Investigating Secondary School Students' Misconceptions About Microscopic Organisms

Öz

This study aimed to reveal the misconceptions of eighth-grade students about microscopic organisms. The case study design was used in the study. The samples consisted of 25 8th-grade students studying in a public school in the 2021-2022 academic year. The data were collected with a semi-structured interview form consisting of 13 questions. The questions in the interview form are related to the characteristics of microscopic organisms, their locations, functions, and their place in daily life. The study results revealed that the students directly associate pollution and diseases with microscopic organisms. It was observed that the students needed clarification about the benefits of microorganisms. They were not aware of the functions of microorganisms in the human body and thought they were organisms that made people sick. The study's findings showed that the students needed information about microorganisms' place in material cycles and their place in biotechnology. There also needs to be more clarity about the similarities of microscopic organisms with other living things. It has been determined that some students think microscopic organisms do not have features similar to other living things. It has been stated that the subject of microorganisms, which is given only in the fifth grade and in a minimal way in the middle school science curriculum, needs to be revised and the content should be expanded in the curriculum at other grade levels, and microorganisms should be included in a more comprehensive way that touches on aspects such as cycles in nature and applications in biotechnology.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Microorganisms
• Science Education
• Secondary School Students
• Misconceptions

Ortookul Öğrencilerinin Mikroorganizmalar Konusundaki Kavram Yanılgılarının Araştırılması

Öz

Çalışmanın amacı 8. Sınıf öğrencilerinin mikroorganizmalar konusundaki kavram yanılgılarının araştırılmasıdır. Araştırma durum çalışması deseninde tasarlanmıştır. Çalışmanın örneklemini bir devlet okulunda 2021-2022 akademik yılında öğrenim görmekte olan 25 8. Sınıf öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Veriler 13 sorudan oluşan bir yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu ile toplanmıştır. Görüşme formunda yer alan sorular mikroorganizmaların özellikleri, bulundukları yerler, görevleri ve günlük yaşamdaki yerleri ile ilişkilidir. Çalışmanın sonuçları, öğrencilerin mikroorganizmaları doğrudan kirlilik ve hastalıklarla ilişkilendirdiklerini ortaya koymuştur. Öğrencilerin mikroorganizmaların faydaları hakkında bilgiye ihtiyaç ihtiyaç duydukları gözlemlenmiştir. Mikroorganizmaların insan vücudundaki işlevlerinin farkında olmadıkları ve mikroorganizmaların insanları hasta eden organizmalar olduğunu düşündükleri görülmüştür. Çalışmanın bulguları, öğrencilerin mikroorganizmaların madde döngülerindeki yeri ve biyoteknolojideki yeri hakkında bilgiye ihtiyaç duyduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca mikroskobik organizmaların diğer canlılarla benzerlikleri hakkında daha bilgiye ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Bazı öğrencilerin mikroskobik organizmaların diğer canlılara benzer özelliklere sahip olmadığını düşündükleri belirlenmiştir. Sadece beşinci sınıfta ve ortaokul fen bilimleri müfredatında asgari düzeyde verilen mikroorganizmalar konusunun revize edilmesi ve diğer sınıf seviyelerinde müfredatta içeriğinin genişletilmesi gerektiği ve mikroorganizmaların doğadaki döngüler ve biyoteknolojideki uygulamalar gibi konulara değinerek daha kapsamlı bir şekilde yer alması gerektiği belirtilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Mikroorganizmalar
• Fen Eğitimi
• Ortaokul Öğrencileri
• Kavram yanılgıları

Kaynakça

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