Development and Application of a Three-Tier Diagnostic Test to Assess Pre-service Science Teachers’ Understanding on Work-Power and Energy Concepts

This research aimed at evaluating pre-service science teachers’ understanding of the subject matters such as “thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acids and bases and electrochemistry”. For this purpose, a two-tier diagnostic test consisting of 44 items (α = 0.84) related to the aforementioned concepts was developed by the researchers. This test was applied on to the first, second, and third year pre-service science teachers in Hasan Ali Yucel Education Faculty, Istanbul University. The results showed that the pre-service science teachers had alternative conceptions about endothermic-exothermic reactions, conservation of energy, reaction enthalpy, calorimeters; rate of reaction, reaction rate constant, effects of some factors on reaction rate and reaction rate constant; effects of some factors on equilibrium, equilibrium dynamics, Le Chatelier Principle; equivalence point, end point, indicators, buffers, titrations, neutralization, strength and properties of acids and bases, pH; effects of concentrations on cell potential, metal electrodes, localization of anode and cathode, plating, galvanization. Key words: acids and bases, alternative conception, chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetic, electrochemistry, thermochemistry, two tier diagnostic test.

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HELPING PRE-SERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS TO UNDERSTAND ATOMISM THROUGH OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

Journal of Baltic Science Education ◽

10.33225/jbse/15.14.64 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 64-84

Author(s):

Ayse Oguz Unver ◽

Sertac Arabacioglu

Keyword(s):

Diagnostic Test ◽

Science Teachers ◽

Teaching Methods ◽

Historical Development ◽

Development Process ◽

Multiple Choice ◽

Service Science ◽

Alternative Conceptions ◽

De Rerum Natura ◽

Teaching Modules

Current atom concept teachings haven’t reached required levels from the points of both teaching methods and learning attainments. With this purpose in this research atom concept is conveyed to the classroom milieu through observations and experiments related to the atom concept during historical development process starting with the masterpiece of, the carrier of the atom thoughts of Antiquity to our age, Roman philosopher Lucretius, namely De Rerum Natura. The study has conducted thoughts regarding the atom in ancient and subsequent history under six headings teaching modules that would span over 11 weeks. The participants in the study were 73 pre-service science teachers. The two-tier multiple-choice diagnostic test was developed. In the analysis of the results of the test, after test hypotheses were proved, the single-factor ANOVA was employed for related samples, while frequency analysis was used for the content of the views of the participants and percentages were calculated to observe the change in alternative conceptions. Key words: concept of the atom in antiquity, experiments and observations, Titus Lucretius Carus, Two-tier Multiple-Choice Diagnostic test.

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