BULGARIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION POLICY

32-47

Authors: A.O. Akinbobola, F. Afolabi

This study analyzes the science process skills in West African senior secondary school certificate physics practical examinations in Nigeria for a period of 10 years (1998-2007). Ex-post facto design was adopted for the study. The 5 prominent science process skills identified out of the 15 used in the study are: manipulating (17%), calculating (14%), recording (14%), observing (12%) and communicating (11%). The results also show high percentage rate of basic (lower order) science process skills (63%) as compared to the integrated (higher order) science process skills (37%). The results also indicate that the number of basic process skills is significantly higher than the integrated process skills in the West African senior secondary school certificate physics practical examinations in Nigeria. It is recommended that the examination bodies in Nigeria should include more integrated science process skills into the senior secondary school physics practical examinations so as to enable the students to be prone to creativity, problem solving, reflective thinking, originality and invention which are vital ingredients for science and technological development of any nation.

62-98

Authors: Z. Kostova, B. Radoynovska

The paper presents the effect of a free word association test, content analysis and concept mapping on students' achievements in human biology. The free word association test was used for revealing the scientific conceptual structures of 8th grade and 12th grade students, around a stimulus word "human being" and for motivating them to study human biology. The stimulus word retrieved a cluster of associations most of which were based on science education and experience. Associations with the stimulus word were analyzed and classified according to predetermined criteria and structured by means of a concept map. The stimulus word "human being" was quantitatively assessed in order to find out the balance between the associations with its different aspects. On the basis of the results some connections between biology and other sciences studying the human being, were worked out. Each new topic in human biology was studied by using content analysis of the textbook and concept mapping as study tools and thus maintaining students' motivation. Achievements of students were assessed by means of tests, observation and concept maps evaluation. The obtained data was also valuable in clarifying the complex nature of the human being, and confirming the statement that biology cannot answer all questions, concerning human nature. Inferences were made about the word association test combined with content analysis and concept map construction as an educational strategy.

119-130

Authors: B.V. Toshev

Nanoscience is among the fastest growing academic fields. Pupils in secondary school do not get an idea of it. Certainly it is correct because secondary schools are taught by established and reliable facts and theories through which students will form their ideas about the world where they live. However, new developments in science engage students' attention and may stimulate interest in science. That's why such topics may be discussed when training students by projects and/or in extracurricular school forms. Development of nanotechnology raises many philosophical questions, ethical and social issues for which teachers should have some idea. The article provides a selective bibliography on these issues - listed literature could facilitate teachers in shaping their opinion about these complex questions of the modern science.