scholarly journals USING CHEMICAL MODELS FOR DEVELOPING NATURAL SCIENCE COMPETENCES IN TEACHING CHEMISTRY: FROM PUPILS AS MODEL ASSEMBLERS TO PUPILS AS CREATORS OF SELF-MADE MODELS

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-98
Author(s):  
Darinka Sikošek ◽  
Mateja Žuželj

Chemical models are indispensable tool in chemistry class and enable secondary school pupils to develop complex thought processes and spatial concepts, both of which are necessary to improve their understanding of chemical concepts. In this research, special emphasis is given to complex competencies not only their acquisition, but rather how pupils develop them. For this purpose, a learning strategy has been developed, called learning by self-generating chemical models. Pupils learn individually on their own models, which are made from easily accessible, low-cost materials. The impact of workable models was investigated (assembly of commercial models and production of self-made models) on the (1) learning success using simple molecule shapes and (2) the degree of competence development which realized through the implemented activities. The study involved first-year secondary school-pupils, defined as self-creators of paper- and -wire models (experimental group) and assemblers of commercial models (called the control group). The appearance of the molecules being studied took the form of geometric shapes and structures, which pupils present by making of ball-, called wire-models from plasticine and wire or paper created, called paper models. Based on the results of statistical processing of the data, we found that self-creation of models (as an innovative approach) leads to better understanding and to subsequently sustained knowledge for the pupil. It should also be noted that pupils who were self-generators in comparisons to those who merely assembled the models, generally developed many complex skills in the areas of problem solving, practical competence, mathematical competence and critical thinking skills. The knowledge so acquired was also better understood. Key words: chemical models, competencies, self-made models, teaching and learning by models.

Geometric thinking plays an important role in geometric achievement. It is also important in other fields, such as architecture, engineering, film, science, graphics, and arts. However, in Indonesian education curriculum, teaching and learning geometry does not emphasise the geometric thinking skills. Several studies revealed that Indonesian students could not come out from the lowered zone of the International exam, such as Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), which caused by van Hiele levels of geometric thinking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the van Hiele levels of geometric thinking among secondary school students in Makassar, Indonesia. A total of 298 respondents randomly took part in this study. The van Hiele geometric thinking test was used to assess the student's level of geometric thinking. Data were in ordinal form analysed according to the weighted van Hiele geometric thinking test scores presented in the table. The findings showed that most of the students were at the lowest level of geometric thinking. Several 123 and 93 respondents were at Level 0 (Visualisation) and Level 1 (Analysis), respectively. Meanwhile, 70 respondents were lower Level 0 and only a few respondents were in the upper Level 1. The result might be used as a fundamental source to produce a learning strategy in elevating van Hiele levels of geometric thinking.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Amina BOUMEDIENE

Formative assessment has proved its potential in improving the learning outcomes of EFL learners. However, its use is quite restricted in the Algerian secondary school. Thus, instead of playing a formative role, the assessment found in the Algerian EFL classroom is of a summative nature. Accordingly, the purpose behind the current research is to shed light on the importance of formative assessment in the teaching and learning processes by highlighting its effect on text comprehension, as the latter may be an obstacle to effective language learning and academic achievement among Algerian secondary school pupils. To reach this end, the present research attempts to investigate the impact of formative assessment on pupils’ text comprehension as well as their achievement and attitudes through answering the following research questions: (1) how does formative assessment develop pupils’ text comprehension? (2) What changes can the experiment bring in terms of students’ achievements and attitudes towards text comprehension? This research is based on a quasi-experimental design delivered to sixteen third year secondary school pupils as the latter are required to sit for the ‘Baccalaureate’ exam in which text comprehension is of crucial importance. A pretest, a posttest, an intervention which lasted five weeks and a questionnaire were used to find out the impact of formative assessment on the development of pupil’s text comprehension. The results obtained showed a significant progress in pupils’ outcomes in the four language competences: grammatical, textual, functional and sociolinguistic and namely in grammatical and textual competences. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that formative assessment should be an integral part of the teaching process.


Author(s):  
Saad Ayed Saad Al Harthy

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using the strategy of imagination in teaching social and national education on the development of critical thinking skills among sixth grade students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study was followed by a semi-experimental method according to the design of a tribal type after the study. The sample of the study (50) of the students of the sixth grade of primary school (Prince Faisal primary for males) was chosen by the intentional method. The experimental group and the number of its members (25) students studied using the strategy of imagination, and the control group and the number of members (25) students studied in the usual way. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the lessons of the seventh unit (development in the national) were rewritten in the book of social and national education for the sixth grade in accordance with the strategy of imagination, and used to answer the questions of the study test to measure the skills of critical thinking, where the results showed significant differences in the results of the test of critical thinking Between the applications of the tribal and the remote for the benefit of the post-application, as well as the existence of an impact to use the strategy of imagination in the development of critical thinking skills. .


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Lombardi ◽  
Daniela Traficante ◽  
Roberta Bettoni ◽  
Ilaria Offredi ◽  
Mirta Vernice ◽  
...  

