<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yunus Emre Avcu</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMMERSION, EXPERIMENTATION, AND OBSERVATION: EFFECTS OF THREE LABORATORY ENVIRONMENTS ON GIFTED STUDENTS’ CHEMICAL CHANGE KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE ATTITUDES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">gifted students</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">immersive virtual reality</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">observational learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">physical laboratory</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science attitudes</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2026</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August / 2026</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2026/987-1789234996.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">25</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Laboratory environments offer varying degrees of physical interaction, immersion, control, and guidance, yet the impact of these differences on gifted students’ knowledge and attitudes towards science classes and laboratories remains unclear. This study compared the effects of direct immersive virtual reality (IVR), a physical laboratory, and teacher-modelled observational virtual reality on gifted sixth-grade students’ chemical change knowledge and attitudes towards science classes and laboratories. A three-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was used with 66 gifted sixth-graders (39 girls, 27 boys). Gifted students learned through direct IVR, a physical laboratory, or observational IVR based on teacher modelling. All groups received the same content, procedures, worksheets, and teaching time. Data were collected using the Chemical Change Knowledge Test and the Attitude toward Science Course and Laboratories Scale, then analysed through a 3 × 2 mixed-design ANOVA. The interaction between learning environment and time was significant for all variables. The physical laboratory group showed greater gains in attitudes towards learning science at school, science self-concept, and overall attitudes towards science. Observational IVR produced knowledge gains comparable to those of the physical laboratory group, but smaller gains in attitudes. Overall, the findings indicate that different laboratory environments support different learning outcomes among gifted sixth-grade students.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">583-599</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jehan Saleh Lardhi</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Abdelrahim Fathy Ismail</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF LEARNING STATIONS STRATEGY ON DEVELOPING SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SCIENCE EDUCATION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">kindergarten children</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">learning stations strategy</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">life concepts</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific concepts</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2026</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2026</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/search/article?articleId=4863024</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">25</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Science education is fundamental to shaping how children perceive the world and cultivate their initial scientific reasoning. This study examined the impact of the &quot;Learning Stations Strategy&quot; on developing scientific concepts of life and the environment among young learners. Utilizing a quasi-experimental approach, the study involved 64 kindergarteners from Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, divided into experimental and control groups. After consulting with experts to define age-appropriate scientific concepts, an educational unit was crafted around the Learning Stations Strategy. These stations engaged children through hands-on tasks, experiments, observational activities, and guided reflections. To measure progress, a specialized &quot;Scientific Concepts Test of Life and Environment&quot; was administered before and after the intervention. The findings demonstrated statistically significant gains favoring the experimental group, highlighting the strategy's success. Specifically, children participating in the learning stations showed a deeper grasp of life concepts-such as distinguishing between living and non-living things, identifying basic survival needs, and understanding growth, biological functions, and diversity. Furthermore, there was improvement in environmental awareness, including the recognition of natural components, resource utility, ecosystems, environmental stewardship, and the basics of pollution. These findings suggest that moving away from teacher-centered teaching toward more interactive, station-based learning can enhance children’s curiosity and understanding. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Research article </style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">318-334</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chelcea Mae Lagmay Darang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Kiyoung Lee</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Minsu Ha</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF REDUCED EDUCATIONAL TIME ON PERFORMANCE, CONFIDENCE, AND METACOGNITIVE ACCURACY IN LOWER SECONDARY GENETICS LEARNING</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">confidence-performance calibration</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">educational time</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">genetics education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">lower secondary school</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">metacognitive accuracy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2026</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2026</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/search/article?articleId=4765164</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">25</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Curriculum reforms in the Philippines, including the MATATAG curriculum, have reduced scheduled educational time in lower secondary science, raising questions about their impact on learning and metacognition.  This study examined the impact of reduced educational time, specifically the shift from 60 minutes to 45 minutes per genetic lesson, on students’ performance, confidence, and metacognitive accuracy in a lower secondary science context. Using a cohort-comparison design, data were collected from Grade 9 students across two school years. Student performance was assessed through a genetics test, while confidence ratings captured metacognitive accuracy. Pearson correlations examined confidence–performance alignment, and Welch’s t-tests compared cohort and gender differences. Teacher perceptions were gathered through open-ended surveys. Results showed that the students who received longer lessons achieved higher performance and demonstrated stronger confidence-performance calibration, whereas students who experienced shorter lessons achieved lower performance and exhibited overconfidence. Gender differences appeared only in the 2023 cohort, with females outperforming males. Teacher accounts confirmed that shortened lessons reduced opportunities for interaction, feedback, and reflection. The findings highlight that educational time is both an academic and metacognitive resource. Safeguarding opportunities for reflection and feedback is essential to support accurate self-monitoring and sustainable learning in science education.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">7-21</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Bireswar Dutta</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">AN INTEGRATED MODEL OF THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR AND VALUE-BELIEF-NORM FOR PREDICTING STUDENTS’ ENERGY-SAVING BEHAVIOR</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">energy-saving behavior</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">sustainability</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">sustainable campus</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Theory of Planned Behavior</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">value-belief norm</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2026</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2026</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/search/article?articleId=4863020</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">25</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sustainable campus development has become a critical issue for higher education institutions worldwide. Motivating students to develop energy-saving behaviors is considered one of the most effective courses of action, as it ultimately leads to a sustainable campus and lower energy use. Thus, the current study developed a framework based on the Theory of planned behavior (TPB) and Value-belief norm (VBN) to examine the biospheric, altruistic, and egoistic values that encourage students to participate in energy-saving activities, contributing to the development of a sustainable campus. Structural equation modeling was utilized to evaluate the proposed framework using 411 valid responses. The results demonstrated that the proposed framework (R² = .681) outperformed both VBN (R² = .449) and TPB (R² = .498) in predicting students' intentions to engage in energy-saving behavior. Energy-saving communication was also found to be a critical moderator between the students' intention and their predictors. The results indicate that university administrations should develop a more effective approach to communicate the social and personal benefits of energy-saving behavior, thereby optimizing its advantages. The study findings contribute to the critically important and continuously expanding literature on developing sustainable campuses through pro-environmental behaviors. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Research article </style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">258-281</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Kharisma Eka Putri</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Punaji Setyosari</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ratna Ekawati</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEGRATING PEER SCAFFOLDING INTO GUIDED INQUIRY LEARNING TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC LITERACY AND CRITICAL THINKING AMONG PRE-SERVICE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Critical thinking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">guided inquiry learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">peer scaffolding</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pre-service elementary school teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific literacy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2026</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August / 2026</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2026/987-1789235491.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">25</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Developing scientific literacy and critical thinking is fundamental to contemporary science education. This study explored whether integrating guided inquiry learning with peer scaffolding could improve the scientific literacy and critical thinking of pre-service elementary school teachers. A total of 226 pre-service elementary school teachers enrolled in the Basic Concepts of Elementary Science course participated in this quasi-experimental study using a pretest-posttest control group design. Students in the experimental group engaged in guided inquiry integrated with peer scaffolding, whereas the control group received conventional teaching. Peer scaffolding was systematically incorporated throughout all phases of guided inquiry and was preceded by a pre-peer scaffolding phase involving briefing and concept reinforcement. Scientific literacy and critical thinking were assessed using validated instruments developed from the OECD/PISA framework and Ennis' critical thinking indicators (Cronbach's α = .835). Data were examined using the Mann–Whitney U test, N-gain analysis, and effect size. The experimental group demonstrated significantly higher scientific literacy and critical thinking than the control group (p &lt; .001), with N-gain scores of .676 and .773, respectively. The findings indicate that integrating peer scaffolding into guided inquiry is an effective approach for enhancing the scientific literacy and critical thinking of pre-service elementary school teachers.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">695-709</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Maddatuang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Arsad Bahri</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Muhammad Ansarullah S. Tabbu</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL LITERACY AND DISASTER MITIGATION UNDERSTANDING ON COMPUTATIONAL AND SPATIAL THINKING ABILITY IN UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">computational thinking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">digital literacy</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">disaster mitigation understanding</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">spatial thinking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">upper secondary school</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2025</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2025</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1746293187.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">24</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Computational thinking and spatial thinking ability play a critical role in enabling students to respond effectively to disasters. However, limited research has examined the impact of digital literacy, disaster education, and cognitive skills in secondary school students. This study aims to assess the impact of digital literacy and disaster mitigation understanding on the development of computational and spatial thinking ability in upper secondary school students. A quantitative research approach was employed using Structural Equation Modeling to analyze the impact of the variables. The research participants in this study consisted of 258 students enrolled in two upper secondary schools, namely Public Senior High School 21 Makassar and Public Senior High School 4 Barru. Data were collected through questionnaires and performance-based tests. The results revealed that digital literacy positively impacted computational thinking and spatial thinking. Similarly, disaster mitigation understanding positively impacted computational thinking and spatial thinking. Moreover, computational thinking demonstrated a moderate positive impact on spatial thinking, indicating a strong interaction between these cognitive domains. These findings suggest that students with higher digital literacy and disaster knowledge exhibit stronger problem-solving and spatial reasoning skills, which are crucial for disaster preparedness and risk mitigation. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">312-325</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Tekin Guler</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF SCENARIO-BASED LEARNING ON THE SCIENTIFIC CREATIVITY AND REFLECTIVE THINKING SKILLS OF FOURTH-GRADE STUDENTS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">primary school</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">reflective thinking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific creativity</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2025</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2025</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1746293009.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">24</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The current study examines the impacts of scenario-based science activities on the scientific creativity and reflective thinking skills of fourth-grade students in primary school. Therefore, it was carried out in a primary school in Yozgat city center during the 2023-2024 Academic Year.  An experimental group (24 students [13 girls, 11 boys]) and a control group (22 students [12 girls, 10 boys]) were formed from the fourth grade of the school in question. Science Scientific Creativity Questionnaire and Science Reflective Thinking Scale were utilized as data collection tools during the experimental process, which lasted ten weeks with three hours each week. The data obtained via the research were analyzed through independent samples t-tests along with dependent samples t-tests. The results obtained through the analysis exhibited a significant difference in the experimental group’s favor with regard to understanding, reflection, and total score of reflective thinking in all sub-dimensions of scientific creativity. Based on these results, it is thought that using scenario-based learning activities would be beneficial in primary school science courses. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">271-283</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Delfi Eliza</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Trisna Mulyeni</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yulsyofriend</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Nenny Mahyuddin</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yeni Erita</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Muhammad Dhanil</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IN IMPROVING SCIENTIFIC LITERACY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Early childhood education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">literature review</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Project-based learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific literacy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2025</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2025</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1740921275.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">24</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Improving scientific literacy is crucial for early childhood development, yet limited studies necessitate a thorough analysis to identify effective solutions. This study aims to analyze the implementation of project-based learning in early childhood education to improve scientific literacy. The study followed the identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and inclusion stages using a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA framework. Sources were accessed from databases such as Google Scholar, ERIC, Springer, JSTOR, Dimensions, and ScienceDirect, totalling 2085 articles. After screening articles published between 2014 and 2024, written in English, and relevant to the topic, 55 articles were selected for further analysis. The findings categorize approaches, trends, subjects, effects, and learning media used in adopting project-based learning to develop scientific literacy in early childhood. Two main approaches were identified: 1) narrative and dialogue and 2) project-based learning. Project-based learning is widely applied in 16 countries in Asia, America, Australia, and Europe. The review indicates that project-based learning improves early childhood scientific literacy in physics, biology, astronomy, and technology through learning media such as experimental tools, toys, robots, AR, VR, and AI. Therefore, implementing project-based learning supported by innovative learning media is an effective solution for improving scientific literacy in early childhood.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">71-91</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Qian Wang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Qingyun Li</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Xinmian Cui</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yanfei Xu</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Nina Wang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mengyan Wang</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEGRATING AI IN PRESCHOOL TEACHER EDUCATION: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF SELF-EFFICACY IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND THE MODERATING EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROFICIENCY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">AI integration in education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">preschool teacher training</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">self-efficacy</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teaching effectiveness</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">technological proficiency</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2025</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2025</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/search/article?articleId=4575707</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">24</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform preschool teacher education, particularly in the domain of health education, yet its effective integration remains underexplored in socioeconomically diverse regions. Understanding the psychological and technical factors that influence AI adoption is essential for improving early childhood education outcomes. This study examines the mediating role of self-efficacy and the moderating effect of technological proficiency in the relationship between AI integration and teaching effectiveness among preschool teachers.  A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 475 preschool teachers from Henan Province, China. Data were gathered using validated survey instruments and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that AI integration positively influences teaching effectiveness, primarily through increased teacher confidence. Technological proficiency also plays a supporting role in enhancing instructional effectiveness. These findings highlight the importance of targeted training, equitable access to AI tools, and professional development programs that foster teacher readiness and confidence in adopting AI into early childhood education.  </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">721-741</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Cunyuan Yang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jiabin Shen</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Zhe Qian</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEGRATING SOCIO-SCIENTIFIC ISSUES INTO VOCATIONAL DESIGN EDUCATION: EFFECTS ON STUDENTS’ ETHICS AWARENESS, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND DESIGN OUTCOMES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">design education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">ethics awareness</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">social responsibility</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">socio-scientific issues</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">vocational students</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2025</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2025</style></date></pub-dates></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">24</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study explores the effects of embedding Socio-Scientific Issues (SSI) into vocational design education on students’ ethics awareness, social responsibility, and design performance. A mixed-methods quasi-experimental design was employed, involving 80 vocational design students divided into an experimental group (SSI-based workshop) and a control group (traditional workshop). Ethics awareness and social responsibility were assessed using the Attitudes toward the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AT-EAI) and the Chinese College Student Personal Responsibility Scale (CCSPRS), respectively. Performance was evaluated using a rubric-based assessment. Qualitative data were obtained from students’ reflective reports. ANCOVA results revealed that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in post-test scores of ethics awareness and social responsibility (p &lt; .05). Additionally, they scored significantly higher in ethical sensitivity and user experience, though not in scientific accuracy creativity, or visual expression (p &lt; .05). Thematic analysis indicated that students in the SSI group demonstrated deeper ethical reasoning, increased empathy, and a redefined sense of the designer’s social role. SSI-based teaching not only enhances students’ ethical and civic competencies but also influences how they embed values into design. It highlights the transformative potential of SSI pedagogy in vocational design education.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">434-447</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Junxia Long</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Tan Yee Hock</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEGRATING THE 5E MODEL WITH EXPLICIT-REFLECTIVE NOSI TEACHING TO ENHANCE PRE-SERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5E Model</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">explicit-reflective teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">nature of scientific inquiry</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pre-service science teachers</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2025</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2025</style></date></pub-dates></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">24</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Fostering students’ scientific literacy is a key goal of science education, with understanding the nature of scientific inquiry (NOSI) as a central component. Achieving this goal requires teachers to possess adequate knowledge in this area. However, assessments indicate that pre-service science teachers (PSTs) have not yet developed comprehensive understandings of NOSI. To address this, this study integrated the 5E model with explicit-reflective NOSI teaching within a science methods course. Quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was employed. The Views About Scientific Inquiry (VASI) questionnaire was used to assess PSTs’ understanding of NOSI. Before the study, most PSTs demonstrated naive or mixed views on various aspects of NOSI. Following the intervention, PSTs’ understandings of all aspects improved significantly. Among these, more than half of the PSTs demonstrated informed understandings in four aspects: “begin with questions,” “multiple methods,” “questions guide procedures,” and “conclusions must be consistent with data”. These findings highlight the effectiveness of integrating the 5E model with explicit-reflective NOSI teaching in enhancing PSTs’ understanding of NOSI. As one of the early attempts, this study lays a foundation for future research on applying the 5E model to NOSI teaching across diverse educational settings and highlights the need for its integration into teacher education curricula and professional development programs.