Examining Grade 10 High School Students’ Cognitive Structures About Photosynthesis with Word Association Test and Lotus Blossom Techniques

Öz

Meaningful learning is crucial in biology lessons. Examining the resulting cognitive structure allows us to determine whether meaningful learning has occurred, to what extent it has occurred, and to identify misconceptions. While many techniques are used to reveal cognitive structures, the lack of research using two different techniques together is considered a gap in the literature. The aim of this study is to reveal the cognitive structures of 10th-grade high school students regarding photosynthesis concepts through two different techniques (Word Association Test and Lotus Flower Technique). The study group consists of 52 students studying at an Anatolian high school. The Word Association Test and Lotus Flower techniques were used as data collection tools. The Word Association Test was created by selecting five key concepts (chlorophyll, photosynthesis, ETS, photosynthetic reactions, ATP) from the biology curriculum regarding photosynthesis. For the Lotus Flower Technique, the concept of photosynthesis was determined as the core concept. Content and frequency analysis, cutoff point technique, and conceptual assessment tool were used in the analysis of the data. According to the results, students most frequently associated the concept of chlorophyll with the word green; it was observed that students most frequently associated the concept of photosynthesis with the plant and light-dependent phase; the concept of the Electron Transport System (ETS) with electrons; photosynthetic reactions with the water and light-dependent phase; and the concept of ATP with energy. It was found that students had misconceptions about photosynthesis. However, it was also determined that students used numerous analogies and metaphors related to photosynthesis.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Cognitive structure
• photosynthesis
• word association test
• lotus blossom technique
• content analysis
• meaningful learning
• concept
• misconception
• student
• biology teaching.

Etik Beyan

Ethical committee approval for the study was obtained with decision number E-51944218-050-00004201039 dated 06.05.2025. Furthermore, the necessary permission was obtained from the Ministry of National Education to conduct the study in a secondary school. The study group participated voluntarily.

Lise 10. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Fotosentez Konusuna İlişkin Bilişsel Yapılarının Kelime İlişkilendirme Testi ve Lotus Çiçeği Teknikleriyle İncelenmesi

Öz

Biyoloji dersinde anlamlı öğrenme önemlidir. Oluşan bilişsel yapının incelenmesi ile anlamlı öğrenmenin gerçekleşip gerçekleşmediği, ne kadar gerçekleştiği, kavram yanılgılarının ortaya çıkarılması mümkündür. Bilişsel yapının ortaya çıkarılmasında birçok teknik kullanılsa da iki farklı tekniğin birlikte kullanıldığı bir araştırmaya rastlanmamış olması literatürde bir eksiklik olarak görülmüştür. Bu çalışmanın amacı, iki farklı teknik (Kelime İlişkilendirme Testi ve Nilüfer Çiçeği Tekniği) aracılığıyla lise 10. sınıf öğrencilerinin fotosentez kavramlarına ilişkin bilişsel yapılarını ortaya çıkarmaktır. Çalışma grubunu bir Anadolu lisesinde öğrenim gören 52 öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Veri toplama aracı olarak Kelime İlişkilendirme Testi ve Lotus Çiçeği teknikleri kullanılmıştır. Kelime İlişkilendirme Testi, biyoloji öğretim programı yer alan fotosentez konusundaki beş anahtar kavram (klorofil, fotosentez, ETS, fotosentez reaksiyonları, ATP) seçilerek oluşturulmuştur. Nilüfer Çiçeği Tekniği için ise fotosentez kavramı çekirdek kavram olarak belirlenmiştir. Verilerin analizinde içerik ve frekans analizi, kesme noktası tekniği ve kavramsal değerlendirme aracı kullanılmıştır. Sonuçlara göre öğrenciler klorofil kavramını en çok yeşil; fotosentez kavramını en çok bitki ve ışığa bağlı evre; ETS kavramını en çok elektron, fotosentez reaksiyonlarını en çok su ve ışığa bağlı evre; ATP kavramını en çok enerji kavramları ile ilişkilendirdikleri görülmüştür. Öğrencilerin fotosentez konusunda kavram yanılgıların olduğu görülmüştür. Bununla birlikte öğrencilerin fotosenteze ilişkin çok sayıda analoji ve metaforun olduğu belirlenmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bilişsel yapı
• fotosentez
• kelime ilişkilendirme testi
• lotus çiçeği tekniği
• içerik analizi
• anlamlı öğrenme
• kavram
• kavram yanılgısı
• öğrenci
• biyoloji öğretimi.

Etik Beyan

Çalışma için etik kurul izni, 06.05.2025 tarihli ve E-51944218-050-00004201039 karar sayısı ile sağlanmıştır. Ayrıca çalışmanın ortaöğretim kurumunda uygulanabilmesi için MEB tarafından gerekli izin alınmıştır. Çalışma grubu çalışmaya gönüllü katılmıştır.

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