The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of conceptual change oriented instruction accompanied with analogies on eight grade students&rsquo / understanding of chemical bonding concepts. In addition, the effect of instruction on students&rsquo / attitude toward science as a school subject and the effect of gender difference on understanding of chemical bonding concepts were investigated. Fifty eight-grade students from two classes of a science course taught by the same teacher in B&uuml / y&uuml / kel&ccedil / i Nazim Belger Primary School in the 2010-2011 spring semesters participated in the study. The study included two groups which were selected randomly throughout three classes. One of the groups was defined as control group in which students were instructed by traditionally designed science instruction, while other group was defined as experimental group in which students were instructed by conceptual change texts oriented instruction accompanied with analogies. Chemical Bonding Concept Pre-Test was administered to both groups as a pre-test and Chemical Bonding Concept Post-Test was administered to both groups as a post-test in order to assess their understanding of concepts related to chemical bonding. Students were also given Attitude Scale Towards Science as a School Subject at the beginning and end of the study to determine their attitudes and Science Process Skill Test was used at the beginning of the study to measure their science process skills. The hypotheses were tested by using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that instruction based on constructivist approach caused a significantly better acquisition of scientific conceptions related to chemical bonding and produced significantly higher positive attitudes toward science as a school subject than the traditionally designed science instruction. Also, science process skill was a strong predictor in understanding the concepts related to chemical bonding. On the other hand, no significant effect of gender difference on understanding the concepts about chemical bonding and students&rsquo / attitudes toward science as a school subject was found.

The main purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the cooperative learning based on conceptual change conditions and traditionally designed science instruction on 7th grade students&rsquo / understanding of chemical and physical changes and classification of matter concepts and attitudes toward science as a school subject. In this study 102 seventh grade students from four classes of a Science Course instructed by the two teachers from ODT&Uuml / G.V. &Ouml / zel ilk&ouml / gretim Okulu took part. One of the classes of each teacher was randomly assigned as experimental group, which were instructed with cooperative learning based on conceptual change conditions and the other classes were assigned as control group, which were instructed traditionally. This study was conducted during the 2004-2005 fall semester over a period of four weeks. In this study, to examine the effect of the treatment on dependent variables / science achievement related to chemical and physical changes and classification of matter concepts measured with Classification and Changes of Matter Concepts Test, and science attitude scores measured with Attitude Scale Toward Science as a school subject. Science Process Skills Test was used at the beginning of the study to determine students&rsquo / science process skills. ANCOVA and ANOVA were used testing the hypotheses of the study. The results showed that the cooperative learning based on conceptual change conditions group had a significantly higher scores with respect to achievement related to chemical and physical changes and classification of matter concepts than the traditionally designed science instruction group. However, there is no significant difference between the mean scores of cooperative learning based on conceptual change conditions group and traditionally designed science instruction group with respect to attitudes toward science as a school subject. Science process skills were a strong predictor for the achievement related to chemical and physical changes and classification of matter concepts. It may be useful to use the results of this study and instruments and strategies developed for this study for classroom teachers in order to help students to reduce or eliminate their misconceptions.

Project-based learning (PBL) is centred on a challenging, yet meaningful, driving question and culminates in a product that students create or do to showcase their learning to a public audience. Other essential elements of a true PBL experience include: sustained inquiry, authentic tasks, opportunities for students to make decisions about their culminating product, reflection, critique, and revision (Hallermann, Larmer, & Mergendoller, 2011). A well-designed PBL combines curriculum and instructional activities to cultivate 21st century skills in students to prepare them for future success in the workforce. Two teams of Year five teachers designed a week-long PBL unit for students organised around the characteristics of the planets, which integrated science, mathematics, and English. The teachers implemented the PBL with six classes of Year five students, documenting their thoughts on planning and implementation to reflect upon the experience.

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The purpose of the research was to investigate the effectiveness of using multimedia as a means of teaching physical science to learners. The underlying theoretical assumption was that a multimedia presentation would help to reduce the cognitive load experienced by learners when they learn physical science content, compared to a traditional mode of presentation, and that this reduction may have a positive effect on the ease with which they master the content. Physical science learners in Grade 11 viewed a presentation consisting of multimedia screens and screens depicting the learning content in a traditional layout – in order to compare the level of knowledge gained as well as the cognitive load experienced for the multimedia and traditional instructions. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were used to determine the knowledge gained, while cognitive load was measured using a dual-task methodology. A multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyse the data. The results did not reveal a statistically significant increase in knowledge gained via the multimedia approach when compared to the traditional mode of instruction, but when focussing the analysis on learners with a lower-knowledge base in physical science though, statistically significant results were found. However, no significant results were found to support the hypothesis that multimedia would help to reduce learners’ cognitive load. It was concluded that the multimedia design principles are more effective in increasing knowledge for physical science learners of low-knowledge than traditional instructional designs. / M. Sc. (Psychology)

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