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">448-464</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Shasha Chen</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Shaohui Chi</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Zuhao Wang</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTERDISCIPLINARY THINKING AMONG SEVENTH-GRADE STUDENTS IN LOWER-SECONDARY SCIENCE EDUCATION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">educational assessment</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">interdisciplinary thinking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">multidimensional item response model</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Rasch measurement</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2025</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2025</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1740921191.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">24</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Interdisciplinary thinking is critical for equipping students to apply scientific knowledge and tackle societal challenges across various disciplines, which has been recognized as a key objective of twenty-first century science education. However, research on effective interdisciplinary assessment in secondary school science education is still limited. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an instrument for evaluating seventh graders’ interdisciplinary thinking within lower-secondary science contexts. A four-dimensional framework for evaluating interdisciplinary thinking was proposed, leading to the development of an assessment instrument. Participants were 316 seventh–grade students randomly selected from a lower-secondary school in Jiangsu, China. The multidimensional random coefficients multinomial logit (MRCML) model was employed to examine the reliability and validity of the instrument. The results indicated that the four–dimensional conceptual framework of interdisciplinary thinking was appropriate, and the multidimensional partial credit model (PCM) fitted the data reasonably well. The differential item functioning (DIF) analysis also revealed the absence of gender bias, confirming the measurement invariance statistics reached. In addition, disparities in student performance across the four dimensions were identified, highlighting the need for tailored instructional practices to foster their ability in lower-secondary school science education.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">53-70</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Filip Stašević</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Aleksandar Milenković</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Aleksandra Maksimović</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Marina Svičević</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Lazar Krstić</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEREST IN STEM AND ITS RELATIONS TO THE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AND SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF GRAMMAR SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SERBIA</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">grammar school</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">quantitative research</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Serbia</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM interests</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2025</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2025</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1746293370.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">24</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Despite the growing prominence of STEM disciplines in contemporary society, relevant studies indicate a concerning trend: a decline in students' interest and engagement in these fields. This research included 1,045 students from four grammar schools in Serbia. The study utilizes a quantitative research design: data were collected through an online questionnaire. Key variables: end-of-term marks in STEM subjects, gender, parental education, family size, and place of residence were analyzed following the answers of respondents. Students were divided into two groups, STEM (435) and Non-STEM (610). The results indicated that the students enrolled in STEM-focused programs demonstrated significantly higher academic performance in STEM subjects during primary education compared to their peers in Non-STEM tracks. Additionally, the study identifies potential relations between students’ interest in STEM and factors such as gender, parental education, and place of residence, with no significant effect found for the number of siblings. Specific sample and custom-designed questionnaire, highlight the need for future research with a broader and more diverse sample, incorporating additional socio-demographic factors and qualitative methods for a deeper understanding of students' engagement with STEM fields.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">360-376</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pei-yu Chen</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yuan-Chen Liu</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPACT OF AI ROBOT IMAGE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY ON IMPROVING STUDENTS’ CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF CELL DIVISION AND SCIENCE LEARNING MOTIVATION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Artificial Intelligence</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">cell division</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">image recognition technology</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">learning by teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science learning motivation</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1713272661.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study explored the integration of neural networks and artificial intelligence in image recognition for object identification. The aim was to enhance students’ learning experiences through a &quot;Learning by Teaching&quot; approach, in which students act as instructors to train AI robots in recognizing objects. This research specifically focused on the cell division unit in the first grade of lower-secondary school. This study employed a quasi-experimental research design involving four seventh-grade classes in a rural lower-secondary school. The experimental group (41 students) were taught via an AI robot image recognition technology, whereas the control group (40 students) were taught via a more conventional textbook-centered approach. The research followed a pre-test design, with three classes lasting 45 min each, totaling 135 min of teaching time over two weeks. Evaluation tools include the &quot;Cell Division Two Stage Diagnostic Test&quot; and the &quot;Science Learning Motivation Scale.&quot; The results indicate that learning through teaching AI robot image recognition technology is more effective than textbook learning in enhancing students’ comprehension of the &quot;cell division&quot; concept and boosting motivation to learn science.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">208-220</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jelka Strgar</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Andrea Möller</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF ONLINE EDUCATION ON STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN EVOLUTION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">attitudes toward biology</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Covid-19 pandemic</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">evolution acceptance</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">parents’ education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">students’ gender</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">students’ religiosity</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1734897649.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">In the 2020/21 school year, education changed overnight due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the lockdown on students’ knowledge of evolution. Two student groups were compared; both covered the same subject matter, and only the implementation differed: either online or in class. The sample consisted of 476 participants, 15 to 16 years old. Data were collected with a questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale. Contrary to expectations, there were no significant differences in knowledge between the online and in-class groups. The reasons for this remain unclear. The impact of some contextual factors was also tested. There were no significant differences in students’ performance concerning maternal education, and only two concerning paternal education. Males scored better than females. Knowledge of human evolution did not correlate with religiosity. However, it did correlate with acceptance of evolution and attitudes toward biology. The online educated group and the in-school educated group differed significantly in most correlations between contextual factors. Further studies should be carried out on students that experienced the lockdown to better understand its consequences, especially if these are long lasting.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1266-1277</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pao-Yin Lin</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pei-yu Chen</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yuan-Chen Liu</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hsiao-Ching Yang</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF THE OK4R MOBILE PLATFORM ON VOCATIONAL STUDENTS’ IMPROVEMENT OF SCIENCE READING COMPREHENSION AND LOGICAL THINKING</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">logical thinking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">OK4R</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">popular science reading</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">reading comprehension</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">vocational high school students</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1709892468.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">In Taiwan, the education system places a strong emphasis on higher education. Students who perform well in the National High School Entrance Examination are given priority admission to public high schools, while those with lower scores tend to enroll in vocational schools. It's worth noting that students with low scores in this examination often struggle with reading and natural literacy, typically scoring below level 2 in PISA assessments.
This study examined the impact of implementing the mobile platform OK4R reading strategy on students' comprehension of popular science reading and their logical thinking abilities. The research was conducted with two classes of first-year vocational school students.
The findings indicate that when students used the OK4R mobile platform for popular science reading, it had a positive effect on their popular science reading comprehension and their logical thinking skills. Notably, female students outperformed their male counterparts. The study also revealed that several factors, including gender, basic abilities, and other variables, influenced the effectiveness of the OK4R mobile platform for vocational students. Those with lower science scores appeared to benefit the most from this approach.
</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">90-103</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pi-Hun Yang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chung-Yuan Hsu</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gwo-Jen Hwang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gwo-Haur Hwang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Min-Ai Yang</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF THE PREDICTION-OBSERVATION-EXPLANATION MODEL ON PRESCHOOLERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF GEAR CONCEPTS THROUGH BLOCK PLAY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">alternative conceptions</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">building blocks</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Early childhood education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">gear concepts</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1729494292.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The complexity of gear concepts, often misunderstood by young children, highlights the need for educational frameworks beyond simple play. To examine the effects of using the prediction, observation, and explanation (POE) model in building block activities, a true experimental design was implemented. A total of 49 preschoolers were randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which engaged with building blocks embedded with the POE model, or a control group, which followed a building instruction guide. Data were gathered through pretests, posttests, and two-week delayed tests administered to all participants. The theoretical framework for this study was based on the POE model, emphasizing the importance of prediction, observation, and explanation in the learning process. The results revealed that the POE model had positive impacts on fostering young children’s acquisition of gear concepts. Specifically, gear speed and gear direction were identified as the most challenging concepts for preschoolers to grasp. The results highlight the critical role of children's reflection in learning these concepts. The participants’ common naive conceptions about gear function, gear speed, and gear direction were identified. The implications of these results highlight the importance of incorporating reflective practices in early childhood education to enhance concept acquisition and address misconceptions.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">867-881</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Luvia R. Nastiti</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Widha Sunarno</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sukarmin Sukarmin</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sulistyo Saputro</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Luqman Baehaqi</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING STEM LITERACY THROUGH PROJECT-BASED GEOSCIENCE LEARNING (PJBGL) MODEL</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">geoscience learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Project-based learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">quasi-experimental design</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM literacy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1724480325.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The intricacy of real-world challenges in project-based geoscience learning is complex to assess with a STEM approach; hence, research into an effective model is necessary to address current issues in education. Understanding the role of STEM in resolving challenging real-world issues requires integrating STEM literacy that is appropriate for geoscience education. This study examines the effectiveness of the Project-Based Geoscience Learning (PJBGL) model in enhancing STEM literacy. By integrating project-based learning with geoscience, the aim is to create an interactive and immersive learning environment. The study seeks to contribute to knowledge about the effectiveness of this model compared to the conventional model. The aim was to evaluate the PJBGL model's impact on students' literacy, particularly in the geosciences. The study utilized a pretest-posttest control group design with 33 students, 19 in the experimental group and 14 in the control group, collecting STEM literacy data using a test instrument and analyzing the data with the Mann-Whitney test. Effect Size calculation using Cohen's d and increased STEM literacy was tested with the N-Gain formula.  The research results show that the PJBGL model is more effective in increasing STEM literacy in geoscience learning than the conventional learning model. This finding holds implications for educators and curriculum developers seeking innovative strategies to cultivate students' STEM literacy. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">694-709</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Nergis Makal</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Salih   Çepni</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INCREASING STUDENTS’ EMPATHY LEVELS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION: A THEMATIC REVIEW</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">empathy development</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">empathy skills</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">thematic review</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1729495805.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">K-12 education as an enterprise always has two main aims; to teach basic skills and knowledge and to cultivate moral citizenry. There is substantial evidence that empathy can promote morality and character development through education. To shed light on what has been done and to identify the pathways already established, a thematic review of research focused on empathy development in K-12 science education has been conducted. A systematic examination of literature published before January 2024 resulted in 28 publications being analyzed in terms of their general characteristics and the specifics of the designed interventions. Results show that educational interventions can improve empathy skills; these studies use collaborative learning environments, take 3-10 weeks to implement, and the most preferred strategy is recognizing different perspectives of a given situation with reflective exercises. All of the studies reviewed positively affected students' affective and cognitive domains. For future research, more interventions designed to improve empathy skills in parallel with the science curriculum are proposed to supply teachers with new comprehensive resources to implement.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">914-930</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ina Rajsiglová</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Viktorie Poneszová</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Milada Teplá</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INFLUENCE OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ON THE INTEREST OF CZECH AND FINNISH STUDENTS IN BIOLOGY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">extracurricular activities</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">interest in biology</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">lower secondary school students</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Questionnaire</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1719377841.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Extracurricular learning plays a key role in shaping students' interest in (not only) biology. The research examined which extracurricular areas related to biology can make biology more attractive for the participating Finnish and Czech students. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire was administered to 178 Finnish and 195 Czech 9th-grade lower-secondary school students. Cronbach's alpha, Varimax rotation and Mann–Whitney U-test were performed. Factor analysis identified 7 areas: Family trips, My career, Biology lessons, Healthy lifestyle, Institutions, Nature-related hobbies, and Information sources. For Czech, hobbies related to nature and family trips are significant contributors to fostering interest in biology, and an informal educational environment is crucial for cultivating a lasting relationship with biology. For Finns, biology classes and career orientation have a more significant influence on students, demonstrating the effectiveness of formal educational strategies in increasing students' interest in biology. Increasing interest in biology among the students observed in both sociocultural environments is significantly influenced by family involvement and the use of information sources. Further research should explore how specific ECA can support the connection between family and school environments and their impact on students' interest and engagement in biology lessons.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">536-549</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chin-Fei Huang</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INFLUENCE OF STEAM TEACHING ACTIVITIES INTEGRATING LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR AND SCIENTIFIC CREATIVITY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">local environmental awareness</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pro-environmental behavior (PEB)</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">quantitative research</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific creativity</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEAM</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1734897394.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study aims to explore the impact of STEAM teaching activities that incorporate local environmental awareness on university students’ pro-environmental behavior (PEB), and scientific creativity. The teaching activity design of this study was centered on “designing livable housing in Taiwan”, and a total of four projects were designed. This research included university students (N=66) who were divided into a control group (n=33) and an experimental group (n=33). The experimental group added videos on local environmental awareness such as “local disasters and local household interview news”. The students were required to fill out the “Scientific Creativity Questionnaire” and “PEB Scale” before and after the teaching activities. The results of the study indicate that the experimental group outperformed the control group in the post-test for the sub-dimensions of &quot;Green Behavior,&quot; &quot;Global Warming Awareness,&quot; &quot;Environmental Social Interaction,&quot; &quot;Informal Environmental Education,&quot; and &quot;Environmental Attitude.&quot; This suggests that incorporating local environmental awareness materials into STEAM teaching activities is more effective in enhancing university students' PEB compared to standard STEAM teaching activities. Additionally, both groups showed improvements in overall scientific creativity after participating in the different activities, particularly in the areas of fluency and flexibility. However, ANCOVA analysis revealed no significant difference in scientific creativity between the two groups in the post-test. The results indicated that the integration of local environmental awareness materials was not the primary factor contributing to improvements in scientific creativity. This study recommends that higher education lectures integrate both environmental awareness and scientific content into curriculum design to strengthen students' overall competencies.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1193-1206</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sevilay Dervişoğlu</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Susanne Menzel</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INFLUENCE OF WILDLIFE VALUE ORIENTATIONS, CONNECTEDNESS TO NATURE, AND RELIGIOSITY ON THE FEAR OF WOLVES AND WILD BOAR</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">connectedness to nature</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">fear of wild boar</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">fear of wolves</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">religiosity</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">wildlife value orientations</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1724480018.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Knowing the factors affecting fear of large carnivores is important for wildlife management and conservation. In this regard, the effect of worldviews of human-wildlife and human-nature relationships on the fear of large carnivores needs to be investigated in different cultures. In this study, the influence of wildlife value orientations (WVOs), connectedness with nature, religiosity, fear of dogs, and gender on the fear of wolves and wild boars were examined. Quantitative research was conducted via a questionnaire on a convenience sample of 656 university students from state universities in various regions of Turkey. Domination orientation did not influence the fear of either animal. Mutualism negatively influenced the fear of wolves but did not significantly influence the fear of wild boar. Connectedness to nature is related negatively to the fear of both animals. More religious students feared wild boars more. Female students had a greater fear of both animals than male students. In addition, students with a fear of dogs had a greater fear of both animals. The relationship between worldviews and fear of large carnivores can vary across different species and needs to be investigated in different cultures.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">632-640</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Kateřina Čiháková</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INQUIRY AS A NATURAL PART OF OUTDOOR TEACHING: INSIGHT FROM MOTIVATED EDUCATORS USING ONLINE COURSE AND RESOURCES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">inquiry-based science education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">online course</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">outdoor education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">professional development</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1724479841.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Scientific literacy is decreasing in the Czech Republic and inquiry-based science education (IBSE), believed to enhance it, is used rarely. Meanwhile, outdoor teaching is on the rise, but it is unclear if it could help promote inquiry. This study examines the frequencies of outdoor teaching and IBSE and their relationship in self-reported practice among motivated educators. Two questionnaires were filled out by educators who downloaded teaching resources in 2019 (N = 796) and those who enrolled in an online course in 2020 (N = 745). 
