scholarly journals Using Concept Cartoons to Identify the Epistemological Beliefs of Middle School Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-173
Author(s):  
Şengül Atasoy
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Epistemological Beliefs ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
School Students ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
8Th Grade ◽  
Effective Assessment ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
5Th Grade

Epistemological beliefs, including the source of knowledge, the certainty of knowledge, the organization of knowledge, the control of learning, and the speed of learning, are important to identify since these beliefs impact students' learning processes and how they attribute meaning to life. Concept cartoons, that students find genuine and credible, are found to be effective assessment tools in revealing these beliefs. The present study aims to identify and compare 5th and 8th grade middle school students' epistemological beliefs utilizing concept cartoons. The study participants were 5th (N=38) and 8th grade (N=47) students enrolled in three different middle schools in the Çamlıhemşin district of Rize. In order to reveal the students' opinions, one concept cartoon for each dimension of epistemological belief was utilized. A scoring rubric was employed to analyze the student responses to the concept cartoons. According to the results of the t-tests on students' scores, the 5th and 8th grade students' epistemological beliefs in the dimensions of organization of knowledge, source of knowledge, and certainty of knowledge are similar. In contrast, 8th grade students' epistemological beliefs related to the speed of learning and the control of learning were found to be significantly higher than those of 5th-grade students. Among the mean values of the students' epistemological beliefs, source of knowledge beliefs were found to be the lowest.Keywords Concept Cartoons, Epistemological Beliefs, Middle School Students

Step count for 7th and 8th grade students in structured and unstructured physical education classes

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-61
Author(s):  
Necip Demirci ◽  
Refika Yilmaz ◽  
Ayda Karaca
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
School Type ◽  
School Students ◽  
Step Counts ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
8Th Grade ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Type Data

The aim of the study was to analyze step counts of middle school students in structured and unstructured physical education classes (PE) according to age, gender, and school type. Data were collected on a sample of 74 students, 40 7th and 34 8th grade students recruited from private and public middle schools. Omron HJ-112 pedometers were used in this study to obtain step counts. There were statistically significant differences between boys and girls in the step counts in both structured and unstructured PE. A significant difference was observed between school types in step counts during structured PE in both genders, while no significant difference was found for unstructured PE. Significant difference was found between step counts of only boys of different grades in unstructured PE. Boys made more steps than girls both in structured and unstructured PE. In structured PE, 7th grade boys reached a higher number of steps than 8th grade boys.

scholarly journals Investigation of Middle School Students’ Math Self-Efficacy Perceptions and Math Problem Posing Attitudes

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Sena Görgün ◽  
Canses Tican
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Problem Posing ◽  
Attitude Score ◽  
School Students ◽  
Math Problem ◽  
8Th Grade ◽  
Eighth Grade Students

The main purpose of the current study is to investigate middle school students’ math self-efficacy perceptions and math problem posing attitudes. The sample of the study is comprised of 990 fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students attending middle school in the Fethiye district of the city of Muğla. As the data collection tool, the “Math Self-efficacy Perception Scale” and the “Math Problem Posing Attitude Scale” were used. In the analysis of the data collected through the qualitative research method, frequencies, percentages, independent-samples t-test, one-way variance analysis, post-hoc tests (Scheffe and Dunnett’s C) and correlation analysis were used. As a result, it was found that the middle school students’ math self-efficacy perceptions and math problem posing attitudes are over the medium level. The middle school students’ self-efficacy perceptions were found to be varying significantly depending on gender. The middle school students’ problem posing attitudes were found to be varying significantly depending on gender. The math self-efficacy perceptions and math problem posing attitudes of the 5th and 6th grade students were found to be significantly higher than those of the 7th and 8th grade students. A medium, positive and significant correlation was found between the middle school students’ mean math self-efficacy perception score and their mean math problem posing attitude score.

