A Study on Identifying the Misconceptions of Pre-service and In-service Teachers about Basic Astronomy Concepts

Uygar Kanli

doi:10.12973/eurasia.2014.1120a

Full Text (PDF)

Uygar Kanli ¹ ^*

More Detail

¹ Gazi University, TURKEY
^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Nowadays, the importance given to astronomy teaching in science and physics education has been gradually increasing. At the same time, teachers play an important role in remediating the misconceptions about astronomy concepts held by students. The present study aims to determine the misconceptions of pre-service physics teachers (n=117), pre-service science teachers (n=97) and in-service physics teachers (n=174) about astronomy concepts using a three-tier test. The Astronomy Concept and Achievement Test (ACAT), developed by Trumper (2001a, 2001b, 2006), was adapted as a three-tier instrument and used as the data collection instrument. The first tier, first and second tier and all three tier responses that were obtained from the ACAT were analyzed separately to identify misconceptions and to evaluate the respondents‟ achievement. The results showed that the achievement scores of pre-service and in-service teachers considerably decreased when the third tier was considered. In addition, when the misconceptions of pre-service and in-service teachers were determined using all three tiers, they held extensive misconceptions especially about the reasons for seasons, the Moon‟s phases, the Moon‟s phase in the solar eclipse and the Sun‟s position in the sky.

Keywords

astronomy concepts
misconceptions
three-tier test
pre- and in-service teachers

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1120a

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, 2014 - Volume 10 Issue 5, pp. 471-479