A high proportion of educators used some form of IBSE. Many of them unexpectedly often involved students in research design as part of IBSE. The frequency of student-designed investigation was correlated with the frequency of outdoor teaching in both samples. Both frequencies increased after the online course. This indicates that involving students in research design can be supported indirectly and that new professional development courses could use the attractiveness of outdoor education. 
Two groups of active teachers were identified, one focused on inquiry in their own class and the other motivating colleagues to teach outdoors. As they were represented more among primary school teachers, establishing learning communities consisting of both primary and lower-secondary science teachers could bring change to science education.
</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">599-614</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sri Lestari, E.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sajidan Sajidan</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Fitria Rahmawati</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Meti Indrowati</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INQUIRY ETHNOBOTANY LEARNING MODEL: AN INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN MODEL TO ENHANCE STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">environmental literacy</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">ethnobotany</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">inquiry model</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">live laboratory</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">medicinal plants</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1713273401.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Environmental literacy related to the utilization of medicinal plants in the community provides a foundation for the younger generation to take an active role and form an attitude of care and responsibility for environmental sustainability. The current research aims to introduce the Inquiry-Etnobotany (IEb) learning model to enhance students' environmental literacy. The research design applied a pretest-posttest control group design to assess the effectiveness of the IEb model intervention, comparing it with the inquiry and discovery learning models. Upon analysis, notable differences emerged between the pre-test and post-test results across various learning models. Specifically, the IEb model exhibited a substantial difference, indicating significant progress in student outcomes. Similarly, the inquiry model showcased an improvement, while the discovery learning model displayed a slightly smaller change. Furthermore, the disparities between pre-test and post-test outcomes were evident across the different schools involved in the study. The IEb model has a significant impact on enhancing students' environmental literacy. However, the research results in each school also demonstrate that various learning models enhance students' understanding of environmental issues despite the different levels of effect. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">377-389</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vincentas Lamanauskas</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AT AN EARLY AGE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">environmental awareness</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">environmental education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">interaction with nature</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">preschool education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2023</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2023</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1693507387.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">22</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">There is no doubt that environmental education at an early age is significant for human development. When we refer to an early age, we mean the preschool and the primary stage of education (preschool education institution and primary school). It is obvious that the foundations of personality are formed at this stage, primarily a positive attitude towards nature and the surrounding world. At this stage, the child begins to distinguish himself from the environment, an emotional and value attitude towards the environment, nature, himself, and other people, etc., is formed. On the other hand, knowledge corresponding to a certain age of a personality (e.g., ecological), norms and rules of interaction with nature are required, on the other hand, it is extremely important to develop empathy for nature through various activities (e.g., actively solving certain environmental problems). It can be reasonably stated that the formation of values, nature cognition and a sustainable lifestyle are three essential factors determining (describing) the importance of environmental education. Thus, environmental education at an early age not only helps to develop environmental awareness but also promotes abilities and the attitude, which can determine a sustainable and responsible lifestyle in the future. From this point of view, the continuity and sustainability of this education is extremely significant. Environmental education in primary school can have a long-term effect on children’s moral and worldview behaviour and contribute to sustainable development and global well-being. The period of primary education is a suitable and favourable environment for the formation of children’s positive and rational attitude towards the environment, promoting environmental awareness and developing a sustainable lifestyle. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Editorial</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">564-567</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yi Zou</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Xinyu Xue</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Lizhen Jin</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Xiao Huang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yanbing Li</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE INTEGRATION OF BUOYANCY THROUGH ENHANCING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF BUOYANCY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">conceptual framework</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">knowledge integration of buoyancy</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific concept understanding</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">the nature of buoyancy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2023</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2023</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1702729488.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">22</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">In recent years, developing students’ knowledge integration of specific topics through effective teaching methods has been a concern in science education. This study explored an alternative teaching method, which aims to help lower secondary school students develop their knowledge structure about buoyancy towards a logically integrated conceptual framework through enhancing their understanding of the nature of buoyancy. Specifically, this study constructed a conceptual framework on buoyancy and a set of matching test questions to map out the three levels of knowledge integration of students, and designed and implemented a teaching experiment of promoting students’ understanding of the nature of buoyancy. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, it was found that the knowledge integration development of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group. The results indicated that enhancing students’ understanding of the nature of buoyancy can effectively improve their knowledge integration of buoyancy. Accordingly, improving knowledge integration through enhancing students’ understanding of the nature of the specific scientific concept may be a new direction for future research.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1120-1136</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Şenel Çoruhlu, T.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Muammer Çalık</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Er Nas, S.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Büşra Bilgin</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS OF STUDENTS WITH MILD INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">mild intellectual disabilities</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science process skills</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2023</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2023</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1681287618.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">22</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Relevant literature has an unexplored question on how prediction-observation-explanation (POE) worksheets affect science process skills of students with mild intellectual disabilities (SMID). Therefore, this research aimed to examine the effect of POE worksheets developed for the “matter and its nature” subject on SMID’s science process skills. Through pre-experimental research design, 12 fifth grade SMID participated in the research. To collect data, the researchers used science process skills development forms and rubrics to score their observations. During the teaching intervention, SMID implemented three POE worksheets, which included buzz 22 technique in the ‘prediction’ stage, hands-on experiments and QR codes in the ‘observation’ stage and snowball, learning gallery or card showing techniques in the ‘evaluation’ stage. The results indicated that the POE worksheets are effective at developing SMID’s science process skills of the &quot;matter and its nature&quot; subject. This research recommends that future comparative research should unveil how the POE worksheets with/without active learning techniques impact the SMID’s SPS.   </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">323-336</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Thumah Mapulanga</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yaw Ameyaw</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gilbert Nshogoza</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Elton Sinyangwe</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY TEACHERS’ TOPIC-SPECIFIC PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE: EVIDENCE FROM LESSON STUDIES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">enacted pedagogical content knowledge (ePCK)</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">lesson study</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">respiration</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">secondary school</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge (TSPCK)</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2023</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2023</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1676960436.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">22</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Since pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) influences the teaching-learning process, it has dominated research on teacher effectiveness. This case study explored teachers’ enacted topic-specific PCK (TSPCK) during the biology lesson study stages: planning, teaching, and reflecting. The enacted TSPCK in two video-recorded research lessons was analysed qualitatively. The results showed that the teacher enacted both high-order and low-order pedagogical actions in the enactment of the TSPCK on eight themes, namely: teaching strategies, classroom interactions, representations, curricular saliency, conceptual teaching strategies, students’ prior knowledge and misconceptions, and what makes teaching or learning difficult. The results also show that the teachers’ collective planned TSPCK was more developed than their personal TSPCK, indicating that participation in the lesson study improved the teachers’ TSPCK. The study is important as it shows how teachers enact their personal and collective TSPCK in respiration. It also demonstrates the potential of lesson study to improve teachers’ PCK through collaborative planning and reflection on taught lessons. The study recommends using lesson study to improve teachers’ enacted TSPCK in respiration, and biology as a whole. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">20-36</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jianjun Sheng</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Peiyao Tian</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Daner Sun</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yanhua Fan</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INFLUENCE OF STEM VALUE PERCEPTION ON STEM CAREER PREFERENCES AMONG AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY UNDERGRADUATES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Agroforestry undergraduates</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM career preference</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM learning interest</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM self-efficacy</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM value perceiving</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2023</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2023</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1697654037.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">22</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Currently, nations grapple with a noticeable shortage of STEM talent, particularly within fields like agroforestry. The study applied the structural equation modelling and the mediation effect model to analyze the mechanisms through which STEM value perception influences STEM career preferences, as well as the roles played by STEM self-efficacy and STEM learning interest among 1,604 undergraduates majoring in agroforestry. The results revealed that students’ STEM value perception was found to directly and positively correlate with their STEM career preferences. STEM value perception also has an indirect impact on STEM career preferences by influencing STEM learning interest and STEM self-efficacy. Furthermore, STEM value perception plays a sequential mediation role in promoting STEM learning interest, STEM self-efficacy and STEM career preferences. Based on these findings, it is recommended that institutions bolster STEM career education for students majoring in agroforestry from the outset of their enrollment, enhancing students' professional awareness and identity, by addressing gaps in students' value perceptions of STEM education. Furthermore, efforts to improve students' interest in relevant courses and their confidence in learning these subjects can be beneficial. Ultimately, such initiatives can contribute to a more balanced development of students' STEM career preference.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">914-928</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Peiyao Tian</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Daner Sun</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ruirui Han</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yanhua Fan</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEGRATING MICRO PROJECT-BASED LEARNING TO IMPROVE CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND CRUCIAL LEARNING SKILLS IN CHEMISTRY </style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">chemistry education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pedagogical approach</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">sodium bicarbonate</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">upper-secondary schools</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2023</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2023</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1676961214.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">22</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Active participation in project-based learning (PBL) could develop students` knowledge and crucial learning skills across various disciplines. However, the implementation of PBL in the K-12 classroom is usually impeded by the step-by-step PBL cycle. Micro project-based learning (MPBL), which advocates and adheres to the learning principles and mechanisms of PBL with constraining the learning cycle in shorter periods, has been considered as a lightweight alternative to PBL process. As an exploration, this study explored the impact of MPBL on the conceptual understanding of sodium bicarbonate and the crucial learning skills in chemistry class at upper-secondary schools. The quasi-experimental research was implemented for 125 students, with an experimental group receiving MPBL teaching and a control group receiving conventional teaching. In the study, data including knowledge tests, crucial learning skills survey, and student interview were collected and analysed. The results indicated that MPBL was effective in the development of students’ conceptual understanding and crucial learning skills (i.e., communication and collaboration, information integration, independent learning, and problem-solving). The study will inform the pedagogical innovation in chemistry education and teaching practices in chemistry class.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">130-152</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sufirman Arifin</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Siew, N. M.</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEGRATION OF SOCIOSCIENTIFIC APPROACH AND DESIGN THINKING: AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CREATIVE THINKING MODULE FOR STEM EDUCATION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">design thinking model</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">entrepreneurial creative thinking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">module development</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">socioscientific issue approach</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2023</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2023</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1697653334.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">22</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study was conducted to i) ascertain the validity, reliability, and feasibility of a module based on the socioscientific issue approach and design thinking model (SIA-DT), and ii) assess its effects on the entrepreneurial creative thinking (ECT) in STEM education. The first phase of ECT module validation was conducted with the assistance of three expert evaluators and 32 students. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire and the ECT test were used to collect data. The second phase consists of evaluation using a quasi-experimental design with a Pre-Post Test of Non-Equivalent Control Groups. A total of 64 Form Four students were divided into two groups: SIA-DT (n = 32) and control (n = 32). The ECT module has a high validity value and an acceptable Cronbach's alpha reliability of .92. The ECT Module's feasibility was substantiated by a mean score of 4.71. The results of the independent-sample t-test prove that there is a significant difference in the post-test for students in the SIA-DT group compared to the control group in ECT and five constructs of ECT. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that the ECT Module is valid, reliable, and feasible in STEM education and that it is effective in enhancing students' ECT.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">767-780</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">AiBin Tang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">WenYe Li</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Dawei Liu</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF TEACHERS’ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN SCIENCE PEDAGOGY ON STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT: EVIDENCE FROM TIMSS 2019</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">hierarchical linear model</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">professional development</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Science Achievement</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">TIMSS</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2022</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2022</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2022/987-1652122655.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">21</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Teachers’ professional development (PD) is considered to be a topic of interest in science education. This study examines the impact of professional development in science pedagogy (PD in PED) on students’ achievement and how it influences teachers’ instruction based on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science (TIMSS)2019. The sample comprised 2,968 fourth-grade students and their 145 teachers and 3,265 eighth-grade students and their 150 teachers in Hong Kong. Teachers’ emphasis on science investigation (TESI) was included as a mediating factor. Multilevel mediation analyses revealed that PD in PED was significantly positively related to students’ science achievement, while the link between PD in PED and students’ science achievement was positively and completely mediated by TESI in the fourth grade. However, TESI had no mediating effect in the eighth grade, a finding that may be attributed to the characteristics of teacher PD programmes in different grades. The results also show that many teacher PD programmes are not of high quality and are intellectually superficial from the perspective of students’ achievement gains. Implications for teacher PD practices are discussed as well.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">258-274</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">King-Dow Su</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COGNITIONS WITH PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING GUIDED TASKS TO ENHANCE STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN SCIENCE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Artificial Intelligence</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">cross-disciplinary</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Problem-Based Learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">situational issues</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2022</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2022</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2022/987-1652122552.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">21</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This research conceived multivariate learning concepts and aimed at the implementation of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) life learning of face recognition, self-driving, and robots’ situational issues into problem-based learning (PBL) in natural science. This research put forward problem-solving and group cooperation in which students worked together to complete learning tasks from encountering problems to planning problem-solving. All 127 participants engaged in this research from the Hungkuo Delin University of Technology in Taiwan. 7 experts helped construct the content validity, construct validity, and reliability through instrument developments of 5 open-ended test questions and 31 learning attitude items. The statistical analyses revealed that those students improved their scientific cognitive skills of problem-solving by quantitative analyzes and presented their logical reasoning and activation ability by qualitative ones. In addition, the descriptive statistical analysis of learning attitude revealed that students had positive thinking attributes for the application of cross-disciplinary PBL and AI new knowledge. These findings had implications for the AI cognitions with PBL educational environment to increase innovation in the classroom. Pedagogical suggestions presented that students’ learning growth in the environment requires long-term cultivation to exhibit significant learning outcomes in the future.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">245-257</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vera M. Divac</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Filip Stašević</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Marina D. Kostić</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Daliborka Popović</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Đurđević Nikolić, J.