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Student conceptions about the DNA structure within a hierarchical organizational level: Improvement by experiment‐ and computer‐based outreach learning
Author(s) -
Langheinrich Jessica,
Bogner Franz X.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
biochemistry and molecular biology education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1539-3429
pISSN - 1470-8175
DOI - 10.1002/bmb.20888
Subject(s) - outreach , mathematics education , psychology , computer science , political science , law
Abstract As non‐scientific conceptions interfere with learning processes, teachers need both, to know about them and to address them in their classrooms. For our study, based on 182 eleventh graders, we analyzed the level of conceptual understanding by implementing the “draw and write” technique during a computer‐supported gene technology module. To give participants the hierarchical organizational level which they have to draw, was a specific feature of our study. We introduced two objective category systems for analyzing drawings and inscriptions. Our results indicated a long‐ as well as a short‐term increase in the level of conceptual understanding and in the number of drawn elements and their grades concerning the DNA structure. Consequently, we regard the “draw and write” technique as a tool for a teacher to get to know students' alternative conceptions. Furthermore, our study points the modification potential of hands‐on and computer‐supported learning modules. © 2015 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43:393–402, 2015.