Publication date: 15 Dec 2014

Article Views: 2018

Article Downloads: 1048

Open Access References How to cite this article

References

Abell, S., Martini, M. & George, M. (2001). That‟s what scientists have to do: pre-service elementary teachers‟ conceptions of the nature of science during a Moon ınvestigation. International Journal of Science Education, 23(11), 1095-1109. doi: 10.1080/09500690010025049
Arslan, H. Ö., Çiğdemoğlu, C., & Moseley, C. (2012). A three tier diagnostic test to assess pre-service teachers‟ misconceptions about global warming, greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion, and acid rain. International Journal of Science Education, 34(11), 1667-1686. doi: 10.1080/09500693.2012.680618
Atwood, V. A. & Atwood, R. K. (1995). Pre-service elementary teachers‟ conceptions of what causes night and day. School Science and Mathematics, 95, 290.
Atwood, R. K. & Atwood, V. A. (1996). Pre-service elementary teachers‟ conceptions of the causes of seasons. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 33(5), 553- 563.
Atwood, R. K. & Atwood, V. A. (1997). Effects of instruction on pre-service elementary teachers‟ conceptions of the causes of night and day and the seasons. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 8(1), 1-13.
Bailey, M. J. & Slater, T. F. (2004). A Review of Astronomy Education Research. The Astronomy Education Review, 2(2), 20-45.
Barnett, M. & Morran, J. (2002). Addressing children‟s alternative frameworks of the Moon‟s phases and eclipses. International Journal of Science Education, 24(8), 859-879. doi: 10.1080/09500690110095276
Baxter, J. (1989). Children‟s understanding of familiar astronomical events. International Journal of Science Education, 11(5), 502-513. doi:10.1080/0950069890110503
Brunsell, E. & Marcks, J. (2005). Identifying a baseline for teachers‟ astronomy content knowledge. Astronomy Education Review, 2(3), 38-46.
Çataloğlu, E. (2002). Development and validation of an achievement test in introductory quantum mechanics: The quantum mechanics visualization instrument. Unpublished PhD Thesis, The Pennsylvania State University.
Champagne, A. B., Klopfer, L. E. & Anderson, J. H. (1980). Factors influencing the learning of classical mechanics. American Journal of Physics, 48(12), 1074-1079. doi: 10.1119/1.12290
Chandrasegaran, A., Treagust, D. & Mocerino, M. (2007). The development of a two-tier multiple-choice diagnostic instrument for evaluating secondary school students‟ ability to describe and explain chemical reactions using multiple levels of representation. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 2007, 8(3), 293-307.
Eryilmaz, A. (2002). Effects of conceptual assignments and conceptual change discussions on students' misconceptions and achievement regarding force and motion. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 39(10), 1001-1015. doi: 10.1002/tea.10054
Eryilmaz, A. (2010). Development and application of threetier heat and temperature test: Sample of bachelor and graduate students. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 40, 53-76.
Fraenkel, J. R. & Wallen, N. E. (2008). How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill
Frede, V. (2006). Pre-service elementary teacher‟s conceptions about astronomy. Advances in Space Research, 38, 2237– 2246. doi:10.1016/j.asr.2006.02.017
Griffard, P. B. & Wandersee, J. H. (2001). The two-tier instrument on photosynthesis: what does it diagnose? International Journal of Science Education, 23(10), 1039-1052.
Hannust, T. & Kikas, E. (2007). Children‟s knowledge of astronomy and its change in the course of learning. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 22, 89-104. doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2006.11.001
Halloun, I. A. & Hestenes, D. (1985). The initial knowledge state of college physics students. American Journal of Physics, 53(11), 1043-1048. doi: 10.1119/1.14030
Hasan, S., Bagayokoz, D. & Kelleyz, E. L. (1999). Misconceptions and the Certainty of Response Index (CRI). Physics Education, 34(5), 294-299.
Haslam, F. & Treagust D. F. (1987). Diagnosing secondary students‟ misconceptions of photosynthesis and respiration in plants using a two-tier multiple choice instrument. Journal of Biological Education, 21, 203–211.
Kaltakçı, D. & Eryilmaz, A. (2010). Identifying Pre-service Physics Teachers‟ Misconceptions With Three-Tier Test. GIREP-ICPE-MPTL Conference 2010 in Reims, France.
Kutluay, Y. (2005). Diagnosis of eleventh grade students’ misconceptions about geometric optic by a three-tier test. Unpublished Master‟s thesis, Middle East Technical University, Ankara.
Küçüközer, H. (2007). Prospective science teachers‟ conceptions about astronomical subjects. Science Education International, 18(2), 113-130.
McDermott, L. C. (1991). Millikan Lecture 1990: What we teach and what is learned-Closing the gap. American Journal of Physics. 59(4), 301-315.
Peşman, H. & Eryilmaz, A. (2010). Development of a threetier test to assess misconceptions about simple electric circuits. The Journal of Educational Research, 103, 208-222. doi: 10.1080/00220670903383002
Sadler, P. M. (1992). The initial knowledge state of high school astronomy students. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
Stover, S. & Saunders, G. (2000). Astronomical misconceptions and the effectiveness of science museums in promoting conceptual change. Journal of Elementary Science Education, 12(1), 41-52.
Summers, M. & Mant, J. (1995) A survey of British primary school teachers‟ understanding of the Earth‟s place in the universe. Educational Research, 37(1), 3-19.
Treagust, D. F. (1986). Evaluating students' misconceptions by means of diagnostic multiple choice items. Research in Science education, 16, 199-207.
Treagust, D. F. (2006). Diagnostic assessment in science as a means to improving teaching, learning and retention. UniServe Science –Symposium Proceedings: Assessment in science teaching and learning, Uniserve Science, Sydney, Australia, 1-9
Trumper, R. (2000). University students‟ conceptions of basic astronomy concepts. Physics Education, 35(1), 9-15.
Trumper, R. (2001a). A cross-age study of junior high school students‟ conceptions of basic astronomy concepts. International Journal of Science Education, 23(11), 1111-1123, 2001a. doi: 10.1080/0950069001002508 5
Trumper, R. (2001b). Across-age study of senior high school students‟ conceptions of basic astronomy concepts. Research in Science and Technological Education, 19(1), 97- 109. doi: 10.1080/0263514012004625 9
Trumper, R. (2001c). A cross-college age study of science and nonscience students‟ conceptions of basic astronomy concepts in pre-service training for high-school teachers. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 10(2), 189-195.
Trumper, R. (2003). The need for change ın elementary school teacher training-a cross-college age study of future teachers‟ conceptions of basic astronomy concepts. Teaching and Teacher Education, 19, 309-323. doi:10.1016/S0742-051X(03)00017-9
Trumper, R. (2006). Teaching future teachers basic astronomy concepts–seasonal changes–at a time of reform in science education. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 43 (9), 879-906. doi: 10.1002/tea.20138
Trundle, K. C., Atwood, R. K. & Christopher, J. E. (2002). Pre-service elementary teachers‟ conceptions of Moon phases before and after instruction. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 39(7), 633. doi: 10.1002/tea.10039
Trundle, K. C., Atwood, R. K. & Christopher, J. E. (2006). Pre-service elementary teachers' knowledge of observable Moon phases and pattern of change in phases. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 17(2), 87-101. doi: 10.1007/s10972-006-9006-7
Trundle, K. C., Atwood, R. K. & Christopher, J. E. (2007). Fourth grade elementary students' conceptions of standards-based lunar concepts. International Journal of Science Education, 29(5), 595-616. doi: 10.1080/09500690600779932
Tsai, C. C. & Chou, C. (2002). Diagnosing students‟ alternative conceptions in science. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 18(2), 157-165.
Vosniadou, S. & Brewer, W. F. (1992). Mental models of the Earth: a study of conceptual change in childhood. Cognitive Psychology, 24(4), 535-585.
Vosniadou, S., Skopeliti, I. & Ikospentaki K. (2004). Modes of knowing and ways of reasoning in elementary astronomy. Cognitive Development, 19, 203-222. doi:10.1016/j.cogdev.2003.12.002
Wallace, C. S. (2011). An investigation into introductory astronomy students’ difficulties with cosmology, and the development, validation, and efficacy of a new suite of cosmology lecture tutorial. Unpublished doctoral thesis. Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Colorado, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences.
Zeilik, M., Schau, C., Mattern, N., Hall, S., Teague, K. W., & Bisard, W. J. (1997). Conceptual astronomy: A novel model for teaching post-secondary science courses. American Journal of Physics, 65(10), 987-996. doi: 10.1119/1.18702
Zeilik, M., Schau, C. & Mattern, N. (1998). Misconceptions and their change in university-level astronomy courses. The Physics Teacher, 36(2), 104-107. doi: 10.1119/1.880056

How to cite this article

APA

Kanli, U. (2014). A Study on Identifying the Misconceptions of Pre-service and In-service Teachers about Basic Astronomy Concepts. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 10(5), 471-479. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1120a

Vancouver

Kanli U. A Study on Identifying the Misconceptions of Pre-service and In-service Teachers about Basic Astronomy Concepts. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2014;10(5):471-9. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1120a

AMA

Kanli U. A Study on Identifying the Misconceptions of Pre-service and In-service Teachers about Basic Astronomy Concepts. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2014;10(5), 471-479. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1120a

Chicago

Kanli, Uygar. "A Study on Identifying the Misconceptions of Pre-service and In-service Teachers about Basic Astronomy Concepts". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2014 10 no. 5 (2014): 471-479. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1120a

Harvard

Kanli, U. (2014). A Study on Identifying the Misconceptions of Pre-service and In-service Teachers about Basic Astronomy Concepts. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 10(5), pp. 471-479. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1120a

MLA

Kanli, Uygar "A Study on Identifying the Misconceptions of Pre-service and In-service Teachers about Basic Astronomy Concepts". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 10, no. 5, 2014, pp. 471-479. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1120a