</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INQUIRY AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AS AN APPROACH FOR DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETENCIES IN PRIMARY SCHOOL HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">entrepreneurial education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">high-achieving students</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">primary school</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2022</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2022</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2022/987-1672585295.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">21</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Development of entrepreneurial capacities, entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial culture among students is one of the goals of modern education. In Serbia, there is an idea and vision of entrepreneurial education in the chemistry domain, which is also regulated by the curriculum. Despite these facts, a curriculum that supports entrepreneurship and a large scope for chemistry entrepreneurship, primary schools still lack in activities that could develop competencies related to entrepreneurship in students. Within this research, a series of activities were designed with the aim to enhance students' entrepreneurial competencies. Proposed activities were based on inquiry-based learning (IBL) and project-based learning (PBL) as their characteristics support entrepreneurial education. The conducted study involved 18 high-achieving students in the chemistry domain. Data obtained from pre- and post-questionnaires confirm the assumptions of present researchers that the proposed activities could improve some students' entrepreneurial skills. The results from the second questionnaire, which examined the impact of conducted activities on the students’ entrepreneurial skills and abilities, reveal that when an approach like this is used as the teaching method, some entrepreneurial peculiarities within students can be increased.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6A</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1143-1164</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Kenneth Adu-Gyamfi</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Benjamin Anim-Eduful</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTERACTION EFFECT OF GENDER, ACROSS SCHOOL-TYPE ON UPPER-SECONDARY STUDENTS’ DEVELOPMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL REASONING ON ORGANIC QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">gender and school-type</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">interaction effect</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">organic qualitative analysis</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">performance of students</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2022</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2022</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2022/987-1656443297.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">21</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chemical tests (qualitative analysis) on functional groups may improve students’ understanding of basic concepts about the structure of organic compounds and their reactivity. However, upper-secondary school students have difficulties in learning organic qualitative analysis. This research has studied whether the gender of students and school-type affect development of experimental reasoning on organic qualitative analysis. From three school-types, 50.2% males and 49.8% females were sampled through a multistage sampling procedure and participated in a cross-sectional survey. Data from 263 students were collected with the aid of diagnostic test on knowledge of organic qualitative analysis. A two-way between-groups ANOVA and independent-samples t-test were used to analyse the data. It was found no interaction effect of gender and school-type on students’ development of experimental reasoning on organic qualitative analysis. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">351-365</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Tao Jiang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chen, J.-G.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yin-yin Wu</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPACT OF INSTRUCTION ON SCIENCE PERFORMANCE: LEARNING INITIATIVE AS A MEDIATOR AND GENDER AS A LIMITED MODERATOR</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eighth-grade students</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">gender difference</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">mediation analysis</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science performance</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2021</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2021</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2021/987-1611648627.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">20</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This research explores whether classroom life (CL), textbooks (TE), and learning initiative (LI) are mediators between instruction (P) and science performance, as well as whether these mechanisms are moderated by gender. 484 eighth grade students completed the questionnaire with four subscales of P, LI, TE, and CL. For the needs of triangulation and complementarity, three focus group interviews were conducted later. Based on mediation analysis and multi-group structural equation modeling, it was found that 1) the direct effects of P on LI, P on CL, P on TE, and LI on science performance are significant, while the other direct effects are insignificant; 2) comparing to the male group, the direct effect of P on LI in the female group is larger; 3) characteristics hindering students’ science learning include: the pace of a lesson is too fast, pictures and experiments are less in the textbook, and top students and low proficiency students are uncooperative. Findings expose that instruction significantly influence students’ science performance, and this impact is completely mediated by students’ learning initiatives. The relation between instruction and learning initiative is stronger in the female group. Textbooks can be useless in the context that instruction does not match students' learning ability.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">50-66</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">César Agostinis-Sobrinho</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Inga Dailidienė</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Alona Rauckienė-Michaelsson</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPACT ON HEALTH EDUCATION FROM COVID-19 AND CLIMATE CHANGE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">climate change</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Covid-19 pandemic</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Health Education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">health policies</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2021</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2021</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2021/987-1616865527.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">20</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">World Health Organization (WHO) health policy for Europe “Health 2020” became a stimulus for many countries to renew their national health policies, and it is a guide of actions (WHO, 2013). Long-term studies proved that health is closely linked to socio - economic indicators, among which age plays a major role, and education. Given that there are as many healthy people as possible, it is especially important to form the most important young people attitude to health, to develop a personality who would take care of the health of yourself, your family and those around you. Schools, colleges, and universities are the medium in which a mature generation of future intellectuals are capable and possessed to have a major influence on the development of the state and, with knowledge of the principles of good health, to contribute to and to shape the health policy of the right country, its implementation and at the same time to the population of the country improving health (Misevičienė et al., 2017).  </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Editorial</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">168-170</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">King-Dow Su</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPLEMENTATION OF SSI CONCEPT MAPPING AS A DYNAMIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' SCIENTIFIC PERFORMANCE </style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">concept mapping (CM)</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">problem-solving</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">socio-scientific issues (SSI)</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">SSICM contexts</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2021</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2021</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2021/987-1639222419.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">20</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The presented research focuses on verifying the confluent application of concept mapping (CM) and socio-scientific issues (SSI) according to the value-laden and moral dilemma orientation to construct problem-solving performance. This research sets up some perspectives for all 146 participants, including 139 students and 7 experts. All findings reveal that the design of SSICM contexts includes a rebuttal process and incense claim to improve students' argument response (16.4%), to increase content knowledge and illuminate their science learning by argumentations. To develop an assessment tool with high validity and reliability (Cronbach's α &gt; .9) and find positive presentations of all learning attitudes in the SSICM context, learning environment and results will concern the best argumentation process. Students’ interview responses and SWOT analysis of teachers indicate that SSICM's use of argument in the classroom is a real benefit. The research provided a better paradigm of attempts to combine analytical and academic hypotheses to explain literature sources by teachers, researchers, textbook developers, and editors. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">969-982</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Şengül Atasoy</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Seyhan Eryılmaz Toksoy</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Muammer Çalık</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IDENTIFYING PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE CONCEPT CARTOONS IN THE SCHOOL CORRIDORS AND INFORMAL PHYSICS LEARNING</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">concept cartoon</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">informal learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">initial impression</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1581269416.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Since concept cartoons give an important opportunity for students to achieve informal physics learning, the current research focused on pre-service teachers’ initial impressions of the concept cartoons in the school corridors and informal physics learning. The aim of the research was to determine pre-service teachers’ initial impressions of  the concept cartoons in the school corridors and informal physics learning via the concept cartoons. After a 14-week intervention, a questionnaire with seven open-ended questions was administered to 542 pre-service teachers from primary, mathematics and science teacher education programmes. Their responses to the questionnaire were exposed to qualitative content analysis via two categories (advanced and poor impression). The results showed that pre-service teachers generally refered to advanced impressions of the concept cartoons. In light of the results, it can be deduced that the concept cartoons have enhanced their initial impressions of informal physics/science learning via the concept cartoons. The current research recommends that pre-service teachers should be encouraged to produce their own concept cartoons on the topic(s) they found difficult. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">25-35</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Thobile Nkosi</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Lindelani Mnguni</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL MOLECULAR MODELS ON STUDENTS' VISUO-SEMIOTIC REASONING SKILLS RELATED TO THE LEWIS STRUCTURE AND BALL &amp; STICK MODEL OF AMMONIA</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">ball &amp; stick models</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Lewis structures</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">physical models</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">visuo-semiotic reasoning</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1597214439.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Visuo-semiotic models, such as Lewis structures and ball &amp; stick models, are widely used to enhance students’ learning. However, there is limited research about the impact of these models on specific visuo-semiotic reasoning skills. In the current research, we aimed to determine the extent to which physical molecular models could enhance specific visuo-semiotic reasoning skills among students. The research question that we explored was, “what is the impact of physical molecular models on Grade 11 students’ visuo-semiotic reasoning skills related to Lewis structures and ball &amp; stick models of ammonia?” In this mixed-methods research, we collected data from purposively selected Grade 11 chemistry students aged between 15 and 18 from an under-resourced school in South Africa. Through a quasi-experimental design, participants in the experimental group (n = 101) used physical molecular models to learn about Lewis structure and ball &amp; stick models of ammonia while participants in the control group (n = 100) did not. We subsequently tested students' visuo-semiotic reasoning skills. Results show that using physical molecular models significantly improved students' visuo-semiotic reasoning skills and reduced associated learning difficulties. We, therefore, recommend that these models should be used as an instructional tool to enhance learning.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">594-604</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Paweł Bernard</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Karol Dudek-Różycki</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN INQUIRY-BASED METHODS ON SCIENCE TEACHERS’ CLASSROOM PRACTICE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">in-service teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">inquiry-based learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">professional development</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1586941315.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Inquiry-based methods have become very popular in science education all over the world. In Europe, they were strongly advocated in years 2007-2013 within the 7th EU Framework Programme projects, and in that time, in many countries teacher educational programmes (TEP) in inquiry were developed and implemented. However, there has been limited information on how effective those trainings are, and how teachers bring theory into practice. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the impact of training in inquiry-based methods on the teachers’ professional practices. The training consisted of two stages: I – one-week-long core training, and II – one-year-long extended support. Ninety-two science teachers participated in the research. It had a quantitative character and was based on a self-evaluation sheet that was completed three times: before the training, a month after the training, and a year after the training. The research results revealed current Polish science teachers’ practices related to facilitating learning by inquiry and identified the inquiry’s features that were immediately adopted by teachers, those that were adopted after a longer period, and finally, those that were not implemented at all. These results can be especially useful to educators who design and run TEPs in inquiry-based teaching and learning.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">201-219</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Katarina Susman</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jerneja Pavlin</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVEMENTS IN TEACHERS' KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF BASIC ASTRONOMY CONCEPTS THROUGH DIDACTIC GAMES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">astronomy education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">didactic games</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">in-service primary school teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Moon phases</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1606573063.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Literature review shows that many primary school teachers have poor understanding of basic astronomy contents. Therefore, the aim of the study was to introduce specific astronomical content to in-service primary school teachers through two didactic games, to evaluate the didactic games and the teachers’ knowledge and understanding before and after the implementation of the didactic games. The research included 24 in-service primary school teachers. The data were collected through the knowledge test (pre-post design) and questionnaires for each didactic game. The results showed that the teachers evaluated the didactic games as suitable for use in the classroom as they emphasized that they are educational, explicit and interesting. The implementation was identified as effective because the median for fractional gains was 0.54 and showed the medium gain in teachers’ knowledge and understanding of selected astronomy contents. It was recognized that in-service primary school teachers do not feel competent for introducing complex astronomical contents to their students. However, the presented approach could encourage in-service primary school teachers to deepen their knowledge and to teach astronomy contents with a method that is closer to their students. University teachers could point out the advantages and disadvantages of didactic games in astronomy content and discuss them with pre-service primary school teachers.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1020-1033</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mária Babinčáková</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mária Ganajová</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ivana Sotáková</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Paweł Bernard</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INFLUENCE OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT CLASSROOM TECHNIQUES (FACTs) ON STUDENT’S OUTCOMES IN CHEMISTRY AT SECONDARY SCHOOL</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">chemical education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">formative assessment classroom techniques</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">higher-order cognitive skills</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">secondary school</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1581269504.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Assessment in many Central- and Eastern-European countries is dominated by summative assessment (SA). Simultaneously, researchers and educators from western Europe and the US proclaim the formative assessment (FA) as an important element of the educational process and advise including it into curricula and everyday teachers’ practice. The research presented herein reports an introduction of formative assessment classroom techniques (FACTs) during chemistry lessons at K7 level in Slovakia. In total 202 students participated in the research. They were divided randomly into a control (n=97) and an experimental (n=105) group, and the intervention covered 10 successive lessons. After the intervention, the student’s outcomes were compared using the test checking student’s knowledge and skills according to various domains of Bloom’s revised taxonomy. The results suggested a statistically significant increase in the score of the experimental group, and a detailed analysis revealed that the increase was significant in both lower- and higher-order cognitive skills area. Finally, the students’ reaction on the introduction of formative assessment was studied and showed their positive attitude towards the introduced method.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">36-49</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Šárka Doležalová Křepelková</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jan Krajhanzl</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Roman Kroufek</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INFLUENCE OF INTERACTION WITH NATURE IN CHILDHOOD ON FUTURE PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">affective mediator</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">interaction with nature</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">mediation analysis</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pro-environmental behavior</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1597214205.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pro-environmental behavior is a key to environmental sustainability. It is important to know which variables influence the development of pro-environmental behavior and how important direct interaction with nature is for future environmental engagement. The aim of the research was to examine the correlation between childhood interaction with nature and pro-environmental behavior as an adult and the mediators influencing this correlation. The respondents (N = 370) were selected by the snowball method and completed an on-line questionnaire. Bivariate correlation and parallel mediation analysis were done. Previous research studies focused mainly on one type of influence, and this research brought a comparison of three mediators. The results confirmed that interaction with nature in childhood affects future pro-environmental behavior. The main mediator seems to be the affective mediator. The cognitive mediator and interaction with nature in adulthood had only a small mediation effect. Children’s emotional bonding with nature is the important element for the development of pro-environmental behavior. This appears to be a more effective way of ensuring stronger pro-environmental behavior in the future than building environmental knowledge or relying on sufficient interaction with nature in adulthood. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">536-550</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jingying Wang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mingyue Yang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Beibei Lv</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Feixiong Zhang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yonghe Zheng</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yihong Sun</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INFLUENCING FACTORS OF 10th GRADE STUDENTS’ SCIENCE CAREER EXPECTATIONS: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">10th grade students</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">influencing factors</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science career expectations</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">structural equation model</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1597214794.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Science career expectations can be affected by personal science beliefs and social supports. Framed in Expectancy-Value Models, this research studied the influence of science beliefs (science interest belief, self-efficacy belief and value belief) and social supports (parents and teachers) on students’ science career expectations by the survey of 798 10th grade students. Based on Structural Equation Model, it was found that: 1) science interest belief, self-efficacy belief, value belief and parents’ support can directly predict students' expectations of science careers; 2) the effect of student’s perception from parents and teachers support on science choice preferences and career engagement are mediated through the effects on students’ interest, self-efficacy and value in science. Therefore, teachers and parents should enhance students’ science beliefs and identity for the improvement of their science career expectations.