مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - INVESTIGATING IN BIOLOGY SYLLABUS TOPICS ATPHOTOSYNTHESIS EXPERIMENTS OF THE EFFECTSTUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND THEIR DIVERSIFICATION

Abstract :

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of teaching photosynthesis by using various student laboratoryexperiments on learners’ achievement and developing positive attitudes towards environmental awareness in Biology.This experimental study was carried out with 11th grade students in Ankara-Etimesgut Eryaman high school on firstsemester of 2004-2005 academic years. Total of 116 students from 4 classes participated in this study. All classes wereoffered by the same teacher.While control group was taught by using mainly traditional teaching methods, experimental group was supported byvarious additional laboratory activities. Total of three questionnaires were used to collect data: (1) reasoning skillsquestionnaire, as a pretest, (2) pre- and post-test on Photosynthesis achievement test, (3) pre- and post-test questionnaireon attitudes towards biology and environment.Independent sample t-test, dependent sample t-test, and one sample t-test analyses were run for hypotheses tests. SPSS(Statistical Packet for the Social Science) 11,5 software package was used for data analysis. Statistical results were asfollows:1. Students in experimental group demonstrated better understanding of photosynthesis than students in control group2. According to findings we can say that using various student laboratory experiments in teaching photosynthesis ismore effective than just using traditional teaching methods3. As a result of spending more time in laboratory students in experimental group were more interested in class. Theytried to gather more information by asking questions.