Journal of Science Learning
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Difficulties Encountered by a Dyslexic Secondary School Student in Learning Science and Suggestions for Solutions
Get PDFThis study aims to reveal the problems faced by a dyslexic student in learning science and determine what can be considered an effective science teaching method for this kind of learner. The case study design was used, and the study was conducted with a 7th-grade dyslexic female student. This study used observations and a semi-structured interview form as data collection tools. According to the findings, the problems faced by the student with dyslexia in learning science were generally compatible with the literature and immediately affected science learning. It was deduced that the student's reading skills, writing skills, motor skills, attention, memory and comprehension, language skills, use of sensory organs, and math skills are effective in learning science and that the development of these skills is necessary for understanding and comprehending science. In order to develop these skills, it is predicted that technology-based student-centered activities and individualized teaching may be beneficial, which is in line with the constructivist philosophy. In addition, it may be practical to give technology-supported reading extracts containing scientific texts, tasks involving social interaction, and writing tasks to improve students' reading, writing, and language skills
The Impact of STEM Applications on Problem-Solving Skills of 4th-Grade Students
Get PDFThis study examined the impact of STEM applications realized with 4th-grade elementary school students on their problem-solving skills. The study was conducted within the convergent parallel design framework, a mixed research method. The research was carried out with 42 4th-grade primary school students, 21 in the experimental group and 21 in the control group, studying in a public school in Turkey. In the study, which lasted for ten weeks, STEM applications were carried out with the students in the experimental group. The control group applied the current science curriculum without performing STEM applications. The research data consists of the Developing Problem Solving Inventory for Children at the Level of Primary Education (PSIC) and the semi-structured interview conducted with the students in the experimental group. Quantitative data were analyzed using an independent sample t-test, while qualitative data were analyzed with content analysis. When the PSIC post-test scores of the 4th-grade primary school students in the experimental and control groups were examined, a statistically significant difference was found in favor of the experimental group. According to the qualitative data analysis of the study, it was determined that the students encountered various problems in the process and developed solutions for them. The students stated that using STEM activities in the classes is fun, so they learn more permanently and easily, and they want the classes to be delivered in this way from now on
Comparison of the 7th Grade Students’ Accomplishments in Skill and Acquisition Based Assessment-Evaluation
Get PDFThis study compares the successes of numbers 94 7th grade students in science education with assessment-evaluation questions based on skill and acquisition. Assessment-evaluation achievement tests based on skill and acquisition were developed by researchers towards the measurement of force and acquisitions in friction units taking place in the 7th-grade curriculum. While skill-based questions are being prepared, High School Entrance Exam (HSEE) and international exams such as Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) were developed due to inspiration from Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) exam questions and acquisition-based assessment and evaluation questions were taken from pre-exam books. It was found that the reliability coefficient for the traditional test is 0.70 and for the skill-based test is 0.72. At the same time, students’ opinions were taken to detect students' perspectives against skill and acquisition-based questions after application. According to the statistical results gathered from research, the academic achievements of students who are prepared with the same acquisitions and applied with skill and acquisition-based assessment-evaluation questions were analyzed. It was determined that despite the lack in solving skill-based questions, students were successful in acquisition-based assessment-evaluation. The students' average success in the acquisition-based test was 76 out of a hundred, and the average score in the skill-based test was 44. Besides, it can be considered to extend skill-based questions for Turkey to go beyond successes
Text Readability Level Investigation about Biology Subjects-related Units in 'Science 7 Textbook'
Get PDFThis study investigates text readability level investigation about biology subjects-related units in 'Science 7 Textbook'. A document analysis method was used in this study based on a qualitative research approach. The textbook, which has been used since the 2019-2020 academic year, has been selected as the study material. In the textbook, a total of 15 texts were randomly determined from two units related to biology subjects, one for each of the learning outcomes specified in the 2018 Science Course Curriculum. In calculating the readability levels of the texts, the 'Ateşman Readability Formula' was used. The findings obtained as a result of the analysis showed that the overall readability levels of the texts in both units were in the 'medium difficulty' category. Furthermore, when the findings of each unit were examined on a subject basis, it was determined that the texts belonging to all of the topics included in both units (Cell and Divisions, Reproduction, Growth and Development in Living Beings) were found in the 'medium' category. These findings were interpreted as the science textbook prepared for the seventh grade for the student level in terms of readability
Enhancing Students’ Scientific Literacy using Virtual Lab Activity with Inquiry-Based Learning
Get PDFLaboratory activity is closely related and yet is essential in the process of science teaching-learning. The hands-on laboratory experiment is the one normally used in school. Particularly with the state of online schooling, it is quite challenging to perform a hands-on laboratory activity. The combination of inquiry-based learning with virtual lab activity can be an alternative to developing a more alluring yet meaningful learning process within online learning. This research aims to analyze virtual lab activity with inquiry-based learning on students’ scientific literacy in light and optics topics. Participants were taken from junior high school students in the 8th-grade in Bandung, Indonesia. It includes 40 students with 14 males and 26 females with ages range 13-14 years old who have not yet studied light and optics. A pre-experimental research method with a one-group pre- the post-test design was used. The finding indicates that students’ scientific literacy was significantly increased with a medium category (N-Gain score 0.441). Based on this research, virtual-lab activity with inquiry-based learning could be considered an alternative to conducting a meaningful online learning activity, especially in science education
