Journal of Baltic Science Education

111

Authors: Editorial Board

Contents, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2012, JBSE

115-126

Authors: Hakan Y. Atar, Burcu Atar

Two-level hierarchical linear modelling was used to analyse data obtained from TIMSS 1999 database to examine the effect of inquiry-based learning on science achievement of eighth-grade students in Turkey. The influence of teachers’ emphasis on scientific reasoning and problem solving and availability of school resources for science instruction on inquiry-based learning and science achievement slopes were also examined. At the student-level, overall plausible values were used as the outcome variable whereas gender, availability of home educational resources, attitude toward science, and inquiry-based learning were predictor variables. At the school level, there were two predictor variables: teachers’ emphasis on scientific reasoning and problem solving and availability of school resources for science instruction. While statistically significant and negative relationship was found between inquiry-based learning and within-school science achievement, there were nonsignificant effects of school-level predictors on inquiry-based learning and science achievement slopes.

141-152

Authors: Naki Erdemir, Mustafa Sami Topcu

In this study, the effects of presentation graphics on Preservice Science Teachers’ (PST) attitudes towards physics were investigated. The research was performed on two groups. While one group was an experimental group, another was a control group. The research was conducted in the context of an undergraduate-level physics course, and this course was taught to two groups. While the experimental group consisted of forty PST and was taught with presentation graphics as well as traditional lecturing method, the control group consisted of forty PST and was only taught with traditional lecturing method. The data were collected by means of a scale of attitudes towards physics. In light of the findings of the present research, it was concluded that the attitudes of the experimental group towards physics were much more improved positively than the control groups’ attitude toward physics after the treatment involving presentation graphics.

164-174

Authors: Miro Puhek, Matej Perše, Andrej Šorgo

The research presents a case study in the scope of which real and virtual field trips have been compared. The emphasis was on determining the levels of knowledge gain effectiveness in the fields of biology and ecology. A pre-existing natural trail in the protected area of Maribor Island was chosen and digitized for the purposes of the study. During the development of the virtual trail, real fieldwork was simulated in order to ensure a valid comparison. In the spring of 2011, field exercise tests were conducted by means of a study sample consisting of 211 (8th grade) lower secondary school students. The results have generally shown minute differences between the levels of knowledge acquisition effectiveness between both field trips. The results have also led to the conclusion that the students participating in the real field trip were more successful in their performance regarding the exercises they had been assigned, which included real objects serving as tools supporting the students in their observation and investigation endeavours. On the other hand, the students participating in the virtual field trip were more successful with regard to computer-assisted exercises, where they were able to access additional information on more complex processes.

184-193

Authors: Adriana Tafrova-Grigorova, Elena Boiadjieva, Iliya Emilov, Milena Kirova

The present study addresses the pedagogical philosophy of secondary science teachers in Bulgarian schools. Information on science teachers’ methods of teaching and learning has been gathered by an interview protocol consisting of six open-ended questions, with a numerical scoring analysis: Teachers Pedagogical Philosophy Interview. The results report that the majority of Bulgarian teachers surveyed rank in the middle of the scale which is an indication that they blend teacher-centred and student-centred style of instruction. A previous our research based on a different survey instrument led to similar conclusions. In addition, the survey reveals that teachers show attitudes to change their teaching methods and classroom practices towards the constructivist approach.