The Effect of an Instruction Using Analog Systematically in Middle School Science Class

중학교 과학 수업에서 비유물을 체계적으로 사용한 수업의 효과

In order to use analog more systematically in science class, an instructional model was designed on the basis of analogical reasoning processes (encoding, inference, mapping, application, and response) in the Sternberg's component process theory. The model has five phases (introducing target context, cue retrieval of analog context, mapping similarity and drawing target concept, application, and elaboration), and the instructional effects of using the model upon students' comprehension of science concepts and motivation level of learning were investigated. The treatment and control groups (1 class each) were selected from 8th-grade classes and taught about chemical change and chemical reaction for the period of 10 class hours. The treatment group was taught with the materials based on the model, while the control group was taught in traditional instruction without using analog. Before the instructions, modified versions of the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Survey and the Group Assessment of Logical Thinking were administered, and their scores were used as covariates for students' conceptions and motivational level of learning, respectively. Analogical reasoning ability test was also administered, and its score was used as a blocking variable. After the instructions, students' conceptions were measured by a researcher-made science conception test, and their motivational level of learning was measured by a modified version of the Instructional Materials Motivation Scale. The results indicated that the adjusted mean score of the conception test for the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group at .01 level of significance. No significant interaction between the instruction and the analogical reasoning ability was found. Although the motivational level of learning for the treatment group was higher than that for the control group, the difference was found to be statistically insignificant. Educational implications are discussed.