The general problem was to investigate theoretical and empirical relationships between student attitude toward Grade 10 science and classroom learning environment variables and to use these findings interpretively to design a teaching/learning strategy which could be used to improve student attitudes. This investigation sought to answer three questions: 1. How is student attitude toward the subject science acquired, changed, and related to variables within a science classroom learning environment? A description of these associations was based upon an analysis of the writings of Ajzen and Fishbein (1980) and Haladyna et al. (1983). 2. What is the nature and strength of the empirical relationship between student attitude toward Grade 10 science and classroom learning environment variables? This determination was accomplished in two ways. The first way involved the possibility of obtaining a linear relationship between a dependent measure of student attitude toward Grade 10 science and a composite of independent learning environment variables. The second way involved the gathering and analysis of student ideas about this relationship using an interview technique. 3. How can the results of this study be used interpretively to improve student attitudes toward Grade 10 science? The focus here was to design a teaching/learning strategy which could be used by the classroom teacher in order to improve student attitudes based upon some of the theoretical and empirical relationships revealed in this study. In the first question it was found that the Haladyna model of variables that could influence student attitudes and the Ajzen and Fishbein view of attitude and attitude change could be interpreted and applied in an educational context to assist in the provision of a perspective on a problem in teaching practice -mainly how can learning environment variables be manipulated in an attempt to improve student attitudes. In the empirical question it was found that a linear relationship existed between measures of student attitude toward Grade 10 science and student beliefs about their classroom learning environment. A forward regression analysis revealed that three variables accounted for 28.9% of the measured variance in student attitude. These variables, in decreasing order of significance of contribution, were: a) Satisfaction (extent to which students are satisfied with the work of the class; b) Apathy (extent to which students care about the class); and c) Difficulty (extent to which students find the class difficult). Personal interviews of 16 Grade 10 science students revealed other learning environment variables which were related to student attitude toward Grade 10 science. These variables, in order of salience, were the: a) extent to which there are hands on activities, b) clarity and organization of teacher explanations, c) perceived usefulness of the science knowledge d) degree of difficulty of the subject and e) quality of interpersonal relationships in class. Interviews of teachers and students also provided additional suggestions as to how to promote more positive student attitudes. Some of the more frequently mentioned suggestions were: a) more labs and hands on activities, b) less teacher talk, c) more emphasis on the practical/social/personal aspects of science content, d) more teacher enthusiasm to promote science as a valuable activity, and e) to have as great a variety of science activities as possible. The third question involved design of a teaching/learning strategy based on a format for the application of theory to educational practice suggested by Joyce and Weil (1980). This strategy, which involved the manipulation of the learning environment in accordance with the Ajzen and Fishbein theory, was illustrated by a sample lesson from a unit of instruction developed by the researcher. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the use of a programmed instruction booklet, as the basic instructional material, could be considered as more appropriate for limited learners than traditional teaching methods. An attempt was made to measure the success that limited learners have in attaining general science concepts through programmed instruction. The study collected evidence to show if there was any significant difference between normal learners and limited learners in academic science achievement (as measured by pre-test and post-test results), when taught using this methodology. The investigation provided evidence to support increased development and use of programmed materials for modified and regular science classrooms. To assess the achievement in general science concepts, an author-developed examination was implemented as a pre-test and later as a post-test following the experimental treatment. The mean scores in achievement were calculated for distinct groups thus enabling a comparison of gains in achievement. A non-equivalent control group with a fixed effects factorial design was used in the investigation. The fixed effects analysis of covariance, using the pre-test as the covariate, permitted the separate analysis of learning ability, methods of instruction and a two-way interaction between these variables. The analysis of covariance produced significant differences for the two main effects. In terms of learning ability normal learners achieved higher than limited learners and the difference was significant at the 0.05 level. For the methods of instruction, students using programmed instruction scored significantly higher than those students taught with the traditional approach. Since there was a significant difference for programmed instruction and no interaction between learning ability and instruction mode, it follows that programmed instruction was better for both groups of students. The results of the study are that both limited and normal learners were more successful, in terms of acquisition of science knowledge, with programmed instruction than with traditional teaching in terms of post-test mean achievement scores. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study is to explore and document the nature of children's participation in elementary school science in British Columbia, Canada. Using an ethnographic approach, extensive fieldnotes provide the foundation addressing the question "What is the activity of science in an elementary school?" Although current science curriculum documents continue to cast science at school as a possible mirror of science in the 'real' world, this is a thesis about elementary school science and a community of inquiry that evolves at school. Instead of separating process and content, this thesis emphasizes their co-emergence. Drawing upon sociocultural and enactivist perspectives, the focus is on learning and context, learner and content as they co-evolve. This study was conducted in one elementary class at the intermediate level (Grade 6/7) across one school year. The teacher and I collaborated to plan and teach science with a focus on creating opportunities for children to participate. Children embarked on three extensive science adventures with their teacher, working in teams of four or five and learning as a community of inquiry. Using audio taped records of children's and the teacher's comments, children's creations, as well as my fieldnotes, I construct a narrative of one year of school science. Researcher, children, and teacher describe what it means to participate in a diversity of ways and, if we wish to understand how children learn science it is important to listen. Data analysis reveals the importance of contexts for participation in elementary school science. In particular, I identify "spaces of inquiry" that afforded students diverse opportunities to participate with science content in a community of inquiry. They are generative spaces, rehearsal spaces, and performative spaces. Spaces of inquiry are important because they provide an alternative way to think about learning and teaching science, they provide opportunities for designing collaborative group work, and they challenge educators to consider children's contributions to their science learning. Overall, this ethnographic study illustrates a dynamic interdependence of learners and their environment in this open-ended, creative adventure in and through school science. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Clinical interviews to explore children's beliefs about the concept of force were carried out with 32 children (18 boys, 14 girls), whose ages ranged from 6 to 14 years. Three tasks were used to investigate their beliefs about the action of a force, action and reaction, equilibrium of forces, and composition of forces. A conceptual profile was constructed on the aspects of force covered in the tasks. This conceptual profile was then used to categorize the children's beliefs which were uncovered in the interviews. It was found that the interview methodology was a feasible approach for an exploratory and descriptive study of students' beliefs about a particular concept and that the children in the sample had a set of typical a priori beliefs about force which they used to account for the different experimental situations. This set of beliefs was subsequently categorized in three levels of abstraction to bring to light the possible patterns of these beliefs. The children's ideas found in the study and the categorization of these into levels of abstraction could be useful for the curriculum developer and particularly for the teacher in planning teaching strategies. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The development of a well organized functional science program in the elementary grades is an urgent problem for curriculum builders. This is especially true in the upper grades. There has been much commendable work done in grades one to six in curriculum development and in textbook writing. However, the upper grades in the elementary school have not been so fortunate. Here is a vast field waiting for constructional development. It is hoped that this study is a step in the right direction.