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">675-686</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ivana Sotáková</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mária Ganajová</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mária Babinčáková</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INQUIRY-BASED SCIENCE EDUCATION AS A REVISION STRATEGY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">chemistry education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">cognitive processes</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">confirmation inquiry</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">secondary school</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1591088137.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The research aim was to identify the effect of revising the thematic unit “Changes in Chemical Reactions” using IBSE (based on confirmation inquiry) in the 8th grade of secondary school. This thematic unit is taught in chemistry lessons in the 2nd term of the 7th grade. A set of activities verified by a piece of pilot research was used to implement IBSE based on confirmation inquiry using the 5E Educational Model. The research was performed in ten Slovak secondary schools during the 1st term of the 2017/2018 school year. This research employed the quasi-experimental methodology involving pre-test–post-test two-group design. The research sample consisted of 292 8th grade students. They were divided randomly into a control (n=149) and experimental (n=143) group, and the intervention took place during 10 lessons. Cognitive tests based on the revised Bloom's taxonomy were used to measure students’ knowledge and skills before and after revision. The results indicate that using IBSE (based on confirmation inquiry) in the revision phase is more effective than teaching without using IBSE in terms of developing conceptual understanding. It affects the lower and higher cognitive processes (understanding, application, and analysis) and stimulates learning mainly in students with lower academic performance.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">499-513</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Olugbenga A. Ige</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Loyiso C. Jita</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES OF SCIENCE TEACHERS IN RURAL LEARNING ECOLOGIES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">evidence portfolios</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">instructional practices</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">secondary school teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">short learning intervention programme</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1602524800.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The outcomes of IEA's Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) conducted from 1995 to 2002 confirmed that there was no improvement in the learning outcomes of grade eight learners in Mathematics and Science. Additionally, the failure rate in Mathematics at the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Matriculation examination has increased from 2008 to 2018 in South African schools. It was consequent on this decline in performance that the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) Chair in Science and Mathematics Education developed a short learning intervention programme for Mathematics teachers in South Africa in 2013 and 2014. This research reports post-intervention instructional practices of five teachers at Reitz who took part in the intervention programme. The teachers took part in the training workshops that were orgnised  for participants at the University of the Free State, implemented the knowledge acquired from the programme in their respective schools, and compiled an evidence portfolios of their post-intervention instructional practices. The portfolios of evidence submitted by the teachers were thus analysed to give voice and meaning to their post-intervention instructional practices and reflections. The analyses provide evidences of which aspects of their instructional delivery worked well while other aspects did not work well. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">780-803</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Lindelani Mnguni</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hamza Mokiwa</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INTEGRATION OF ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN STEM EDUCATION AS A RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Covid-19 pandemic</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">online teaching methods</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM knowledge</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2021/987-1613414177.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education curriculum and instructional design continuously undergo reforms that aim to prepare learners for the challenges of the 21st century (Hoeg &amp; Bencze, 2017; Pietarinen et al., 2017). In particular, STEM education has adopted strategies that integrate modern technologies in teaching and learning to enhance knowledge construction and application among learners and societies. In some countries, STEM education reforms are fuelled by socio-economic and political imperatives that seek to promote social justice (Mnguni, 2018). More recently, the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has forced schools and universities to adopt online teaching methods to reduce the coronavirus's spread. Consequently, researchers are exploring strategies for the incorporation of online teaching and learning methods. The effectiveness of these strategies and their impact on the students' conceptualization of STEM knowledge, its application, and relevance are continuously being investigated.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6A</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Editorial</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1040-1042</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Dilek Sultan Acarli</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING APPLICATION: THE TOPIC OF PROTEINS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">biology teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">concept map</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">interdisciplinary teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">proteins</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">quasi-experimental research</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1591087457.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The aim of present research was to examine the effects of interdisciplinary teaching approach on teaching the topic of proteins. In the research, unequal control group model- one of the quasi-experimental research designs was used. The experimental group included 16 students (8 female and 8 male) whereas the control group included 14 students (6 female and 8 male) in this research- which was conducted with the participation of the 12th grade students. A lesson plan in which the topic of proteins was taught in interdisciplinary approach was prepared as the tool of application. A concept map prepared by the researcher and a 5-point Likert type of question were used in collected the data. The data collection tool was given to both the experimental group and the control group as a pre-test and post-test. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, a non-parametric method- was used in comparing the participants’ scores in the pre-test and post-test of concept map and Likert type question. As a result, it was found that the application of interdisciplinary teaching conducted in the experimental group had caused differences in students’ associating the concepts in biology and chemistry available in the topic of proteins and in their perceptions of their skills in this respect.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">344-355</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ayşegül Ergün</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IDENTIFICATION OF THE INTEREST OF TURKISH MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN STEM CAREERS: GENDER AND GRADE LEVEL DIFFERENCES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">gender differences</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">grade level differences</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM career interest</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1550083001.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">In Turkey, it is predicted that the need for STEM employment in the 2016-2023 period will be close to one million and that about 31% of this need will not be met. Therefore, the identification of students’ interest in STEM careers in middle-school is regarded as important. The aim of this research was to identify the interest of middle-school students in STEM careers. The sample of the research was made up of 892 students who received education in four middle-schools in the Aegean region of Turkey. In this research which was of the descriptive survey model, the STEM Career Interest Questionnaire was used to collect data. As a result of research, it was determined that the interest of male students in STEM careers is more positive compared to the female students. It was found that the interest in careers in terms of grade level did not display any differences in the area of technology, whereas it displayed differences in the areas of science, engineering and mathematics. In addition, it was identified that the interest in STEM careers displayed differences in terms of grade level and that as the grade level increases, the interest in STEM careers decreases. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">90-104</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mukadder Baran</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IDENTIFYING BARRIERS WHEN TEACHING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN LOW ECONOMY REGIONS: SWANSEA AND HAKKARI AS CASE STUDIES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">comparative case research</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">mathematics teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">SCIENCE teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teaching barriers</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1576225891.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The purpose of this research was to identify the barriers that upper-secondary school science and mathematics teachers face during the teaching process in economically disadvantaged regions (Hakkari, Turkey and Swansea, UK). The research design was comparative case research and pursues qualitative methodological approach in collecting and analyzing the data about the barriers that teachers are encountering during the teaching process. The research sample consisted of 24 science and mathematics teachers from different upper-secondary schools in Hakkari and Swansea. Semi-structured interview forms, were developed and employed to collect the data. The thematic analysis  was used to analyze the obtained data. The results revealed different categories in understanding the situations that science and mathematics teachers confront in both cases; student-related issues, pedagogical issues, teachers’ lack of subject knowledge and socio-economic and cultural-based issues. As student-based barriers, lack of prior knowledge, students`attention span, and interest; and regarding teachers-based barriers, teachers` lack of class management and communication skills, and lack of student-centered methods found as similar barriers. Language and socio-economical problems were also shared barriers for both cities. In addition to those barriers, political and family-based issues which hindered educational attainment found as the main barriers by science and mathematics teachers in Hakkari.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">848-865</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Alghamdi, A. K. H.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sun Young Kim</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF A SCIENCE METHODS COURSE ON FEMALE PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ BELIEFS WITHIN A SAUDI-ARABIAN CONTEXT</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pre-service teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science teachers’ beliefs</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">self-efficacy</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teachers in Saudi Arabia</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teaching strategy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1550082669.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This research examines the impact of a science methods course on the beliefs of female pre-service teachers (PSTs) in Saudi Arabia. Forty-seven female PSTs enrolled in a diploma of education programme at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) took a 16-week science methods course aimed at promoting their beliefs about their own self-efficacy, science teaching strategies, and science content knowledge (SCK). The PSTs completed a 30-item questionnaire on science teaching beliefs (five- point Likert Scale) both before and after taking the course. Data analysis revealed that the PSTs’ beliefs regarding their own self-efficacy changed after the course (statistically significant t=2.792, p 0.01) with scores indicating increased beliefs. Although increases were also observed for beliefs regarding science teaching methods and strategies and science content knowledge, they were very slight and not statistically significant. Overall, mean scores fell within the ‘neither agree nor disagree’ category for all three themes, ranging from 2.98 to 3.24. As one of the first studies in Saudi Arabia on PSTs’ science teaching beliefs, this research filled a gap in the existing literature. Grounded in the moderate scores for all three themes, recommendations for future science education course design are tendered as are suggestions for future research.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19-38</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Serkan Aslan</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF ARGUMENTATION-BASED TEACHING AND SCENARIO-BASED LEARNING METHOD ON THE STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">argumentation based teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">constructivism approach</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scenario-based learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science teaching</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1554359342.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Teaching programs based on contemporary learning-teaching approaches have been regulated since the 2005-2006 academic year in Turkey. Nevertheless, the researches conducted in Turkey suggested that teachers mostly use traditional teaching-learning approaches in their classroom activities. Therefore, this research aimed at enhancing the students’ academic achievement through the use of argumentation and scenario based learning approaches among the contemporary teaching-learning approaches in order to guide teachers. Experimental design with pre-test and post-test control group was used in the present research. This research was conducted with 45 fourth grade primary school students. The research was conducted with two experimental groups and one control group. Activities related to argumentation-based teaching were administered to the experimental group 1, activities with scenario-based learning method for the experimental group 2, and those of the existing curriculum for the control group. The research deployed an academic achievement test based on the unit of &quot;Let’s Solve the Riddle of Our Body&quot;. Independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and covariance analysis (ANCOVA) were used during data analysis. Research results revealed that the academic achievement of the students was significantly influenced by the activities related to argumentation-based teaching and scenario-based learning method.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">171-183</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yen-Ling Lin</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Shu Wen Huang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Cheng-Chieh Chang</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACTS OF A MARINE SCIENCE BOARD GAME ON MOTIVATION, INTEREST, AND ACHIEVEMENT IN MARINE SCIENCE LEARNING</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">board game teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">learning interest</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">learning motivation</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">marine education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1576226192.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This research sought to explore how teaching utilizing a marine science-related board game affected students’ motivation, interest, and achievement in marine science learning at the high school level. The research utilized an experimental design with pre-test and post-test measurements and a classroom setting, and included an experimental group containing 25 students and a control group  containing 26 students. The experiment was carried out over the course of 12 lessons, with various questionnaires, including a marine science learning motivation (MSLM) inventory, a marine science learning interest (MSLI) inventory, and a marine science learning achievement (MSLA) inventory, being used as the measurement instruments. The research analysed the students’ scores on these inventories using one-way analysis of ANCOVA. The main results of this research were as follows: 1) with regard to the MSLM inventory, the ‘relevance’, ‘confidence’, and ‘total score’ were significantly different between the two groups; 2) with regard to the MSLI inventory, the ‘cognitions regarding marine science’ were significantly different between the two groups; and 3) with regard to the MSLA, all of the dimensions including ‘memory’, ‘understanding’, ‘high-level thinking’, and ‘total score’ were significantly different between the two groups. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">907-923</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Zvezdan Z.Gagić</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sonja J. Skuban</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Branka N. Radulović</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Maja M. Stojanović</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Olivera Gajić</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MIND MAPS IN TEACHING PHYSICS: EDUCATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">educational efficiency</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">mind maps</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">students’ involvement</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teaching physics</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1550083117.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Primary school students  generally lack motivation  for learning physics, which they perceive as a difficult subject. In order to overcome this problem, it is necessary to apply appropriate teaching approach. The aim of this research was to assess the educational efficiency of mind maps in physics and students’ involvement when this approach is used. A pre-test – post-test control group design was used. The sample of this research consisted of 113 seventh-grade students divided into an experimental and a control group. The students in the experimental group were taught physics using mind maps and the students in the control group were taught using conventional teaching approach. The data were collected by using two physics knowledge tests and perceived mental effort scale. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, t-test and chi-square test. The obtained results showed that the educational efficiency of teaching with the use of mind maps was greater than the efficiency of conventional teaching approach. Besides that, the students’ involvement in the experimental group was higher than the one in the control group. The implementation of mind maps in teaching physics in primary schools can increase students’ motivation for learning physics and lower their mental effort. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">117-131</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Rahmi Qurota Aini</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Arif Rachmatullah</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Minsu Ha</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INDONESIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD SCIENCE: FOCUS ON GENDER AND ACADEMIC LEVEL</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">academic level</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">gender</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">middle school</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">primary school</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science attitude</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1571126809.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Student attitudes toward science have been one of the longstanding topics in science education research. Even though Indonesia has a unique educational system in which cultural, religious, and cognitive aspects are incorporated in the science K-12 curriculum, a limited number of studies have explored Indonesian students’ attitudes towards science. This research aimed to examine students’ attitudes toward science and the interaction between academic grade level and gender in Indonesian primary and middle school. Thirty items from five components of the BRAINS instrument were administered to 1587 Indonesian students from fourth grade through ninth grade to measure their attitude toward science. Rasch analysis, two-way ANOVA, and structural equation modeling path analysis were used to answer the proposed research questions. The current research found that Indonesian students’ attitudes toward science were significantly affected by academic level, however, gender only affected three components of attitude (control belief, attitude toward the behavior, and intention). Female students showed a higher attitude toward science than male students in general. The trends in every component of the students’ attitudes decreased from primary school to middle school. The present research provides a deeper discussion by considering the socio-cultural and educational history of Indonesia. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">654-667</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Bulent Cavas</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INDUSTRY 4.0 AND SCIENCE EDUCATION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Artificial Intelligence</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">historical paradigm</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">industry 4.0</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1571123849.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Industry 4.0 and its applications are one of the most important issues of countries that want to keep their competitiveness in the field of scientific, technological and innovation in today's world. The Countries that are not able to adapt to Industry 4.0 processes will not be able to develop scientifically and technologically or keep up with current innovation processes. One of the aims of this paper is to explain the concept of industry 4.0 to our readers in a comprehensible manner and to show how much science education is actually related to industry 4.0.
In a general sense, Industry 4.0 or in other words, the 4th Industrial Revolution is an expression that includes many modern automation processes, large databases that communicate with each other, robotic devices and dark factories, in short, quality production technologies. In addition, Industry 4.0 includes modern technologies such as additive manufacturing, autonomous robots, big data, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, system integration, internet of things, cybersecurity, cloud computing, machine learning, deep learning etc. These technologies play an important role especially in the formation of new smart factories.
