Abstract This research is to explore the high school student potential misconceptions on evolution, based on the two-tier diagnostic test and diagnostic interview. Through a proper teaching design, the researcher has developed an untraditional teaching method. The effects of the untraditional teaching method and the traditional teaching method were compared. With the retest of two-tier diagnostic test, a survey was conducted to evaluate the students¡¦ achievement resulting from the teaching strategy designed by the researcher. The survey can also be consulted and used in the improvement of future teaching activities. This research adopted a Quasi-experimental research method. Data included the analysis of quantity and the description of quality. The research tool is a two-tier diagnostic questionable. The sample groups consist of two classes in the grade-10 and two classes in the grade-12 with 35 students in each class, taught by the researcher. The results of this research indicate that (1) in general , the students are in lack of the structural knowledge of evolution in their prior learning especially¡§the relationship between organism and organism¡¨and the concept of human selection; (2) the comparison of learning results brought about between the untraditional teaching method and traditional teaching method, apparently shows that the experimental group students are far better than the control group students in understanding the connection of evolutional concepts and the abundance of conceptive maps; (3) the difference of student learning process of the two teaching methods , compared by the quiz results on each unit, are not significantly different between the two groups of students; and (4) as far as the teaching of the concept of evolution is concerned, the improved teaching method design is appreciated by the experiment group students and is highly expected by the control group students.

Os assuntos que envolvem o ensino de ciências são capazes de despertar a curiosidade das crianças de maneira envolvente. Quando são aplicadas no contexto escolar atividades dinâmicas e participativas o aluno torna-se agente do seu aprendizado. O desenvolvimento desta disciplina deve considerar que os alunos já trazem concepções, a cerca deste campo do conhecimento, de suas experiências cotidianas. Esta dissertação é composta por um estudo de caso que busca investigar as relações estabelecidas pelos alunos, a partir de uma estratégia de ensino, entre suas concepções prévias e o conhecimento científico. Esta estratégia foi aplicada na disciplina de ciências em duas turmas de quinta série do ensino fundamental, onde a mestranda era a professora regente das classes. O conteúdo da Hidrosfera foi desenvolvido no decorrer do segundo trimestre de 2008, sendo este, integrante do currículo de ciência, nas escolas onde o projeto foi aplicado. Os alunos realizaram atividades diversificadas, nas quais foram consideradas suas concepções prévias com relação a conceitos científicos pré-selecionados pela professora. Buscou-se aplicar na sala de aula uma metodologia com características construtivistas e interacionistas na intenção de identificar o mecanismo de aprender ciências como um processo paralelo de idéias que resultem em explicações alternativas, os quais são utilizados em momentos e situações adequados, com o objetivo de promover uma mudança entre as concepções prévias dos estudantes e o conhecimento escolar. A análise do questionário de sondagem foi de natureza quantitativa, e a seqüência dos outros materiais produzidos pelos alunos foi realizada de forma qualitativa. Com esta metodologia buscou-se informações a partir das construções dos alunos, para uma interpretação adequada das mesmas, visando atender aos objetivos da pesquisa. Com base na análise das produções dos alunos, é possível afirmar que estes demonstraram motivação quando convidados a participar das atividades educacionais que compuseram o conjunto do projeto. O processo se caracterizou por proporcionar ao grupo uma maneira diferente de pensar o conhecimento da disciplina de ciências, aproximando este campo do conhecimento das questões cotidianas que envolvem a água. Este foi o primeiro contato destes alunos num ambiente onde a ciência produzida na escola foi socializada, compartilhada. Onde não houveram respostas corretas retiradas do livro didático, mas um ambiente de ação e construção de análises e observações. O processo de aprendizagem desenvolveu-se através do envolvimento ativo dos aprendizes. Através das respostas apresentadas pelos alunos nos diferentes instrumentos da pesquisa foi possível observar a evolução do perfil conceitual do grupo. Este novo perfil incluiu, não de forma exclusiva, novas idéias científicas, compostas por um vocabulário adequado para este campo do conhecimento. Foi possível observar que os alunos apresentaram diferentes