Gifted Students’ Beliefs about Knowledge and Learning
Get PDFEpistemological beliefs can be defined shortly as beliefs about the source, certainty, organization of knowledge, and beliefs on ability and speed of learning. Word association tests (WAT) are practical alternative assessment and evaluation tools that can reveal students' thoughts on different concepts. In this regard, this research aims to investigate the gifted students' beliefs about "knowledge" and "learning" concepts by using WAT. Phenomenology design was utilized in the research. The study was carried out with 118 gifted students studying at Science and Art Center in Turkey's Central East Anatolia Region in the 2018-2019 academic year. The word association test was used as a data collection tool. In this context, participants were given the concepts "knowledge" and "learning" and asked to write their associations about these concepts. They were then asked to make a sentence about each concept. Deductive content analysis was used to analyze the data. The research findings revealed that most students have sophisticated epistemological beliefs in specific knowledge, simple knowledge, source of knowledge, and quick learning dimensions. However, it has been found that the number of students in the sophisticated and naive categories of innate ability dimension is approximately equal
The Effect of Nature Education Activities on Biophilia Levels of Science Teacher Candidates
Get PDFAs a result of increasing the level of interest in living and living systems (biophilia), it will be possible to educate more protectionist individuals against nature and the environment. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of nature education activities on biophilia levels of science teacher candidates. This research was conducted at public research university in Bayburt, Turkey, in the Department of Science Education during the spring semester of the 2017-2018 academic year. The activities were done in an integrated manner to the Environmental Science course. The study group included a total of 62 science teacher candidates. These students were distributed equally to the experiment and control group. The study was used a quasi-experimental method with a group of experiments and control. In the study, the Biophilia Scale was applied as a data collection tool. Independent samples t-tests and dependent samples t-tests were used for analyzing the data. As a result of the analysis, the findings indicated that nature education and in-class activities positively affected teacher candidates' biophilia levels. The findings also indicated that the knowledge and experience they gained due to students' scrutiny, touching, smelling, and even tasting the species at in-class and nature activities affected their biophilia levels
Effect of Science Education Provided with Digital and in-Class Games on the Scientific Process Skills of Preschool Children
Get PDFIn this research the effects of educational digital games and in-class educational games on scientific process skills of 6 years old children were investigated. The research was carried out with 70 preschool children who were educated in a primary school in Turkey. In the research, quasi-experimental design was used. Within the scope of the research, there are 3 groups including 2 experimental and 1 control groups. The educational digital games with the children in the Experiment I group were performed with in-class educational games with the children in the Experiment II group. The research covered a 10-week period. In order to test the hypotheses of the research, t test for the related samples, Wilcoxon Signed Sequence test, single factor ANOVA analysis for unrelated samples, Kruskal Wallis H-Test and Man Whitney U-Test were performed. According to the analysis results of the scientific process skill test scores of the groups after the application, it was found that there was no significant difference between experiment I and experiment II.. It was determined that there was a significant difference between the experiment I and experiment II groups and the control group, and this difference was in favor of the experimental groups
Awareness of Turkish Pre-Service Teachers about the Risks of Electromagnetic Radiation in Daily Life Cases
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate Turkish pre-service teachers' awareness about electromagnetic radiation risks, which stem from diagnostic imaging at the hospitals and cell phone use in daily life. The study was based on survey research. A total of 138 education faculty students from the fields of Science Teaching [ST], Classroom Teaching [CT], and English Language Teaching [ELT] participated in the study. Data were collected with the help of a questionnaire involving five cases. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were utilized in data analysis. The results showed that most of the participants agreed on the hazardousness of the cases. However, their risk awareness varied from case to case. Most ST and CT students were determined to possess acceptable responses in addition to partially acceptable responses. On the other hand, ELT students were determined to favor unacceptable responses. Besides, the participants held several misconceptions. To conclude, the participants' awareness levels were found to be significantly related to their educational field for all cases except the first case. Addressing such popular subjects in the elective courses for all undergraduate students during university education is expected to provide beneficial results
The Effectiveness of the Science Experimental Guidebook on the Conceptual Understanding of Students with Learning Disabilities
Get PDFThis study aimed to develop a science experiments guidebook (based on discussion method and enriched worksheet) for fourth grade mainstreamed students with learning disabilities and to investigate its effect on their conceptual understanding of the "Matter and its Nature", "Living Things and Life", "Physical Events" and "Earth and The Universe" learning domains. Furthermore, mixtures, sieving, filtration, magnetism (Matter and its Nature), recycling (Living Things and Life), simple electrical circuit (Physical Events), and fossil (Earth and The Universe) concepts/issues were determined. Since the aim is to investigate the conceptual understanding of five 4th grade students with learning disabilities, the case study method was used. Conceptual understanding tests, drawing tests, and semi-structured interviews were used as data collection tools. The science experiments guidebook was presented to the students in worksheet format. Besides, worksheets were enriched with avatar images, mobile applications (QR codes), hands-on experiments, and active learning techniques (brainstorming, buzz 22, aquarium, and snowball). As a result of the research, it can be said that the science experiments guidebook had a positive effect on the conceptual understanding of students with learning disabilities