based on the generation and resolution of a cognitive conflict, which facilitated conceptual understanding. In Studies 2 and 3 students did not experience a similar cognitive conflict. Given the complexity of conceptual change and students' resistance to alter their alternative conceptions (cf. hard core, Lakatos )1970) Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 91–106), it is suggested that changes in students' responses may have undergone a Peripheral Theory Change (Chinn and Brewer (1993) Review of Educational Research 63: 1–49).     

Enhancing Students' Understanding of Photosynthesis and Respiration in Plant Through Conceptual Change Approach

This study investigated the effectiveness of combining conceptual change text and discussion web strategies on students' understanding of photosynthesis and respiration in plants. Students' conceptual understanding of photosynthesis and respiration in plants was measured using the two-tier diagnostic test developed by Haslam and Treagust (1987, Journal of Biological Education 21: 203--211). The test was administered as pretest and posttest to a total of 233 eighth-grade students in six intact classes of the same school located in an urban area. The test of logical thinking was used to determine the reasoning ability of students. The experimental group was a class of 116 students received discussion web and conceptual change text instruction. A class of 117 students comprised the control group received a traditional instruction. After instruction, data were analyzed with two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using the Test of Logical Thinking and pretest scores as covariate. The conceptual change instruction, which explicitly dealt with students' misconceptions, produced significantly greater achievement in understanding of photosynthesis and respiration in plant concepts. Analysis also revealed a significant difference between performance of females and that of males in the favor of females, but the interaction of treatment with gender difference was not significant for learning the concepts.     

Theory‐led confirmation bias and experimental persona

Questionnaire and interview findings from a survey of three Year 8 (ages 12–13 years) science practical lessons (n = 52) demonstrate how pupils' data collection and inference making were sometimes biased by desires to confirm a personal theory. A variety of behaviours are described where learners knowingly rejected anomalies, manipulated apparatus, invented results or carried out other improper operations to either collect data which they believed were scientifically correct, or achieve social conformity. It is proposed that confirmation bias was a consequence of the degree to which individuals were laden by theory, and driven by this, experimenters assumed one of three different personas: becoming right answer confirmers; good scientists; or indifferent spectators. These personas have parallels with historical instances of scientific behaviour. Implications of a continued teacher‐tolerance of pupil confirmation bias include the promotion of unscientific experimenting, and the persistence of unchallenged science misconceptions. Solutions are offered in the way of practical strategies that might reduce experimenters' theory‐ladeness.     

合作性学习小组：新中学英语课程标准下教与学的有效团队

新中学英语课标倡导任务型教学途经,这为国内对于合作性学习的研究和实践提供了良好的契机。研究者和教师学生对合作性学习小组的好处普遍存在共识,但是我们也要充分关注可能影响到合作性学习的各种因素。理性认识,科学组建和实施合作性学习小组才能实现教与学的有效团队,才能保证合作性学习小组的实效性。     

概念同化、改变和迁移在教学中的应用

学习是对现有知识结构的丰富和重构。丰富是现有知识对新知识的同化过程,重构则是概念改变,表现为理论的修正和改变。上述学习理论运用于教学中的一个重要方面就是设计和组织学习材料。学习材料具有多种形式,包含着与学习者固着观念相联系的同化点,能引发学习者的认知冲突,或显示新知识的特性导致概念改变,并且能提供新的情景便于学习者的知识迁移。因此综合设计和组织学习材料是促进学习者对知识进行有意义建构,提高其学习能力的关键。     

对网络环境下学生自主学习的探索

网络环境下的自主学习是广播电视大学开放教育的一种新型办学方式。作为专业教师应积极探索,勇于实践,制定相应的辅导策略和评估机制,以使学生学会利用网络有目的、有针对性地自主学习,最终顺利完成学业,实现知识与能力的共同提高。     

论儿童精神的诗性逻辑

儿童的逻辑不同于成人世界中的概念性逻辑。儿童的逻辑汇入了并充盈着鲜明而强烈的感性色彩和浪漫主义审美意蕴的诗性精神。诗性的逻辑是展现儿童精神之特质的基本表达形式,也为人类理性精神插上了想像的翅膀。     

边远地区开放教育的探讨

边远地区的现代远程开放教育要结合当地实际，在充分利用现代多媒体教学手段进行教学的同时，因地制宜，重视面授、巡回指导、形成性考核、教研等教学过程，发挥教师的主导作用，提高学生的自主学习能力，保证教学质量。     

试论学生学习方式的转变

新课程提出了转变学生的学习方式的目标,提倡自主、合作与探究学习.文章从转变学生的学习方式的意义,自主、合作与探究学习的内涵以及转变学习方式的实践反思等几个方面进行了系统的阐述.