idéias sobre um mesmo conceito, as quais foram utilizadas no contexto de sala de aula e na visita a estação de tratamento de água. / Science teaching encompasses subjects that are capable of rousing children’s curiosity in an involving manner. When dynamic and participative activities are applied in the school context, students become agents of their learning. The development of this subject must take into consideration the fact that students already carry conceptions about this field of knowledge from their daily experiences. This thesis comprises a case study that seeks to investigate the relations established by students, from a teaching strategy, between their prior conceptions and scientific knowledge. This strategy was applied in the science subject with two classes from the fifth grade of elementary education, where the masters undergraduate was the ruling teacher of the classes. The Hydrosphere content was developed during the second quarter in 2008, subject which integrates the science curriculum at the schools where the project was applied. The students performed diversified activities in which their prior conceptions were considered in relation to scientific concepts that were pre-selected by the teacher. A methodology was sought with constructivist and interactive characteristics to bring about a change between students’ prior conceptions and school knowledge. The analysis of the survey questionnaire was of a quantitative nature, and the sequence of the other materials produced by the students was performed in a qualitative fashion. Through this methodology information was sought from students’ constructions for their adequate interpretation aimed at meeting the research objectives. Based on the analysis of students’ productions, it is possible to state that they appeared to be motivated when invited to take part in the activities that made up the project set. The process was characterized for providing the group with a different approach to think about the knowledge of the science subject, bringing that field closer to the daily issues that involve water. This was the first contact these students had in an environment where the science produced at the school was socialized, shared, where there were no correct answers taken from the didactic book, but an environment of action and the construction of analyses and observations. The learning process was developed through active involvement of learners. From the answers presented by the students in the different research instruments it was possible to observe the evolution of the group’s conceptual profile. That new profile included, not exclusively, new scientific ideas comprising an adequate vocabulary for that field of knowledge. It was possible to observe that students presented different ideas about a same concept, ideas which were used in the class room context and a visit to a water treatment station.

Os assuntos que envolvem o ensino de ciências são capazes de despertar a curiosidade das crianças de maneira envolvente. Quando são aplicadas no contexto escolar atividades dinâmicas e participativas o aluno torna-se agente do seu aprendizado. O desenvolvimento desta disciplina deve considerar que os alunos já trazem concepções, a cerca deste campo do conhecimento, de suas experiências cotidianas. Esta dissertação é composta por um estudo de caso que busca investigar as relações estabelecidas pelos alunos, a partir de uma estratégia de ensino, entre suas concepções prévias e o conhecimento científico. Esta estratégia foi aplicada na disciplina de ciências em duas turmas de quinta série do ensino fundamental, onde a mestranda era a professora regente das classes. O conteúdo da Hidrosfera foi desenvolvido no decorrer do segundo trimestre de 2008, sendo este, integrante do currículo de ciência, nas escolas onde o projeto foi aplicado. Os alunos realizaram atividades diversificadas, nas quais foram consideradas suas concepções prévias com relação a conceitos científicos pré-selecionados pela professora. Buscou-se aplicar na sala de aula uma metodologia com características construtivistas e interacionistas na intenção de identificar o mecanismo de aprender ciências como um processo paralelo de idéias que resultem em explicações alternativas, os quais são utilizados em momentos e situações adequados, com o objetivo de promover uma mudança entre as concepções prévias dos estudantes e o conhecimento escolar. A análise do questionário de sondagem foi de natureza quantitativa, e a seqüência dos outros materiais produzidos pelos alunos foi realizada de forma qualitativa. Com esta metodologia buscou-se informações a partir das construções dos alunos, para uma interpretação adequada das mesmas, visando atender aos objetivos da pesquisa. Com base na análise das produções dos alunos, é possível afirmar que estes demonstraram motivação quando convidados a