</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Editorial</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">652-653</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jana Fancovicova</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Milan Kubiatko</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INFLUENCE OF SELECTED VARIABLES ON LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ CONCEPTS ABOUT DISEASES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">concepts about diseases</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">lower secondary school students</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">perceived vulnerability</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">quantitative research approach</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1571127074.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Children’s concept of biological phenomena differs from scientific thought in many aspects. The revelation of wrong concepts contributes to better education, especially when that information is described in a specific field of science. Not only children, but also adults often use anthropomorphic and theological explanations to express their ideas, which confirm their lack of understanding of biological phenomena. A great deal of research has proved retaining of children’s misconceptions in the fields of zoology and botany. How accurate, however, are their ideas about organisms of a microscopic size? The aim of the research was to find out the influence of selected factors (perceived vulnerability, grade, gender and type of group) on concepts about diseases among lower secondary school students. The research sample consisted of 400 students of lower secondary education from Slovakia. Data were collected through Likert type questionnaires. The correlation was found between perceived vulnerability to diseases, age and concepts about diseases. The statistically significant difference in the results between boys and girls was not confirmed. The higher impact should be aimed at their importance for humans and nature for a better understanding of this concept. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">708-716</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Paweł Bernard</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Karol Dudek-Różycki</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Kinga Orwat</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEGRATION OF INQUIRY-BASED INSTRUCTION WITH FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT: THE CASE OF EXPERIENCED CHEMISTRY TEACHERS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">formative assessment</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">in-service science teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">inquiry-based learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">qualitative research</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teacher professional development</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1554359401.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Inquiry-based teaching and learning methods are more and more widely used in the teaching natural sciences all over the world. The elements of inquiry are included in many national sciences’ core curricula and indicate that students should be actively involved in acquiring knowledge. This fact changes the teacher’s role in the classroom and the structure of everyday lessons. Independent inquiry helps students to develop various elements of scientific education, gain specific skills and competencies. Consequently, the assessment methods used so far are no longer sufficient and they should be expanded with new strategies, tools, and criteria. In recent years, there were many projects, in which teachers were trained in using both inquiry-based instructions and formative assessment. So far, unfortunately, there has been limited information on how teachers bring theory into practice and combine the new teaching and assessment methods, and how they adopt available teaching materials during everyday classes. This case study explored how experienced chemistry teachers, who have broad content, pedagogical content, and inquiry methodology knowledge, integrate inquiry-based teaching with formative assessment for the first time. The results of the study revealed the main limiting factors and teachers’ dilemmas.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">184-196</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gabriela Deliu</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Cristina Miron</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Cristian Opariuc-Dan</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">ITEM DIMENSIONALITY EXPLORATION BY MEANS OF CONSTRUCT MAP AND CATEGORICAL PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS ANALYSIS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">categorical principal components analysis</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">construct map</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">item response theory</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">unidimensionality</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2019</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2019</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1554359543.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">18</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The aim of this research is to study the merits and complementarity of Construct Mapping and Categorical Principal Components Analysis as two approaches that explore the dimensionality of multiple-choice items in achievement tests. Data from the two forms of the Romanian National Assessment Tests on Science were used to explore the dimensionality of items and to identify potentially problematic items that affect the equivalence of the two parallel forms. The findings confirm that the two tests have at best partial equivalence, but while the two methods both agree on test unidimensionality, they flag in part different items as potentially problematic. The results enable researchers and practitioners to make coherent data-driven decision regarding the use of unidimensional vs multidimensional IRT models.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">209-226</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Arif Rachmatullah</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sariwulan Diana</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Minsu Ha</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IDENTIFYING INDONESIAN UPPER-SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ORIENTATIONS TO LEARN SCIENCE AND GENDER EFFECT THROUGH THE USE OF STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">conceptions of learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">gender</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">learning orientations</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">learning strategies</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">multi-group analysis</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">self-efficacy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2018</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1533708941.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">17</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The purpose of this research is to examine Indonesian upper-secondary school students’ learning orientation in science via generating structural equation modeling of conceptions of, approaches to and self-efficacy in learning science, and seeking whether the model is significantly different based on gender. A total of 600 (63% females) Indonesian upper-secondary school students completed a questionnaire with three constructs – conceptions of, approach to and self-efficacy in learning science. Rasch analysis was conducted before testing the hypothesized model to examine the psychometric aspects of the instruments. Structural equation modeling featured with multi-group analysis-based gender was used to respond to the main research purpose. Findings indicated that the Indonesian upper-secondary school students had multiple conceptions of as well as multiple approaches to science learning that led to different senses of self-efficacy. Multiple conceptions and mixed approaches are the characteristics of students with achieving orientations. Most importantly, the current research found that conceiving learning science as memorizing was considered as the basis for the higher level of conceptions. The model significantly differed based on gender. Three main differences were Indonesian female students tended to be more conceiving science learning as memorization, using more surface motive and their self-efficacy was more impacted by their higher level of conceptions – applying and understanding than males. Based on findings, gender issues in orientations to studying and Indonesian science education curriculum are discussed. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">633-648</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hasene Esra Yildirir</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hatice Demirkol</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IDENTIFYING MENTAL MODELS OF STUDENTS FOR PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">chemical change</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">chemistry education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">mental model</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">misconceptions</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">physical change</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2018</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1544860367.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">17</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The right and wrong mental models that learners have about the changes in the matter have a great importance in understanding the basis of the chemistry. Therefore, the main purpose of this research was to identify students’ misconceptions with regard to physical and chemical change and to come up with models to explain their understanding of this topic. This research was qualitative descriptive with cross-sectional design. The participants were 148 6th graders in Kütahya which is a western city of Turkey. The data were collected through a questionnaire containing five open-ended questions. Additionally, for a more detailed analysis, 28 participants were interviewed to explore the mental models that emerged. Analysis of responses to the questionnaire generated four mental models (Particle Motion Model, Moving Away Particle Model, Particle Motion+Moving Away Particle Model, Macro Model) for physical change and three mental models for chemical change (Changing Particle Model, Moving Away Particle Model and Macro-Micro Change Model). Implications of these results for chemistry education were discussed. Mental models defined in the research can enable teachers of science and researchers to identify difficulties faced by students regarding physical and chemical changes; thus, they can effectively decide which approach to take on to devise scientific models. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">986-1004</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sheikha Al-Araimi</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Abdullah Ambusaidi</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mohammed Selim</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mohammed Al Amri</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF CARICATURE DRAWINGS IN THE ACQUISITION OF SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS AND ATTITUDES OF 4TH GRADE STUDENTS FOR BASIC EDUCATION TOWARDS SCIENCE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">attitudes towards science</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">caricature drawings</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific concepts</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2018</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1529508870.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">17</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This research aimed to examine the impact of caricature drawings in the acquisition of scientific concepts and attitudes of 4th grade students for basic education towards science. The sample of the research consisted of 162 students from 4th grade. 
The results revealed that there were statistically significant differences at (p = .001) between the two groups in acquisition of scientific concepts in favour of experimental group. In addition to that, females scored significantly more than males in the post-test (p = .001), whereas the interaction between group and gender was not significant. 
The results also indicated that there were statistically significant differences (p = .001) between the two group in the attitudes towards science in favour of experimental group scores. The gender also has a significant impact on developing positive attitudes towards science in favour of females, whereas the interaction between group and gender was not significant. Finally, there was a statistically significant difference (p = .001) between pre- and post-application of students’ attitudes towards science scale in favour of post-application for the experimental group. Accordingly, the research recommends the use of caricature drawings to help students’ in the acquisition of scientific concept and developing positive attitudes towards science.
</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">414-427</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Manihar Situmorang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Marudut Sinaga</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jamalum Purba</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sapnita Idamarna Daulay</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Murniaty Simorangkir</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Marham Sitorus</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ajat Sudrajat</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE CHEMISTRY LEARNING MATERIAL WITH GUIDED TASKS TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ COMPETENCE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">guided tasks</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">independent learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">innovative learning material</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">students’ competence</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2018</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1533708387.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">17</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This research aimed to provide an innovative chemistry learning material with guided tasks to improve students’ competence in Chemistry. It involved 180 students enrolled in the Analytical Chemistry course at State University of Medan in academic year of 2016/2017. The samples were purposively selected and divided into two groups. The research consisted of several steps including enrichment, innovation and standardization of learning material, followed by implementation of the developed learning material in class. A set of good quality learning material equipped with the guided task for Gravimetry topic has been provided. It contained relevant contextual examples, laboratory works, students’ activities, multimedia, and hyperlink to trustworthy websites. Implementation of innovative learning material has been conducted by using a set of developed learning material in the experimental class while the existing textbook was used in the control class. The research findings highlighted several points: (1) well-implemented innovative learning material was effective to improve the students’ competence; (2) learning outcome in experimental class was found higher than that in control class; (3) the guided task in the learning package facilitated the students to learn the selected chemistry topic independently which in turn shifted student learning style from lecturer-oriented to student-oriented; (4) the guided task not only made the students be familiar with searching for scientific documents to complete the given tasks but also improved the students’ ability to write and organize their assignments; (5) students’ academic attitudes, observed during the learning activities, were categorized as very good.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">535-550</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sibel   Kaya</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mustafa Temiz</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF STUDENT QUESTIONS IN PRIMARY SCIENCE CLASSROOMS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">high-level questions</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">primary science</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">question taxonomy</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">student questions</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2018</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1539418279.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">17</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Even though student questioning is the key aspect of inquiry learning, students ask very few questions in Science classrooms. This research aimed to increase the number of high-level questions posed by primary students during science lessons. An experiment was designed in which the experimental group was taught about the taxonomy of questions that can be asked by students during a science lesson. The quality of selected student questions was discussed as a whole class throughout the implementation. In addition, the experimental group completed the textbook activities at the end of each section in groups, whereas, the control group finished these activities individually. The experiment lasted for 4 weeks (12 lessons), during the ‘Microscopic Organisms and Environment’ unit in two 4th-grade classrooms. After completing each section of the unit, student questions were collected. The questions were classified as either low-level or high-level questions. The findings showed that in the experimental group, there were significantly more high-level questions compared to the control group. The questions were longer and more comprehensive in the experimental group. In both groups, as students’ achievement increased, so did the number of questions they asked.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">800-811</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Joaquín Martínez-Torregrosa</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ruben Limiñana</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Asunción Menargues</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Rafael Colomer</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IN-DEPTH TEACHING AS ORIENTED-RESEARCH ABOUT SEASONS AND THE SUN/EARTH MODEL: EFFECTS ON CONTENT KNOWLEDGE ATTAINED BY PRE-SERVICE PRIMARY TEACHERS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">astronomy education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science content knowledge</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teacher education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2018</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1519203761.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">17</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pre-service primary teachers mostly have negative attitudes towards science teaching and learning, and their science background is usually low. This usually results in them feeling unable or unconfident to teach science at school. A previous step to improve their willingness to teach science to children is that they feel they can learn in-depth any science core idea. To do that, a course conducted as oriented-research about a core science problem was developed and used to evaluate the influence of their previous science background and initial attitudes towards science teaching and learning on content knowledge attainment. The chosen science idea was about diurnal astronomy (Sun movements and the Sun/Earth model). Content knowledge attainment was assessed using learning indicators, which represent what pre-service teachers should “know” and “know how” on this science core idea. Overall, pre-service teachers achieved high learning levels on this topic, and no significant differences in content knowledge attained by students according to both initial attitudes and science background were found. This suggests that this teaching methodology could be useful for pre-service teachers to achieve a thorough knowledge on science core ideas, which is considered to be an important step to improve their willingness to teach science at the primary school.     </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">97-119</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Shyang-Chyuan Fang</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL EDUCATION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION OF PRE-SCHOOLERS: A CASE STUDY OF SELF-DESIGNED PICTURE BOOK</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">environmental education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">parent-child reading</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">parenting education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">picture book</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pro-environmental behavior</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2018</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1523526565.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">17</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Environmental problems nowadays pose threats to the sustainability of environment, such as global warming, urban air pollution, water scarcity, environmental noise, and biodiversity loss. The root cause of those problems is human behavior. Inspiring the interest of preschoolers is crucial in their future cognition of the environment. This research discussed the influence of parent-child reading on the children’s environmental interest. It also integrated environmental education into the learning process of preschoolers more comprehensively and continuously. A questionnaire was used for data collection and the data were analyzed using Smart PLS 2.0. The results show that personality trait, visual attention, and expression of ideas have statistical significance in terms of the children’s learning attitude. The picture book designed in this study can improve the pro-environmental behavior after parent-child reading.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">187-199</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Martin Bílek</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTERCULTURAL LEARNING: CHALLENGES FOR CURRENT SCIENCE EDUCATION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">communicative environment</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">educational reality</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">intercultural teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2018</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1533708323.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">17</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">In the time of curricular reforms across the Europe another chance appeared towards increasing learners´ interest in science education, particularly in relation to the future job selection in the field of natural sciences and technology. 
New challenge penetrating through all above mentioned “ways” and “problems” of science education is intercultural aspect, intercultural teaching and learning in science education. 
