• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.313-323
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate the cognitive process of student's modeling on a modeling-emphasized argument-based general chemistry experiment. The participants were twenty-one freshman students. Six topics were carried out during the first semester and semi-structured interview was implemented at the end of the semester. Semi-structured interview questions were used to elicit elements of effective model, modeling strategies, difficulties that students have experienced during modeling, and resolving the difficulties that students have experienced during modeling. All student interview data were collected and transcribed. The results of this study are summarized as follows: (1) Elements of effective model were considered to be visual expression, persuasive explanation, and rhetorical structure. (2) Modeling strategies included arranging important keywords or writing the outline, and during the modeling process, students used various data, suggested data after reconstructing, suggested definitions and explanations of core concepts, used meta-cognition, and considering rhetorical structure. (3) Difficulties students have experienced during modeling could be categorized as lack of modeling strategy and understanding. (4) Resolving difficulties students have experienced during modeling could be categorized as modeling strategy and understanding. Students learn the strategy by feedback, modeling experience, evaluation of experimental report, models which they constructed previously and references, and the understanding of contents were achieved through arguments which occurred during classes and during the process of writing the experimental reports. These results suggest that when using modeling in teaching and learning, the argument-based learning strategy can be effective in enhancing students' modeling by helping them to understand meta-modeling with scientific concepts.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.192-210
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• 2023

This study was intended to develop the plant molecular biology experimental program using Rapid-cycling Brassica rapa (RcBr) based on the teaching steps and teaching methods of the cognitive apprenticeship model and to determine its application effects. In order to improve a subject's cognitive function and expertise on molecular biology experiments, two themes composed of a total 8 class sessions were selected: 'Identification of DFR gene in purple RcBr and non-purple RcBr' and 'Identification of RcBr's genetic polymorphism site using the DNA profiling method'. Research subjects were 18 pre-service teaching majors in biology education of H University in Chungbuk, Korea. The effectiveness of the developed program was verified by analyzing the enhancement of 'cognitive function' related to the use of molecular biology knowledge and technology, and the enhancement of 'domain-general metacognitive abilities.' The effect of the developed program was also determined by analyzing the task flow diagram provided. The developed program was effective in improving the cognitive functions of the pre-service teachers on the use of knowledge and technology of molecular biology experiments. It was especially effective to improve the higher cognitive function of pre-service teachers who did not have the previous experience. The developed program also showed a significant improvement in the task of metacognitive knowledge and in the planning, checking, and evaluation of metacognitive regulation, which are sub-elements of domain-general metacognitive abilities. It was found that the developed program's self-test activity could help the pre-service teachers to improve their metacognitive regulation. Therefore, this developed program turned out to be helpful for pre-service teachers to develop core competencies needed for molecular biology experimental classes. If the teaching and learning materials of the developed program could be reconstructed and applied to in-service teachers or high school students, it would be expected to improve their metacognitive abilities.