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Erschienen in: Journal of Science Teacher Education 5/2014

01.08.2014 | Elementary Science Teacher Education

Promoting the Understanding of Photosynthesis Among Elementary School Student Teachers Through Text Design

verfasst von: Ilona Södervik, Mirjamaija Mikkilä-Erdmann, Henna Vilppu

Erschienen in: Journal of Science Teacher Education | Ausgabe 5/2014

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate elementary school pre-service teachers’ understanding of photosynthesis and to examine if a refutational text can support understanding of photosynthesis better than a non-refutational text. A total of 91 elementary school pre-service teachers read either a refutational or a non-refutational text concerning photosynthesis and then answered open-ended questions. Our results indicate that there are critical problems associated with student teachers learning about the process of photosynthesis, even after it has been systematically taught in teacher education. However, the results positively indicate that refutational science texts seem to foster effective conceptual change among student teachers. The results interestingly showed that students who read a refutational text improved their systemic and factual understanding of photosynthesis more than did those who read a non-refutational text. Especially students who had naïve prior understanding regarding photosynthesis benefitted more from a refutational text. Thus, a refutational text may act as an effective facilitator of conceptual change. These results have implications for teacher education, where conceptual mastery of the most important science phenomena, such as photosynthesis, should be achieved. A refutational text is an easy and effective way to support conceptual change in higher education. Thus, this study highlights the importance of domain-specific science education in teacher programmes.

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Fußnoten
1
The researchers were present at the data-collection sessions. However, they were not involved in the instructions given in the course.
 
2
The analysis tool was constructed by the first author, a biologist.
 
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Metadaten
Titel
Promoting the Understanding of Photosynthesis Among Elementary School Student Teachers Through Text Design
verfasst von
Ilona Södervik
Mirjamaija Mikkilä-Erdmann
Henna Vilppu
Publikationsdatum
01.08.2014
Verlag
Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in
Journal of Science Teacher Education / Ausgabe 5/2014
Print ISSN: 1046-560X
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-1847
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-013-9373-9

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