Reading and writing skills influence the social status of students, exerting effects not only on learning, but also on wellbeing. This study aimed to assess the impact of diagnosis of specific learning disorder on well-being in secondary-school students, comparing students with a diagnosis of specific learning disorder (SLD-group), students showing learning difficulties without diagnosis (LD-group) and students without learning difficulties (control-group). Students were tested with neuropsychological screening tests in order to identify learning difficulties and were further assessed by means of psychological and school well-being questionnaires. The results show that LD group perceive themselves as having a low sense of mastery and autonomy, less interest and engagement in daily activities and low peer social support than their schoolmates. This result highlights, for the LD group, a low well-being experience, which is not observed in the SLD and control groups. On the contrary, SLD group students do not differ from control group students in any dimensions except for the perceived parents’ support and involvement in school life, in which the SLD group show the highest scores. This work underlines the importance of having a diagnosis as it seems to work as a protective factor for both the psychological and school well-being of the student.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 01060
Author(s):  
Sibel Demir Kaçan ◽  
Fatma Şahin

The research aims to determine “the Impact of Scientific Creative Thinking Skills on Scientific Process Skills”. Thus, the research was performed with 24 teacher candidates in the control group and 24 teacher candidates in the experimental group in the second class of the Department of Science Teaching in a university in Istanbul Province. In the experimental group of the research, the laboratory program to be designed by the researchers on the basis of scientific discussion and research; and in the control group, the conventionally designed laboratory program were applied for an academic semester. The research data was gained through “Scientific Creativity Test” to be developed by Hu and Adey [14] and adapted by Kadayıfçı [16]; “Scientific Process Skills Test” to be developed by Okey, Wise and Burns, and adapted by Geban, Aşkar and Özkan into Turkish. The conclusions to be reached by the research are in favour of the experimental group and the last application, and it has positive impact on the opinions of the teacher candidates related with the development of the scientific creativity skills.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anisah Dickson ◽  
Laura B. Perry ◽  
Susan Ledger

International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes are growing rapidly worldwide, driven in part by their global reputation and concept-driven, inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning. This thematic review of a range of literature sources examines the impact of IB programmes on teaching and learning, highlighting trends, challenges, and benefits. Findings of the review revealed that most of the studies, both qualitative and quantitative, examined stakeholders’ perspectives or self-reported experiences of IB programmes; a very small number used research designs that control for confounding factors or allow causal inferences to be drawn. A wide range of stakeholders report that IB programmes develop research and critical thinking skills, intercultural appreciation and global awareness, as well as cultivate collaborative working cultures and creative pedagogical practices among teachers. Challenges include extra demands on teachers for lesson planning and assessment, additional stress for teachers and students, and competing demands and expectations with national requirements. Recommendations are provided which may guide future research endeavours.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-32
Author(s):  
Afolasade Airat Sulaiman ◽  
Stella Ihuoma Uhuegbu

This study examined the impact of cognitive restructuring and token economy techniques on the reduction of truancy among secondary school students in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study adopted a pre-test, post-test, control group design with a multistage sampling technique as the sampling method. Judgmental sampling technique was used to select two from the six Education Districts in Lagos State, simple random sampling technique was adopted to select six schools; three schools from each of the two Education Districts and 170 truants out of the 216 randomly selected based on the class attendance register completed the study. Truancy Behaviour Questionnaire (TBQ) with a reliability index of .87 was the instrument for the study. Data were analysed and presented with descriptive and ANOVA statistics at .05 level of significance. Findings showed that the two techniques were effective for the reduction of truancy but the token economy technique had a better effect. Sex had no significant effect on the reduction of truancy but females play truants more than males. Based on the findings, the token economy therapy was recommended as an ideal technique for counselling and guiding students against truancy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Waqar Ahmad ◽  
Zuraina Ali ◽  
Muhammad Aslam Sipra ◽  
Imtiaz Hassan Taj

Smartboards, which are now widely used in the teaching and learning process in Saudi Arabia, have turned the traditional environments of the classrooms, especially the EFL classrooms to be more interesting and encouraging. Literature reviews suggest that Saudi students usually lack motivation for studying English as a foreign language. This study tends to investigate the impact of Smartboards on preparatory year EFL learners motivation at a Saudi university. Two intact groups were selected, in which one was termed as experimental and the second as control group. The experimental group was taught using the Smartboard while the control group was taught with the traditional whiteboard, pen and book method. The treatment was given for seven weeks. A questionnaire was administered to both the groups at the beginning and the end of the study. The data was analysed using the SPSS and the results showed that there was significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of motivation.  


Author(s):  
Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al - Jagoub

The objective of this study was to develop an achievement test to measure the skills of literary tasting. It consists of (30) multiple choice types, which were applied to a sample of the stability test According to the KR 20 equation, the study used semi-experimental research methodology. The sample consisted of (120) male and female students of the 10th grade at Gulf Arab Secondary School for Boys and Al-Hira Secondary School for Girls in Sharjah. The people were chosen deliberately, (60) students, experimental subjects studied the material using active learning strategies, and the control group studied the same material in the normal way. After analyzing the data, the results of the study indicated that the students in the experimental group achieved a higher level of control group students Statistical analysis showed differences in the level of literary taste at the statistical significance level (α = 0.05); due to the active learning strategies, the total mathematical mean of the experimental group performance was on the post taste test (26.60) For the control group (20.90). The value of P (58.05), the value of the significance level (0.00), that is less than (0.05), which indicates that there are significant differences between the experimental group and the control group for the benefit of the experimental group, and the value of (P) Between the sex and the group was (1.00), which is not statistically significant value, where its significance (0.32), and does not indicate the existence of an effect of interaction between the teaching method and sex. The study concluded with recommendations calling on teachers to use active learning strategies in the teaching of literary knowledge. And focus on those strategies when writing Arabic language books for the secondary stage.


Author(s):  
Wafa Abed M Al-Harbi, Sanaa Saleh Askool

This study aims to identify the effectiveness of participation in a blog for extra-curricular activities for developing the critical thinking skills of third secondary students in Jeddah. The sample consisted of (100) students from several schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia randomly selected and divided into (50) experimental group, (50) control group. The study used the Semi-experimental method and conducted the Watson and Glaser test for critical thinking. The results of the study showed that there were statistically significant differences (0.05) among the experimental group (individual and cooperative) For the officer in the brother Bar dimensional test critical thinking skills for the benefit of the experimental group because of its effect for the use of a typical blog (single, cooperative).


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