PRE-SERVICE PRIMARY TEACHERS' MODELS OF KINETIC THEORY: AN EXAMINATION OF THREE DIFFERENT CULTURAL GROUPS

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Neil TAYLOR*a and Richard K. COLLb
aThe University of New England, School of Education, Australia
bThe University of Waikato, School of Science and Technology, New Zealand

Received 15th March 2002 , Accepted 10th June 2002

Abstract

In this paper we describe research involving an investigation into Australian and Fiji pre-service primary teachers’ mental models for Kinetic Theory. The study revealed that the teachers held a variety of mental models, some that were in agreement with the scientific models, and some that were incomplete, while a number appeared to hold no clear mental model. A constructivist-based pedagogy that was used to develop the Fiji teachers’ understanding of Kinetic Theory appears to have been effective in model development. Participants reported that the most beneficial of techniques employed instruction based on the use of physical and analogical models. [Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. Eur.: 2002, 3, 293-315]


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