Journal of Baltic Science Education

395

Authors: Editorial Board

Contents, Vol. 12, No. 4, JBSE, 2013

399-423

Authors: Hakan Kurt

The aim of the current study is to investigate biology teacher candidates' cognitive structures related to "energy". As the research design of the study, the case study was applied. The data were collected from 44 Biology teacher candidates. The free word-association test, the drawing-writing technique and the semantic differential attitude scale were used as data collection instruments. The data were subject to content analysis and divided into categories through coding. In the analysis, the categories were formed and determined through the results of word-association test and drawing-writing test which were completed by the biology teacher candidates. With the help of these categories, the cognitive structures of biology teacher candidates were explained. These categories were determined as biological energy-metabolism, energy resources in the nature- types of energy- renewable energy and energy for life continuity. The semantic attitudes of Biology teacher candidates toward energy were found to be positive. On the other hand, it was determined that biology teacher candidates had misconceptions related to energy.

440-451

Authors: Ya-Ling Wu, Cheng-Wu Chen

Micropolitical learning constitutes an essential part of the professional development of prospective science teachers. Drawing on interviews, this study applied categories of professional interests as a framework for investigating Taiwanese secondary science intern teachers’ experiences of the micropolitical realities in schools and the meanings that the science interns construct for micropolitical experiences. The professional interests consist of material, organizational, social-professional, cultural-ideological, and self-interests (Kelchtermans & Ballet, 2002a). This study identified the career development interests of science interns beyond the five pre-defined subcategories. To cope with their vulnerability due to the lack of positional authority and role ambiguity in the practicum sites, the pursuit of social-professional interests was the most important. Proactively fitting into the prearranged school environments was the most prevalent micropolitical strategy for the interns because of their lack of professional autonomy and their supervisors’ expectations. However, the efforts of a small number of science interns in challenging the school practices were noteworthy.

465-481

Authors: Imbi Henno, Priit Reiska

This study analysed how to explain the statistically significant differences between the science mean scores and attitudes of students in different language instruction schools. Estonian schools were grouped according to their socioeconomic intake relative to the national average into three categories: advantaged, disadvantaged and mixed schools. The analysis of the socioeconomic composition of different language instruction schools showed that the Estonian and Russian language instruction schools are mostly mixed schools. The results did not support the assertion that weaker performance is connected with disadvantaged background of students or schools either. Although students in Russian language instruction schools reported higher levels of motivation, more innovative classroom activities and they were more informed about science-related careers, the students in Estonian language instruction schools outperformed the Russian-speaking students in science. The results support an opinion that the students’ performance and engagement differences are rather connected with classroom level instructional approaches and learning culture.

497-508

Authors: Isa Deveci, Ismail Önder, Salih Çepni

The aim of this study was to explore parents’ opinions about homework assignments given in science and technology courses. The sample of the study was composed of 764 parents who reside in the city of Osmaniye in Turkey. The data were collected by a “Parent Homework Scale” developed by the researcher. The instrument includes three subscales; function, attitude and behavior. U-Test and H-Test were employed to identify any difference among variables. The findings showed that there was no significant difference in parents’ scores on attitude and behavior subscales of the instrument regarding gender, educational background, occupation, and average monthly income. When function subscales scores were investigated according to gender educational background, occupation, average monthly income, it was observed that civil servants in occupational category had lower function scores than self-employed, farmer, worker, artisan, and retired. It was found that university graduates in level of education category had lower function scores than primary school graduates, secondary school graduates, and high school graduates. It was also found that high income in the monthly income group had lower function scores than other members in each related group.

525-534

Authors: Sibel Kaya, Zeynel Kablan

The use of self-regulated learning strategies tend to have an impact on student learning and achievement; however, the nature of this relationship for primary science achievement needs further investigation. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between learning strategies used by primary students and their science achievement. The use of learning strategies was measured by the 50-item modified version of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) and the science achievement was measured by a test compiled from the released TIMSS items. Bivariate correlation analysis results showed that among the nine learning strategies that were investigated, seven of them were significantly associated with the science achievement. There were no correlations between peer learning and help seeking and achievement. Multiple regression analysis results showed that among the seven strategies, effort regulation, metacognitive self-regulation and critical thinking significantly contributed to the science achievement. Results and implications for instruction were discussed.