AN IDEA OF SCIENCE: ATTITUDES TOWARDS CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL EDUCATION EXPRESSED BY ARTISTIC PAINTINGS
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Claus HILBING and
Hans-Dieter BARKE
University of Münster, Institute for Didactics of Chemistry, Germany
Abstract
The present study deals with attitudes towards chemistry and chemical education of pupils with and without experience in chemical lessons. The pupils were asked to draw paintings to reflect their point of view of chemistry. Attitudes were investigated by a common questionnaire. In comparison with a study conducted 15 years ago, it became obvious that today's pupils are better informed. The pupils evaluate chemistry by considering disadvantages and advantages of science, medicine, chemical industry, environmental pollution and nuclear power! Pupils without experience in chemistry lessons show a broadly varied conception of chemistry and evaluate chemical education convincingly. Furthermore, the attitudes towards chemistry and towards chemical education of experienced pupils interact slightly with each other. For this reason we support the initiatives that introduce children to chemical phenomena and to scientific thinking in kindergartens and primary schools to avoid emotional and cognitive misconceptions. [Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. Eur.: 2000, 1, 365-374]