Gold mines as a local socio-scientific issue: Middle school students' informal reasoning

Year 2024, Volume: 13 Issue: 5-Special Issue, 558 - 578, 28.12.2024

Ayşenur Eker Ahmet Tasdere

https://doi.org/10.19128/turje.1507117

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the awareness and informal reasoning of 7th-grade middle school students regarding a local socio-scientific issue (L-SSI) related to gold mining. In this context, the Kışladağ Gold Mine Operations (KGMO) in Uşak province was examined as an L-SSI. The study, designed as a case study, was conducted with 43 seventh-grade students enrolled in schools near the mine and in distant regions. Data were collected through a questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions. The responses were analyzed according to three informal reasoning modes: economic, ecological, and social. According to the findings, the majority of students in the mining region were aware of the KGMO through their families and relatives, while most students in the distant region were not aware of the KGMO. When examining the students' informal reasoning, it was found that most students expressed undecided views, with economic reasoning being a significant determinant. Specific recommendations are provided for the inclusion of L-SSI in current science education studies.

Keywords

Gold mine, Informal reasoning, Local socio-scientific issues

Yerel bir sosyobilimsel konu olarak altın madenleri: Ortaokul öğrencilerinin informal muhakemeleri

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, ortaokul 7. sınıf öğrencilerinin yerel bir sosyobilimsel konu (Y-SBK) olan altın madeni hakkında fakındalıklarını ve informal muhakemelerini tespit etmektir. Bu kapsamda Uşak ilinde yer alan Kışladağ Altın Madeni İşletmesi Y-SBK olarak ele alınmıştır. Maden çevresindeki bölgelerde ve madenden uzak bölgedeki okullarda kayıtlı 43 yedinci sınıf öğrencisiyle durum çalışması desenine göre gerçekleştirilen çalışmada veriler açık uçlu sorulardan oluşan anket yoluyla toplanmıştır. Anket sonucunda öğrenciler kendilerine sunulan farklı rollere göre görüş ve muhakemelerini ortaya koymuşlardır. Öğrencilerin cevapları ekonomik, ekolojik ve sosyal olmak üzere üç informal muhakeme moduna göre analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, altın madeni bölgesindeki öğrenciler büyük çoğunlukla aileleri ve yakınları aracılığıyla Kışladağ Altın Madeni İşletmesi’nden (KAMİ) haberdar olduklarını, madene uzak bölgedeki öğrencilerin çoğunluğu ise KAMİ’den haberdar olmadıklarını belirtmişlerdir. Öğrencilerin informal muhakemeleri incelendiğinde ise çoğunlukla kararsız görüşler ortaya çıkarken ekonomik modlu muhakemelerin önemli belirleyici olduğu tespit edimiştir. Bu sonuçlara göre, Y-SBK’lerin güncel fen eğitimi araştırmalarında yer verilmesine yönelik spesifik öneriler sunulmuştur.

Keywords

Altın madeni, İnformal muhakeme, Yerel sosyobilimsel konular

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