The Effects of a Goal Setting Intervention on Aerobic Fitness in Middle School Students

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 576-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha M. McDonald ◽  
Stewart G. Trost
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Aerobic Fitness ◽  
School Students ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
8Th Grade ◽  
Run Test

Purpose:This study evaluated the effects of a goal setting intervention on aerobic fitness (AF) in 6th to 8th grade students.Method:Students at the intervention school received a lesson on SMART goal setting. Students in the comparison school served as a measurement-only group. AF was assessed via the PACER multistage shuttle run test pre and post intervention. Between-group differences for change in AF were assessed using a RM ANCOVA.Results:A significant group by time interaction was observed for PACER performance, F(1,263) = 39.9, p < .0001. Intervention students increased PACER performance from 40.6 to 45.9 laps, while comparison students exhibited a decline from 30.2 to 23.4 laps. Intervention students were 10 times as likely as those in the comparison school to maintain Healthy Fitness Zone status or progress from Needs Improvement Zone to Healthy Fitness Zone.Discussion:Educating middle school students about SMART goal setting may be an effective strategy for improving aerobic fitness.

The Attitudes of Middle School Students Towards the Environment

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 1061-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hande Şahin ◽  
Sibel Erkal
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Education Level ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
School Class ◽  
Income Status ◽  
8Th Grade ◽  
Single Factor Analysis

We examined the environmental attitudes of middle school students in this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was administered to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students at 5 middle schools in Ankara, Turkey. Average in analyses, standard deviation, t test, single-factor analysis, and Tukey's tests were used to analyze data. The results showed that attitudes of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students towards the environment were generally positive and statistically significantly related to school, class, education level of father, education level of mother, and monthly income status.

scholarly journals Ortaokul Öğrencilerinin Epistemolojik İnançlarının Keşfedilmesinde Öğrenci Merkezli Bir Yaklaşım: Çiz-Yaz-Anlat Tekniği / A Student-Centered Approach to Explore Middle School Students’ Epistemological Beliefs: Draw-Write-Tell Technique

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Servet Üztemur ◽  
Erkan Dinç
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Epistemological Beliefs ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Word Knowledge ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
School Students ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Research Students

<p><strong>Abstract </strong></p><p>The purpose of this research is to explore the epistemological beliefs of middle school students by means of draw-write-tell technique which is formed from three phases. Designed as a qualitative phenomenological research, this study employs 96 students (51 female, 45 male) selected by convenience sampling technique. The participants were attending various grade levels of a state secondary school in Yunusemre district of Manisa province in 2017-2018 academic year. In the first stage of the research, students were asked to pencil draw five things reminding or representing them the word “knowledge”. In the second stage, each student was asked to select one drawing amongst five, which best meets the concept of “knowledge” according to her/his personal opinion and which is identified with “knowledge” the most and write down why she/he chose this one. In the third stage, a total of 12 different focus group interviews were conducted with 53 volunteering students amongst the ones having participated in the earlier research stages. The data obtained from the first stage was thematically analyzed, while the remaining data was analyzed phenomenologically. Research findings show that most of the students see the authorities and the objects out there as sources of knowledge. In the processes of knowledge acquisition, they also perceive themselves as passive recipients of any given knowledge. It is observed that it is possible to measure the epistemological beliefs of the students for the source of knowledge through the drawings and the accuracy and justification of knowledge through the written materials and focus group interviews. Research results show that draw-write-tell technique is a new approach useful and practical in measuring the epistemological beliefs of middle school students.</p><p><strong>Öz</strong></p><p>Bu araştırmanın amacı ortaokul öğrencilerinin epistemolojik inançlarını üç aşamadan oluşan çiz-yaz-anlat tekniğiyle keşfetmektir. Nitel araştırma temelinde fenomenoloji modeline göre desenlenen araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 2017-2018 öğretim yılında Manisa ili Yunusemre ilçesindeki bir devlet ortaokulunun kolay ulaşılabilir durum örneklemesi yöntemiyle her sınıf seviyesinden seçilmiş 96 öğrenci (51 kız, 45 erkek) oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın birinci aşamasında öğrencilere bilgi deyince akıllarına gelen beş farklı çizim (karakalem) yapmaları istenmiştir. İkinci aşamada öğrencilere bu beş çizim içerisinden kişisel görüşlerine göre bilgi kavramını en çok karşılayan ve bilgi ile en çok özdeşleşen bir tanesini seçip bu çizimi niçin seçtiklerini yazmaları istenmiştir. Üçüncü aşamada katılımcılar içerisinden gönüllülük esasına göre belirlenen 53 öğrenciyle toplam 12 odak grup görüşmesi yapılarak öğrencilerin yazdıkları metinleri daha ayrıntılı bir şekilde ifade etmeleri sağlanmıştır. Birinci aşamadan elde edilen veriler içerik olarak; ikinci ve üçüncü aşamada elde edilen veriler ise fenomenolojik olarak analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma bulguları; öğrencilerin büyük bir kısmının uzmanlar ve dış dünyadaki nesneleri bilginin kaynağı olarak gördüklerini ve bilgi edinme sürecinde kendilerini birer pasif bilgi alıcısı olarak algıladıklarını göstermiştir. Çizimler aracılığıyla öğrencilerin bilginin kaynağına yönelik; yazılı metinler ve odak grup görüşmeleriyle de bilginin kesinliği ve doğrulanması boyutuna yönelik epistemolojik inançlarının tespit edilebildiği görülmüştür. Araştırma sonuçları; yeni bir yaklaşım olan çiz-yaz-anlat tekniğinin ortaokul öğrencilerinin epistemolojik inançlarının ölçülmesinde faydalı ve kullanışlı olduğunu göstermiştir.</p>