participar das atividades educacionais que compuseram o conjunto do projeto. O processo se caracterizou por proporcionar ao grupo uma maneira diferente de pensar o conhecimento da disciplina de ciências, aproximando este campo do conhecimento das questões cotidianas que envolvem a água. Este foi o primeiro contato destes alunos num ambiente onde a ciência produzida na escola foi socializada, compartilhada. Onde não houveram respostas corretas retiradas do livro didático, mas um ambiente de ação e construção de análises e observações. O processo de aprendizagem desenvolveu-se através do envolvimento ativo dos aprendizes. Através das respostas apresentadas pelos alunos nos diferentes instrumentos da pesquisa foi possível observar a evolução do perfil conceitual do grupo. Este novo perfil incluiu, não de forma exclusiva, novas idéias científicas, compostas por um vocabulário adequado para este campo do conhecimento. Foi possível observar que os alunos apresentaram diferentes idéias sobre um mesmo conceito, as quais foram utilizadas no contexto de sala de aula e na visita a estação de tratamento de água. / Science teaching encompasses subjects that are capable of rousing children’s curiosity in an involving manner. When dynamic and participative activities are applied in the school context, students become agents of their learning. The development of this subject must take into consideration the fact that students already carry conceptions about this field of knowledge from their daily experiences. This thesis comprises a case study that seeks to investigate the relations established by students, from a teaching strategy, between their prior conceptions and scientific knowledge. This strategy was applied in the science subject with two classes from the fifth grade of elementary education, where the masters undergraduate was the ruling teacher of the classes. The Hydrosphere content was developed during the second quarter in 2008, subject which integrates the science curriculum at the schools where the project was applied. The students performed diversified activities in which their prior conceptions were considered in relation to scientific concepts that were pre-selected by the teacher. A methodology was sought with constructivist and interactive characteristics to bring about a change between students’ prior conceptions and school knowledge. The analysis of the survey questionnaire was of a quantitative nature, and the sequence of the other materials produced by the students was performed in a qualitative fashion. Through this methodology information was sought from students’ constructions for their adequate interpretation aimed at meeting the research objectives. Based on the analysis of students’ productions, it is possible to state that they appeared to be motivated when invited to take part in the activities that made up the project set. The process was characterized for providing the group with a different approach to think about the knowledge of the science subject, bringing that field closer to the daily issues that involve water. This was the first contact these students had in an environment where the science produced at the school was socialized, shared, where there were no correct answers taken from the didactic book, but an environment of action and the construction of analyses and observations. The learning process was developed through active involvement of learners. From the answers presented by the students in the different research instruments it was possible to observe the evolution of the group’s conceptual profile. That new profile included, not exclusively, new scientific ideas comprising an adequate vocabulary for that field of knowledge. It was possible to observe that students presented different ideas about a same concept, ideas which were used in the class room context and a visit to a water treatment station.

Os assuntos que envolvem o ensino de ciências são capazes de despertar a curiosidade das crianças de maneira envolvente. Quando são aplicadas no contexto escolar atividades dinâmicas e participativas o aluno torna-se agente do seu aprendizado. O desenvolvimento desta disciplina deve considerar que os alunos já trazem concepções, a cerca deste campo do conhecimento, de suas experiências cotidianas. Esta dissertação é composta por um estudo de caso que busca investigar as relações estabelecidas pelos alunos, a partir de uma estratégia de ensino, entre suas concepções prévias e o conhecimento científico. Esta estratégia foi aplicada na disciplina de ciências em duas turmas de quinta série do ensino fundamental, onde a mestranda era a professora regente das classes. O conteúdo da Hidrosfera foi desenvolvido no decorrer do segundo trimestre de 2008, sendo este, integrante do currículo de ciência, nas escolas onde o projeto foi aplicado. Os alunos realizaram atividades