Proportional reasoning refers not only to the ability to manipulate the proportions, but also to detect, express, analyze, explain, and provide evidence in support of assertions about proportional relationships. Students’ understanding of the proportional relationships that they encounter in science can be improved through well-designed instruction. In other words, teacher practice is key to the successful learning of both proportional reasoning and science. Stoichiometry is a basic topic in chemistry that focuses on the proportional relationship between the amount of reactants and/or that of products in a chemical reaction. This study explored 10 chemistry teachers’ knowledge and beliefs on integrating proportional reasoning in teaching stoichiometry mainly through interview, survey, and lesson materials. The framework of pedagogical content knowledge was used to examine key dimensions of teacher knowledge that were triggered as they teach stoichiometry. Moreover, teachers’ problem-solving strategies were sorted by using the proportional reasoning strategies framework. Three representative case studies allowed a deep analysis and the relation of each component of pedagogical content knowledge with implications for teacher education and professional development design.

by Terrie L. Kielborn / Typescript / Ph. D. Florida State University 2001 / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 227-238)

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science for the partial fulfillment of the degree Masters of Science (MSc), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. June 2016 / In order for educational researchers to make informed decisions about science education, careful attention should be given to what happens in science classrooms. What teachers do shapes the interaction and influences learner cognitive development. Classroom talk is an important part of what goes on in science classrooms. Research has shown that teacher facilitation of talk is important for learner understanding of science content. The purpose of this study was to explore how teachers facilitate talk in their science classrooms for learner understanding of content. However, I looked at their views on classroom talk first. Teachers have the ability to either open up or close learner interaction through talk. The interaction triggers certain kinds of engagement which may or may not promote understanding. The participants in this study were three male science teachers from an independent school with their Grade 11 learners. Teachers were chosen based on their availability. I interviewed teachers for their views on classroom talk. The interviews were audio recorded. Teachers were also observed teaching and the observations were video-recorded and transcribed. Classroom observations were analyzed using Mortimer and Scott’s analytical framework on teacher communicative approaches. Findings suggest that although teachers value interaction and engage learners in dialogue, teachers use interactive authoritative approach more than interactive dialogic approach in their classrooms. The recommendation is that teacher education needs to find ways to make teachers aware of engaging learners in dialogic discourse in a science classroom

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