HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE STUDENTS’ IDEAS ABOUT MICROORGANISMS AND THEIR PLACE IN THE CURRICULUM

Abstract

This study aims to determine high school students’ knowledge and thoughts about microorganisms and to identify the extent to which microorganisms are covered in the high school biology curricula in Turkey. The study sample consisted of 160 secondary students at a science high school in Kars, Turkey. The researcher used the descriptive survey model, applied the Microorganisms Knowledge Test (MKT) to the sample group and did a review of their biology curriculum. It was found that the students are knowledgeable about microorganisms, and that they have generally positive thoughts due to microorganisms' benefits, although microorganisms are not a significant component of their biology lessons.

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