In the educational reality we can find recently different contributions to implementation of intercultural context into curriculum, but maths and science education is not frequently included. The ambience to fill this gap has the current project from framework Erasmus+ with acronym IncluSMe. The acronym means “Intercultural Learning in Mathematics and Science Initial Teacher Education” and project activities focus on increasing the quality of the initial teacher’s education of prospective mathematics and science teachers by including intercultural learning into their curricula: Prospective mathematics and science teachers need to learn how to cope with language barriers, culturally different pre-concepts about science and highly varying proficiencies of students (immigrants including) to be prepared to tackle the challenges of their future profession (IncluSMe Project, 2016).</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Editorial</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">532-534</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Dagnija Cēdere</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Inese Jurgena</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vilija Targamadze</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEREST OF LATVIAN AND LITHUANIAN STUDENTS IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">cognitive interest</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science and mathematics</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teaching/learning process</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2018</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1519059864.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">17</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Interest is one of the most important components for a successful teaching/learning process; unfortunately, nowadays students’ interest in science and mathematics is decreasing. The aim of the research is to explore the cognitive interest of 15-year- old students in science and mathematics. Students in Latvia and Lithuania participated in the survey; the data show that students’ cognitive interest in this area in both countries is mediocre. The factor analysis was used to single out four main dimensions of the cognitive interest – interest in the context, interest in mathematics, inquiry interest and enthusiasm. Students’ interest is higher in issues connected with practical life, the solution of real problems, but much lower if the problem to be solved needs effort, if they have to use mathematical tools. Enthusiasm is not characteristic for students. Only few respondents are willing to engage in science and mathematics in their leisure time. Latvian and Lithuanian students show slight differences in their interests. There are more Lithuanian students, who like mathematics and who are not afraid of difficulties. Latvian students, in their turn, show greater enthusiasm. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">31-42</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Miha Slapničar</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Iztok Devetak</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Saša A. Glažar</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jerneja Pavlin</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IDENTIFICATION OF THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE STATES OF MATTER OF WATER AND AIR AMONG SLOVENIAN STUDENTS AGED 12, 14 AND 16 YEARS THROUGH SOLVING AUTHENTIC TASKS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">authentic tasks</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">macroscopic level</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">misunderstanding of pressure</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">states of matter</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">submicroscopic level</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2017</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2017</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1497963826.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">16</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><isbn><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">E-ISSN 2538-7138</style></isbn><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The aim of the research was to identify how Slovenian primary and secondary school students of various age groups explain the particulate nature of the states of matter of water and air. The qualitative research included five 12, 14, and 16 year old students. A semi-structured interview including four computer-displayed tasks was used for the data collection. The research results show that all of the students correctly identified the states of matter of water at the particulate level, but not of air. It was found that the students had difficulty justifying their selection. The study confirmed the existence of: (a) misunderstanding regarding the interpretation of the particulate nature of matter, (b) a failure to distinguish between particle and matter, and (c) the inadequate description of submicroscopic level of matter with macroscopic level concept. The survey results provide an insight into the mindset of students and serve as a starting point for teachers’ lesson planning.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">308-323</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hwoe-gwan Yang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jongwon Park</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IDENTIFYING AND APPLYING FACTORS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT IN STUDENTS’ EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN IN SCIENTIFIC OPEN INQUIRY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">checklist</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">experimental design</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">gifted education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific open inquiry</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2017</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2017</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1513971123.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">16</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Even though experimental design (ED) in open inquiry is important for more authentic scientific inquiry, it is not easy for students. The objective of this research was to identify factors considered important in students' ED and explore how to utilize it to improve students’ ED. To achieve the objective, in the first step, eighteen middle-school students in a gifted center participated in this study voluntarily. They were asked to design experimental procedures without any guidelines or help. Students’ EDs were analyzed qualitatively to extract difficulties that students experienced when designing experimental procedures. Based on analysis results, 17 factors were identified as factors to be considered for students’ ED and structured in a form of checklist. In the second step, the checklist was provided to 50 students in the gifted center as guidelines for their ED. They were then asked to design experimental procedures. Comparing scores of these students’ ED with those of the control group, it was found that these factors were significantly effective for improving students’ ED with high effect size. In conclusion, results of this research suggest that effective teaching strategy for students’ ED in scientific open inquiry can be obtained based on analysis about their difficulties in ED.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">932-945</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Katarina B. Putica</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Dragica D. Trivić</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS’ CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND FUNCTIONALIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DIGESTION THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF THE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING APPROACH</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Conceptual Understanding</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">functionalization of acquired knowledge</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">interdisciplinary teaching approach</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">process of digestion</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2017</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2017</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1493050168.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">16</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Adolescents are considered as a nutritionally vulnerable subgroup because of their alimentary behaviours. Considering that alimentary habits are strongly influenced by knowledge about digestion, an experiment was conducted with aim to determine whether conceptual understanding and functionalization of this knowledge can be improved by the interdisciplinary teaching approach. The experiment encompassed 258 students attending the fourth year of high school. No statistically significant difference in the level of the previously acquired chemistry, biology and physics knowledge concerning digestion between the two groups was determined on the pre-test. Conversely, the students in the experimental group significantly outperformed those in the control group on the post-test that required a deep understanding and the application of knowledge about digestion in solving real-life problems. Therefore, it was concluded that high- school teachers can be advised to apply the interdisciplinary teaching approach in order to improve their students' knowledge about this process.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">123-139</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Nilay Şener</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Erol Taş</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING OF STUDENTS’ CREATIVE THINKING THROUGH  PURDUE MODEL IN SCIENCE EDUCATION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">creative thinking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Problem Solving</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Purdue model</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science project</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2017</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2017</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1497964027.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">16</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><isbn><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">E-ISSN 2538-7138</style></isbn><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The aim of this research is to develop a guide material prepared according to Purdue Model for the ‘The Let's Solve the Puzzle of Our Body’ unit in the 5th grade Science class at secondary school and to research the effects of this guide material on students’ creative thinking. For this purpose, the research was carried out by using the quasi experimental model, with pre-test and post-test control groups. Experimental application was carried out with 43 experimental group and 44 control group students, in total 87 students in Turkey. While in the experimental group applications were carried out based on the Purdue Model, in the control group the course was taught according to the activities stated in 2013 Ministry of National Education Science Curriculum in Turkey. The data of the research were collected using Torrance Test of Creative Thinking Verbal Form A-B and Figural Form A-B. As a result of the research, it was determined that verbal and formal creative thinking levels of the experimental group and the control group students were significantly different in favour of the experimental group students. On the basis of the results obtained from this research, some suggestions have been made to the educators and future researchers. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">350-365</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Špela Hrast</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ferk Savec, V.</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INFORMATIONAL VALUE OF SUBMICROSCOPIC REPRESENTATIONS IN SLOVENIAN CHEMISTRY TEXTBOOK SETS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">chemistry learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">chemistry textbook sets</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">informational value</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">submicroscopic representations</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">textbook analysis</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2017</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2017</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1509213895.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">16</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This research focuses on the informational value of submicroscopic representations (SMRs) in chemistry textbook sets for Slovenian primary schools (Grade 8 and Grade 9, students’ age 13-15 years). For the purpose of analysis a holistic criteria related to the accompanying descriptors of SMRs in textbook sets was developed. The research revealed four main holistic descriptors accompanying SMRs, i.e. direct descriptor (D), indirect descriptor (I), combined descriptor (C), and SMRs without descriptors (W), which support learners’ recognition of SMRs’ informational value on different levels by providing different accompanying add-ons of SMRs. In-depth analysis identified 14 main categories of the underlying representational types of SMR add-ons. The significance of the research is in initiating a discussion about the holistic criteria for the description of SMRs integrated in the textbook sets, because in practice the learner perceives each SMR as a whole.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">694-705</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Majda Fiksl</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Andrej Flogie</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Boris Aberšek</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INNOVATIVE TEACHING/LEARNING METHODS TO IMPROVE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING CLASSROOM CLIMATE AND INTEREST</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">classroom climate</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">innovative didactical methods</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">lower secondary education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">students interest</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2017</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2017</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1513971461.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">16</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">For successful work in the classroom, it is important to create a positive climate and to involve students actively in the process of learning. The presented research focused on how the students perceived the classroom climate, and on their interest in the contents of the subject Science, Engineering and Technology (STE). 92 primary school sixth- and seventh-grade students had been included in research. Two groups are established, one from a class using mainly frontal teaching methods (control group) and another, expert group from a class using an innovative teaching/learning methods mainly as problem and research-based learning and participatory learning supported with information communication technology.
To measure the classroom climate and the students' interest, a survey with 54 statements was used. The results confirmed changes in the perception of classroom climate and in the popularity of contents taught in STE, in relation to the teaching methods used. It was established that innovative teaching/learning methods increase the students′ interest, and help to improve classroom climate. 
</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1009-1019</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Rekai Zenda</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Johanna G. Ferreira</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF SCIENCE LEARNERS IN RURAL SCHOOLS THROUGH ASSESSMENT PRACTICES: A SOUTH AFRICAN CASE STUDY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">case study; improving science achievement; physical sciences assessment; rural schools</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2016</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2016</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2016/987-1482424158.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">15</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This research was embarked on to explore the underperformance of Physical Sciences learners and the subsequent increasing unpopularity of the subject in South African rural schools. As poor academic achievement in science is a concern in many countries and not only in South Africa, qualitative research was undertaken to determine whether assessment can contribute to the improvement of learners’ academic achievement in this particular school subject. The research uses the Cultural and Historical Activity Theory as theoretical lens to analyse how assessment can improve the academic achievement of learners. Data were collected by means of face-to-face interviews with teachers, school principals and subject advisers, the “community” as advocated by the Activity Theory, while focus-group interviews were held with the learners who are the “subjects” in the Activity Theory. Verbatim findings highlight the views of participants and reveal that though efforts are made to incorporate a variety of informal assessment methods, key issues such as poor formulation of questions, weak comprehension skills and unsatisfactory interpretation of questions, remain a problem. Based on these findings, recommendations for improvement are proposed. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">523–531</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Cândida Sarabando</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">José P. Cravino</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Armando A. Soares</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING STUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPTS OF WEIGHT AND MASS WITH A COMPUTER SIMULATION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">computer simulation</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">mass and weight</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">physics education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teaching and learning</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2016</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2016</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2016/987-1481286476.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">15</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Although weight and mass are considered fundamental concepts in physics, they are still not well understood by students. A computer simulation was designed to improve students’ learning of these concepts and compared it with other teaching strategies. The research was carried out with 142 students (7th grade; 12-13 years old), from three schools. There is a significant change in conceptual understanding of the concepts weight and mass for all groups. Nevertheless, total gains were higher for students who used the computer simulation. The implication is that using a computer simulation, carefully designed to address specific conceptual difficulties, may help the students understand the concepts of weight and mass. We also interviewed teachers to understand their role in the classroom. It was found that the features most likely to contribute to improve students’ learning are related to the balance between support and autonomy given to students during the use of the computer simulation.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">109–126 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Siew, N. M.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Henry Goh</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Fauziah Sulaiman</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEGRATING STEM IN AN ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS: THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF RURAL SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AN OUTREACH CHALLENGE PROGRAM</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">engineering design process</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">higher order thinking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">outreach challenge program</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">rural schools</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEM</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2016</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2016</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2016/987-1482423958.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">15</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This research was conducted to evaluate the learning experience of Grade Ten students from two Malaysian rural secondary schools that adopted the integration of STEM in an Engineering Design Process (STEM-EDP) approach vis-á-vis an outreach challenge program. A total of 89 students undertook a ten hour program which engaged them in designing and building three different prototypes as well as answering higher order thinking questions. Data on students’ learning experience were captured through participants’ responses to a six-point Likert scale questionnaire, teachers’ field notes, and open-ended questions. The questionnaire result reveals statistically significant gains in knowledge or skills about, attitudes toward, and practices on STEM. The STEM-EDP outreach challenge program brought awareness to rural school students of their potential as problem solvers, thinkers, creators, and collaborators. Students were able to simultaneously broaden their boundaries in knowledge and competency even though they experienced difficulties in tackling challenges associated with STEM activities. Findings suggested that the STEM-EDP approach can be applied as a means for fostering creativity, problem solving skills, and thinking skills among rural secondary school students.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">477–493</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ján Záhorec</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Alena Hašková</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Martin Bílek</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPACT OF MULTIMEDIA ASSISTED TEACHING ON STUDENT ATTITUDES TO SCIENCE SUBJECTS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">change of the attitudes</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">multimedia assisted teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">negative attitudes to school subjects</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teaching physics</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2014</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2014</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2015/987-1437679232.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">13</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">During the last decades, multimedia assisted teaching has expanded to all types and levels of schools. The authors dealt with a question whether there is a possibility through the application of multimedia teaching materials in the natural science school subjects to eliminate students' negative attitudes to these subjects. To answer this question, a research was carried out in which the attention was paid to possibilities to eliminate students` negative attitudes to physics as the most unpopular school subject. The authors show how various aspects of students` opinion on physics can be changed due to the use of animations and interactive simulations of the physical phenomena in the teaching process. For the pedagogical intervention two kinds of multimedia teaching materials were used. The difference between them was in the level of their interactivity. Within the research students` attitudes to physics through the given explored aspects were assessed twice, once before the multimedia teaching material pedagogical intervention and the second time after it. As the research results show, although it is possible to certain rate to eliminate students` negative attitudes to physics, this possible elimination depends also on the level of the intractivity of the used multimedia teaching materials.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">361–380 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jelena Radovanović</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Josip Sliško</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTRODUCING SELF-REGULATED LEARNING INTO EARLY PHYSICS TEACHING IN SERBIA: DESIGN, INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF A MULTI-STAGE SEQUENCE OF HOMEWORK AND CLASSWORK</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">graph reading in school physics</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">home physics experiments</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">inquiry-based homework</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">textbook error detection</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2014</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2014</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2015/987-1437679495.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">13</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Applied research, carried out to examine the possibility of improving students’ understanding of heat phenomena through multi-stage homework and teacher-supported classwork assignments, is described. These assignments, designed within the theoretical framework of self-regulated learning, enable students to overcome errors and doubts from the individual problem solving stage by peer interaction and teacher feedback and to reflect on individual and group learning experiences. They also promote the development of students’ self-efficacy, critical consideration of information and error detection, making individual and group learning processes more visible to students and teacher. This applied research was conducted in an intact grade VII primary school physics class in Serbia. Analysis shows significant progress in students’ understanding of the anomalous behavior of water and their ability to interpret a non-linear graph. The level of self-reflection outcomes depends mostly on the quality of teacher-supported group classwork. It is noted that students should improve expressive and critical thinking abilities.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">411–424 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Benedict Tlala</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Israel Kibirige</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Joseph Osodo</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INVESTIGATING GRADE 10 LEARNERS’ ACHIEVEMENTS IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS USING CONCEPTUAL CHANGE MODEL</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">achievement</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">conceptual change</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">misconceptions</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2014</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2014</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2015/987-1437062876.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">13</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Challenges in the learning photosynthesis topic may arise from misconceptions. This study investigated Grade 10 learners’ achievements in photosynthesis using the Conceptual Change Model (CCM) to minimize misconceptions and to develop understanding of photosynthesis in rural high schools in South Africa. A quasi-experimental design was used with a sample of 78 Grade 10 learners: 39 Experimental Group (EG) and 39, Control Group (CG). Achievement test, learning materials and a questionnaire were used to collect data. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Pearson correlation. Results from post-tests show that EG taught using the CCM exhibited higher achievements than the CG taught using traditional approach. ANCOVA show that there were significant differences in performance between pre- and post-test of the EG. Performance and attitudes correlation was (r = 0.89) for EG and (r = 0.33) for CG, suggesting that CCM positively influenced learners’ attitudes towards Life Sciences. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">155-164</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Miriam Muscat</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Paul Pace</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF SITE-VISITS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOLOGICAL COGNITIVE KNOWLEDGE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">concept maps</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">meta-cognitive tools</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">out-of-classroom activities</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">site-visits</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vee diagrams</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2013</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">September/2013</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2015/987-1425808483.