scholarly journals Middle School Students’ Perceptions of Scientists and Views About to Become a Scientist

2021 ◽  
pp. 410-428
Author(s):  
Aslı Bahar Ivgin ◽  
Hakan Akcay ◽  
Hasan Ozgur Kapici
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Albert Einstein ◽  
School Science ◽  
School Students ◽  
Science Textbooks ◽  
Isaac Newton ◽  
Interest In Science ◽  
Images Of Scientists ◽  
8Th Grade

It is important to explore children’s perceptions related to scientists for preventing their lack of interest in science and avoidance of science careers. This study aims to reveal middle school students' images of scientists, with an analysis of how those images may be influenced by middle school science textbooks currently use in Turkey. It was also examined students’ opinions related to becoming a scientist. The study is based on a qualitative research methodology. The sample consists of 98 students from a middle school (5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade). The data was gathered by four science textbooks, the Draw a Scientist Test (DAST) and an open-ended questionnaire. The findings showed that most of the middle school students think that scientists as men, happy, wearing a lab coat and glasses, working individually in indoor places. Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were drawn as the most famous scientists. The images of scientists in the science textbooks were mostly men. On the other side, more than half of the students were not sure or not eager to be scientists for their future careers because of negative thoughts on scientific studies and not matching their own characters and the characters that scientists should have.

scholarly journals Reading Preferences of Middle School Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gülnur Aydın ◽  
Bilge Bağcı Ayrancı
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
School Students ◽  
Class Level ◽  
8Th Grade ◽  
Unknown Words ◽  
Teachers And Parents

Four fundamental language skills interact with each other. Developing reading skills will also develop listening,speaking, and writing skills. Reading comprehension, using what is understood on new subjects and learning newwords during reading can influence listening comprehension as well as oral and written self-expression. Generalcomplaints of teachers and parents regarding middle school students are that the students do not read enough.Increasing love for reading in middle school students can only be possible by determining the interests and needs ofthose students and guiding the students towards those needs and interests. When the literature was reviewed, therewere no functional researches regarding the reading preferences of middle school students. In this regard, this studywas necessary to contribute to the literature.The purpose of this study was to determine the reading preferences of middle school students. The pattern of thisresearch was created based on qualitative case study and under the scope of this study, 25 participants were selectedfor each class level including 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Data was collected with the semi-structuredinterview technique. Data was themed by two experts using content analysis. Similar answers were converted intonumerical data and presented in the form of tables. Examples from student statements were given to support thetables. The results of the research indicated that a majority of students preferred reading on printed resources,selected novels as genre, read texts with 300 or more pages, and preferred adventure as subject. Additionally,students expressed that unknown words in reading texts should be low, they voluntarily spend 1-2 hours per dayreading, and preferred silent reading.

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