Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.32633/eb.4.3
Understanding balance and interdependence of concepts among students 13 years of age
Lea Zidar
orcid.org/0000-0002-2225-0487
; XV. gymnasium, Jordanovac 8, 10000 Zagreb
Valerija Begić
; Elementary school Sesvetski Kraljevec, Školska 10, 10 000 Zagreb
Marijana Bastić
; Elementary school Rudeš, Jablanska 51, 10 000 Zagreb
Ines Radanović
; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Roosevelt square 6, 10 000 Zagreb
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to determine the understanding macro concept of balance and interdependence in the living world based on answers which were given by seventh grade students participating the county biology competition of 2018. The students’ answers were analysed in the purpose of assessing students’ ability to solve tasks of higher cognitive levels which include a macro concept and tasks which are bound by several macro concepts. The students’ answer analysis included specific answer coding and an interpretation of biological meaning of the students’ answers. During the analysis of students’ answers, problems and misconceptions concerning the concept of interdependence of the living world and the environment were found. A statistically significant difference has been found among misconceptions and problems concerning the process of breathing and ways and requirements of malaria transmission. Featured problems and misconceptions will provide a clear image in understanding the macro concept and it will enable the biology teachers to better plan their lectures. The misunderstandings found during the analysis point to the necessity to modernize the teaching of biology, and to the greater need to use application of knowledge and less reproduction, with an emphasis on experiential learning and the more independent student activities during the biology teaching.
Keywords
biology competition; interdependence; balance; elementary school; misconceptions
Hrčak ID:
216471
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2018.
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