diversificadas, nas quais foram consideradas suas concepções prévias com relação a conceitos científicos pré-selecionados pela professora. Buscou-se aplicar na sala de aula uma metodologia com características construtivistas e interacionistas na intenção de identificar o mecanismo de aprender ciências como um processo paralelo de idéias que resultem em explicações alternativas, os quais são utilizados em momentos e situações adequados, com o objetivo de promover uma mudança entre as concepções prévias dos estudantes e o conhecimento escolar. A análise do questionário de sondagem foi de natureza quantitativa, e a seqüência dos outros materiais produzidos pelos alunos foi realizada de forma qualitativa. Com esta metodologia buscou-se informações a partir das construções dos alunos, para uma interpretação adequada das mesmas, visando atender aos objetivos da pesquisa. Com base na análise das produções dos alunos, é possível afirmar que estes demonstraram motivação quando convidados a participar das atividades educacionais que compuseram o conjunto do projeto. O processo se caracterizou por proporcionar ao grupo uma maneira diferente de pensar o conhecimento da disciplina de ciências, aproximando este campo do conhecimento das questões cotidianas que envolvem a água. Este foi o primeiro contato destes alunos num ambiente onde a ciência produzida na escola foi socializada, compartilhada. Onde não houveram respostas corretas retiradas do livro didático, mas um ambiente de ação e construção de análises e observações. O processo de aprendizagem desenvolveu-se através do envolvimento ativo dos aprendizes. Através das respostas apresentadas pelos alunos nos diferentes instrumentos da pesquisa foi possível observar a evolução do perfil conceitual do grupo. Este novo perfil incluiu, não de forma exclusiva, novas idéias científicas, compostas por um vocabulário adequado para este campo do conhecimento. Foi possível observar que os alunos apresentaram diferentes idéias sobre um mesmo conceito, as quais foram utilizadas no contexto de sala de aula e na visita a estação de tratamento de água. / Science teaching encompasses subjects that are capable of rousing children’s curiosity in an involving manner. When dynamic and participative activities are applied in the school context, students become agents of their learning. The development of this subject must take into consideration the fact that students already carry conceptions about this field of knowledge from their daily experiences. This thesis comprises a case study that seeks to investigate the relations established by students, from a teaching strategy, between their prior conceptions and scientific knowledge. This strategy was applied in the science subject with two classes from the fifth grade of elementary education, where the masters undergraduate was the ruling teacher of the classes. The Hydrosphere content was developed during the second quarter in 2008, subject which integrates the science curriculum at the schools where the project was applied. The students performed diversified activities in which their prior conceptions were considered in relation to scientific concepts that were pre-selected by the teacher. A methodology was sought with constructivist and interactive characteristics to bring about a change between students’ prior conceptions and school knowledge. The analysis of the survey questionnaire was of a quantitative nature, and the sequence of the other materials produced by the students was performed in a qualitative fashion. Through this methodology information was sought from students’ constructions for their adequate interpretation aimed at meeting the research objectives. Based on the analysis of students’ productions, it is possible to state that they appeared to be motivated when invited to take part in the activities that made up the project set. The process was characterized for providing the group with a different approach to think about the knowledge of the science subject, bringing that field closer to the daily issues that involve water. This was the first contact these students had in an environment where the science produced at the school was socialized, shared, where there were no correct answers taken from the didactic book, but an environment of action and the construction of analyses and observations. The learning process was developed through active involvement of learners. From the answers presented by the students in the different research instruments it was possible to observe the evolution of the group’s conceptual profile. That new profile included, not exclusively, new scientific ideas comprising an adequate vocabulary for that field of knowledge. It was possible to observe that students presented different ideas about a same concept, ideas which were used in the class room context and a visit to a water treatment station.

