مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - An Analysis of Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Microscope Usage Knowledge

Abstract :

The microscope that is an important material used in scientific studies is also seen as a tool for learning in science in schools from the first years. Having the ability to use a microscope is required in order to be able to act independently of the students from the teacher and to lead their own researches by using psychomotor skills. However, having the ability to use a microscope of the teachers that will provide students with this skill is also thought to be important. From this point of view, the problem statement of the study has determined as How is the Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Microscope Usage Knowledge and does the information vary according to grade level? As the scope of the study consists of pre-service science teachers at universities in Istanbul, and the sample of the study consists of a total of 273 pre-service science teachers studying in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade of the Department of Education Science at the university selected from the same province in the 2010-2011 academic year. The study is a screening model revealing the pre-service science teachers’ microscope usage knowledge. “Microscope usage knowledge scale” developed by researchers and consisting of the subscales such as examination of the image, technical information and terms, sectioning and the sectors in which these are used was applied to the sample group. The scale comprises of 23 questions that can be answered as yes , no and i don t know and of 2 open-ended questions that the descriptions take place in. The data obtained from the scale were evaluated quantitatively using SPSS and the data obtained from the open-ended questions were evaluated qualitatively by content analysis in the research. Compared to the total scores obtained from the microscope usage knowledge measuring instrument, it was founded that there were the significant differences in each grade level from the 1st class to the 4th class and it was identified that this difference is in favor of the teachers in the upper class generally.