<p>Undersökningar visar att lärare, till skillnad från många andra professionella yrkesgrupper, sällan refererar till teorier när de anger vilka motiv deras praktiska verksamhet har. Den kollegiala diskussionen bland lärare är sällan av teoretisk karaktär utan handlar ofta om praktiska förhållanden . En stor del av lärarkunskapen verkar vara ”tyst”.” Tyst kunskap ska här förstås som erfarenhetsbaserad kunskap som uppnås genom praktiserande verksamhet, en typ av förtrogenhetskunskap som kräver överblick över situationen man befinner sig i. I det här arbetet studerar jag relationen mellan lärarens reflektioner om sin egen praktik i relation till lärarens syn på elevernas progression under kemilaborationer. Syftet med undersökningen är att ge några bilder av tankemönster man möter i diskussionen kring undervisningen i kemi. Tankemönster i samband med undervisning ses här som delar av lärarens tysta kunskap. Den empiriska undersökningen baseras på intervjuer med kemilärare på gymnasie- och högstadieskolor. I undersökningen identifieras några aspekter av kemilärares tysta kunskap i relation till elevers lärandeprocess under kemilaborationer. Resultaten visar en koppling till litteratur och forskning inom området för hur effektiv undervisning kan bedrivas.</p> / <p>Investigations show that teachers, in contrast to many other professionals, seldom refer to theories in discussions about the motives in their practice. Professional discussions among teachers often deal with practical matters and rarely about theoretical issues. Major parts of teachers’ knowledge seem to be tacit. Tacit knowledge should be understood as knowledge received by practical experience, a type of confidential knowledge. In this work I have studied the relation between teachers’ reflections about their own practice and the teachers’ views of the students’ progression in learning during laboratory courses. The aim of this paper is to find some of the common thoughts shared by chemistry teachers, which are expressed when describing their practice. These kinds of “mind patterns” are here comprehended as part of the teachers’ tacit knowledge. The empirical investigation is based on interviews with chemistry teachers in upper level of compulsory school and in upper secondary school. The results of the investigation indicate connections to research and literature about effective learning.</p>

Undersökningar visar att lärare, till skillnad från många andra professionella yrkesgrupper, sällan refererar till teorier när de anger vilka motiv deras praktiska verksamhet har. Den kollegiala diskussionen bland lärare är sällan av teoretisk karaktär utan handlar ofta om praktiska förhållanden . En stor del av lärarkunskapen verkar vara ”tyst”.” Tyst kunskap ska här förstås som erfarenhetsbaserad kunskap som uppnås genom praktiserande verksamhet, en typ av förtrogenhetskunskap som kräver överblick över situationen man befinner sig i. I det här arbetet studerar jag relationen mellan lärarens reflektioner om sin egen praktik i relation till lärarens syn på elevernas progression under kemilaborationer. Syftet med undersökningen är att ge några bilder av tankemönster man möter i diskussionen kring undervisningen i kemi. Tankemönster i samband med undervisning ses här som delar av lärarens tysta kunskap. Den empiriska undersökningen baseras på intervjuer med kemilärare på gymnasie- och högstadieskolor. I undersökningen identifieras några aspekter av kemilärares tysta kunskap i relation till elevers lärandeprocess under kemilaborationer. Resultaten visar en koppling till litteratur och forskning inom området för hur effektiv undervisning kan bedrivas. / Investigations show that teachers, in contrast to many other professionals, seldom refer to theories in discussions about the motives in their practice. Professional discussions among teachers often deal with practical matters and rarely about theoretical issues. Major parts of teachers’ knowledge seem to be tacit. Tacit knowledge should be understood as knowledge received by practical experience, a type of confidential knowledge. In this work I have studied the relation between teachers’ reflections about their own practice and the teachers’ views of the students’ progression in learning during laboratory courses. The aim of this paper is to find some of the common thoughts shared by chemistry teachers, which are expressed when describing their practice. These kinds of “mind patterns” are here comprehended as part of the teachers’ tacit knowledge. The empirical investigation is based on interviews with chemistry teachers in upper level of compulsory school and in upper secondary school. The results of the investigation indicate connections to research and literature about effective learning.

As states, districts, and teachers work to make science classes more about doing the work of science and less about remembering science facts, research is needed to show what doing science looks like. This is especially needed for the youngest students, since much of the current research studies examine the upper part of the K-12 grade range. Having been an early elementary science teacher, my work in this dissertation and beyond is focused on making the doing of science accessible to young children. One way to do science is to collect and interpret data – to measure something and make sense of changes in measurement over time. Kindergarten teachers already do this with the weather as called for in math curriculums and science standards, albeit in simplified forms with words like hot, cold, sunny, cloudy, etc. I was curious if the children could understand more complex ways of measuring the weather, using quantitative measurements with the help of a thermometer designed for young children. Over the course of three interviews for each child, I asked six kindergarteners to show illustrate different temperatures, read thermometers, and interpret graphs of changing temperatures. Based on my analysis of the interviews, my findings indicate that the six kindergarteners could all read the specialized thermometer and four of them demonstrated an understanding of how the measurements related to air temperature. This work may help with the planning of future science classes.