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">12</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Classroom-based science teaching tends to be dominated by teaching that stifles the students’ natural curiosity and eagerness to discover their surroundings. Knowledge makes sense to students particularly when it is learned within the context of an authentic experience. Thus classroom-based science needs to be complimented by out-of-classroom activities which offer direct and relevant information that influences students’ learning. Students build new knowledge on already existing schema, thus it is important for both teacher and students to question and evaluate their knowledge to be able to build on solid grounds. This paper illustrates examples of meta-cognitive tools (i.e. Vee diagrams and concept maps) used before and after site-visits to explore the contribution of out-of-classroom activities to the students’ biological cognitive development. This research shows that site-visits are a necessary part of science learning because they help students develop observational and reasoning skills, link biology to personal life experiences and contextualise inert classroom knowledge, making it more meaningful and easier to remember.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">337-351 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Imbi   Henno</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Priit   Reiska</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPACT OF THE SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT ON STUDENT SCIENCE PERFORMANCE AND ATTITUDES: THE CASE OF ESTONIA</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">PISA</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">socioeconomic background of students and schools</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">students’ science performance and attitudes</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Teaching practices</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2013</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2013</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2015/987-1425809384.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">12</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study analysed how to explain the statistically significant differences between the science mean scores and attitudes of students in different language instruction schools. Estonian schools were grouped according to their socioeconomic intake relative to the national average into three categories: advantaged, disadvantaged and mixed schools. The analysis of the socioeconomic composition of different language instruction schools showed that the Estonian and Russian language instruction schools are mostly mixed schools. The results did not support the assertion that weaker performance is connected with disadvantaged background of students or schools either. Although students in Russian language instruction schools reported higher levels of motivation, more innovative classroom activities and they were more informed about science-related careers, the students in Estonian language instruction schools outperformed the Russian-speaking students in science. The results support an opinion that the students’ performance and engagement differences are rather connected with classroom level instructional approaches and learning culture.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">465-481 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Nilgün Tatar</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Serkan   Buldur</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING PRESERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS’ SELF-EFFICACY ABOUT THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT: IMPLICATION FOR THEORY AND PRACTICE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Alternative Assessment</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">preservice teacher education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">self-efficacy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2013</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2013</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2015/987-1425809148.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">12</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">In this study, a teaching program was designed to improve preservice teachers’ self-efficacy about the use of alternative assessment. The teaching program has three stages: workshop, observation, and teaching. Preservice teachers’ opinions about the contribution of the teaching program to their professional development and the effect of the program on their self-efficacy were determined. Data was collected through a survey, students’ reflective journal, and interview. Results show that preservice teachers had understanding about alternative assessment and positive opinions about the teaching program. Furthermore, their self-efficacy toward use of the alternative assessment improved. The teaching program had positive contributions to preservice teachers’ professional development.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">452-464</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">David Méndez Coca</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INFLUENCE OF TEACHING METHODOLOGIES IN THE LEARNING OF THERMODYNAMICS IN SECONDARY EDUCATION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Cooperative learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Technologies</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">traditional methodology</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2013</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">March/2013</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2015/987-1425757716.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">12</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This research has as it is the objective to show the influence of three different teaching meth-odologies in the learning of some basic concepts of thermodynamics with 14 and 15-year old students. This study was motivated by the scholar failure of students at these ages, especially in science. The sample was 93 students divided in three homogenous groups. Each group learnt the concepts with a teaching methodology. The concepts were density, pressure, volume, temperature and heat, these are the concepts of the curriculum. The instruments were a pretest and a posttest with theoretical questions, exercises and problems about thermodynamics concepts, moreover students made an intelligence test to verify the homogeneity of the groups. The results brought us that the teaching methodology has a very important role in the learning of the students in secondary education.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">59-72</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hakan Şevki   Ayvacı</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PREDICT-OBSERVE- EXPLAIN STRATEGY ON TEACHING PHOTO ELECTRICITY TOPIC</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">conceptual change</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">experiment design</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">misconceptions</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">photo electricity</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">predict-observe-explain strategy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2013</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2013</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2015/987-1425810146.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">12</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">In this study, Predict-Observe-Explain (POE) strategy was introduced and its effectiveness was investigated with respect to prospective science teacher opinions on an experimental activity, during the implementation and at the end of the process. The study was implemented to a group of 16 science and technology education program prospective science teachers. The research data was obtained with the analysis of worksheet and the results of experimental discussions with prospective science teachers. The developed experimental activities were conducted over the “Experimental Worksheet” including the stages of pre-experiment (prediction), experiment (observation), and post-experiment (explain) according to the POE strategy. Finally, between 10-12 min time discussion environment was prepared for 4 different groups. At the end of the study, evaluations were realized on applicability of POE and it was concluded that the developed activity according to the POE was effective and attractive in learning the science concepts.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">548-564 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Lutfi   Incikabi</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mehmet A.  Kurnaz</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Murat   Pektas</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">AN INVESTIGATION OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE QUESTIONS IN ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN TURKEY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">cognitive requirements</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">level determination examination</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">mathematics and science problems</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">structural properties</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2013</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">September/2013</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2015/987-1425808526.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">12</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study aimed to investigate LDE mathematics and science questions in terms of cognitive requirements (knowing, applying and reasoning) and structural properties (conceptual, algorithmic and graphical). The methodology adopted in the current study was document analysis. The results of this study indicated that LDE science assessments emphasized conceptual questions, while mathematics questions were more algorithmic in structure. In addition, both mathematics and science items de-emphasized graphical representations. In terms of their cognitive requirements, both science and mathematics LDE items neglected the cognitive domain of reasoning. Moreover, science questions mostly met in the intersection of knowing and conceptual, while mathematics questions often required students to apply knowledge on algorithmic questions. This study also concluded that the distribution of question requirements differed from year to year. Some implications regarding the results included that implementing a nation-wide assessment that neglects graphical representations contradicts the target goal of the mathematics and science programs in Turkey. The fact that the LDE was designed to determine the level of students’ learning yet neglects reasoning questions also presents a contradiction to the curricular aims.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">352-364 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chang, C. Y.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yu-Ching Huang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chen-Yuan Chen</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF A SCIENCE MUSEUM INVOKED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT (SMILE) ON STUDENTS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">earth science curriculum</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Learning Environment</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Perception</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science museum teaching</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2012</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2012</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1419169083.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">11</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study aims to develop an ESSMIM (Earth System-Science Museum Instructional Module) and evaluate its impacts on 11th grade high-school students’ expected and actual perceptions of a Science Museum invoked Learning Environment (SMiLE). The ESSMIM was designed following the principles of the “Earth System Education (ESE) learning cycle mode” (Chang, 2005): Engage, Explore, Analysis/Explain, as well as Apply and Evaluate. In terms of research design, a one group pretest posttest research design was adopted. The research subjects were a group of 11th grade students from a national senior high-school in Taiwan. Students’ expected and actual perceptions of SMiLE were investigated through the “SMiLE Inventory”. The results of this study showed that: (1) students’ scores, of expected SMiLE Inventory, both before and after the experimental teaching were higher than their actual SMiLE scores, (2) compared with previous actual experiences, ESSMIM created a SMiLE which was closer to students’ expectation, and (3) after experiencing the ESSMIM, the difference between students’ expectations and their actual experience of SMiLE was reduced.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">357-366 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Naki Erdemir</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mustafa Sami Topcu</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF PRESENTATION GRAPHICS ON PRESERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS PHYSICS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">attitudes towards physics</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">presentation graphics</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Preservice Science Teachers</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2012</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2012</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1419167504.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">11</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">In this study, the effects of presentation graphics on Preservice Science Teachers’ (PST) attitudes towards physics were investigated. The research was performed on two groups. While one group was an experimental group, another was a control group. The research was conducted in the context of an undergraduate-level physics course, and this course was taught to two groups. While the experimental group consisted of forty PST and was taught with presentation graphics as well as traditional lecturing method, the control group consisted of forty PST and was only taught with traditional lecturing method. The data were collected by means of a scale of attitudes towards physics. In light of the findings of the present research, it was concluded that the attitudes of the experimental group towards physics were much more improved positively than the control groups’ attitude toward physics after the treatment involving presentation graphics.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">141-152 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Nilgün Tatar</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INQUIRY-BASED SCIENCE LABORATORIES: AN ANALYSIS OF PRESERVICE TEACHERS’ BELIEFS ABOUT LEARNING SCIENCE THROUGH INQUIRY AND THEIR PERFORMANCES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Inquiry-based instruction</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">open inquiry activities</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pre-service teacher education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2012</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">September/2012</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1419168329.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">11</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study investigated the effects of inquiry-based instruction on preservice teachers’ beliefs concerning learning science through inquiry and their performance to apply a scientific inquiry process. A case study design was used in the study and the data were collected through interviews, observations and written documents. Two preservice teachers with different experiences in their previous science education were selected. The preservice teachers learnt both science and scientific inquiry process through open inquiry activities. The results of the research show that past experiences of preservice teachers are effective on beliefs about learning science through inquiry. The open inquiry science activities which allow preservice teachers’ making discussion, collaboration, and interaction were effective in developing their beliefs concerning learning science through inquiry and increasing their ability to apply a scientific inquiry process. The overall findings indicate that inquiry-based activities should frequently be a preferred instruction method in preservice teacher education.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">248-266 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gokhan Bas</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INVESTIGATING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS ON THE CONSTRUCTIVIST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN SCIENCE COURSE WITH PATH ANALYSIS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Constructivist learning environment</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">correlation</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Elementary students</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science course</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2012</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2012</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1419169197.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">11</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the perceptions on the constructivist learning environment and academic success of elementary students in science course with structural equation modelling. The correlative investigation model was adopted in the research. The sample of the research consisted of 195 students from six public elementary schools, chosen according to random sampling method. In order to answer the research question, “The constructivist learning environment survey” (Taylor, Fraser &amp; Fisher, 1997) was used in the study. Also, the data in relation with students’ academic success in science course were gathered from their school report cards regarding the spring semester. In this research, LISREL 8.51 structural equation software was used in model establishing by using the observed variables. According to the findings obtained in the research, it was found out that the compatibility index results of the constructed equation model, the model-data compatibility was found out to be high enough [χ2/df=1.46; GFI=0.86; CFI=0.93; RMSEA=0.048; RMR=0.078; SRMR=0.056; NFI=0.81; NNFI=0.92] in the research. In the regression equa¬tion, it was found out that the variable best predicting students’ academic success in science course was the variable personal relevance in relation to the constructivist learning environment. On the other hand, it was understood that all five predictor variables that were included in the regression equation account for 76% of the overall variance of the academic success in science course in the research.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">367-378 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hakan Y. Atar</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Burcu Atar</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INVESTIGATING THE MULTILEVEL EFFECTS OF SEVERAL VARIABLES ON TURKISH STUDENTS’ SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENTS ON TIMSS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">HLM</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">inquiry learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Science Achievement</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">TIMSS</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2012</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2012</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1419167414.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">11</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Two-level hierarchical linear modelling was used to analyse data obtained from TIMSS 1999 database to examine the effect of inquiry-based learning on science achievement of eighth-grade students in Turkey. The influence of teachers’ emphasis on scientific reasoning and problem solving and availability of school resources for science instruction on inquiry-based learning and science achievement slopes were also examined. At the student-level, overall plausible values were used as the outcome variable whereas gender, availability of home educational resources, attitude toward science, and inquiry-based learning were predictor variables. At the school level, there were two predictor variables: teachers’ emphasis on scientific reasoning and problem solving and availability of school resources for science instruction. While statistically significant and negative relationship was found between inquiry-based learning and within-school science achievement, there were nonsignificant effects of school-level predictors on inquiry-based learning and science achievement slopes.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">115-126 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Asuman Seda Saracaloglu</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hilal Aktamis</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yesim Delioglu</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS’ CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS ON SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENTATION TRAINING AND ON THEIR ABILITY TO CONSTRUCT AN ARGUMENT</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">argumentation</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Critical thinking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">written argument</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2011</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2011</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1410547733.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">10</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a learning environment created to teach scientific argumentation on the development of critical thinking and argument skills among prospective teacher. The study included 88 2nd grade university students attending Aydin Province Adnan Menderes University, Department of Elementary School Education. An experimental and control group design was used and activity sheets were prepared to develop argument skills in accordance with the topic of “Mechanics”. The results of the present study showed that the critical thinking skills among prospective teachers included in the learning environment were higher in comparison to those in the control group, and that critical thinking post-test scores did not show a significant difference by gender in either group. It was also concluded that the learning environment used in the study had a positive effect on the quality of written scientific arguments of prospective teachers.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">243-260 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Anne Laius</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Miia Rannikmäe</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPACT ON STUDENT CHANGE IN SCIENTIFIC CREATIVITY AND SOCIO-SCIENTIFIC REASONING SKILLS FROM TEACHER COLLABORATION AND GAINS FROM PROFESSIONAL IN-SERVICE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">in-service courses</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">role of science teachers’ professional change</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific creativity</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STL teaching</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2011</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2011</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1410008629.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">10</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study examines the impact on 9th grade students’ change in socio-scientific reasoning and scientific creativity skills as a result of their science teachers’ professional change, as a result of participating in longitudinal in-service courses. Eight chemistry and four biology teachers participated in two consecutive intervention studies, each running for 8 months, both designed to guide teachers on promoting the level of scientific literacy in their students. During the in-service courses, the teachers created teaching materials for 4 integrative teaching modules and taught their students using a designed STL teaching approach. The students’ development was determined in terms of scientific creativity and socio-scientific reasoning skills, as indicators of scientific literacy gains, with an initial pre-test in the fall of the school year and a post-test in the spring after the STL intervention. The results of the study revealed that the degree of teachers’ professional level in promoting problem solving and decision making teaching and its impact on student gains, as well as the number of teachers collaborating together in the teaching within a school, had a significant impact on their students’ improvement in skills associated with socio-scientific reasoning and scientific creativity.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">127-137 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yilmaz Kara</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Salih Cepni</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INVESTIGATION THE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN SCHOOL LEARNING AND ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS THROUGH ITEM ANALYSIS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">assessment framework</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">curriculum alignment</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">large-scale examination</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2011</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June/2011</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1410008425.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">10</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study presents findings collected from an analysis of Turkish Biology Curriculum Guidelines and of their alignment with the curricular outcomes and the Student Selection Examination (SSE) for higher education. The analysis was performed in multiple dimensions: content areas, learning outcomes in terms of scientific research and process skills (SRPS), science-technology-society-environment (STSE), communication competencies, attitudes and values (CCAV) and cognitive objectives. Webb’s (2007) alignment criteria were used to investigate the relationship between curriculum standards and assessment frameworks. In this process, the biology questions asked in the 2010 SSE were examined in detail by 10 biology teachers who have been teaching biology courses at secondary schools. Although alignment consistency was high according to the depth-of-knowledge (DOK) consistency and categorical concurrence criteria, the SSE questions and curriculum outcomes were not fully aligned considering the low consistency of range of knowledge and balance of representation criteria.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">73-86 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Michael Littledyke</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Evangelos Manolas</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IDEOLOGY, EPISTEMOLOGY AND PEDAGOGY: BARRIERS AND DRIVERS TO EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN SCIENCE EDUCATION</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">epistemology</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">ideology</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2010</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2010</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1405172734.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">9</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The Brundtland Report (Brundtland Report, cited in United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 1999) definition of education for sustainability (EfS) allows us to conceptualise sustainability in a number of ways in education, such as ecological sustainability, sociocultural sustainability and, political sustainability. Whilst EfS issues have multi-dimensional meanings, including effects, root causes, change strategies and preferred futures each curriculum area can contribute. This paper focusses on how approaches to science education can contribute to or inhibit EfS, according to what degree it informs understanding of sustainability issues, how it may support values and beliefs underpinning sustainability and how priorities in constructing curricula can influence pedagogy. Epistemology, as conceptions of knowledge associated with science, and ideology, as political influences that shape curricula, can direct approaches to pedagogy, which may or may not support EfS. Examples of approaches to science education that may support EfS are discussed with implications for appropriate pedagogy to support EfS summarised.
This paper has discussed how ideological, epistemological and pedagogical assumptions of curriculum planners and those who implement curricula affect EfS. Table 2 summarises the discussion and illustrates how modern, positivist or postpositivist approaches to science education can provide barriers or drivers to EfS. As unsustainability is not tenable option for society, postpositivist pedagogical approaches that support sustainability must be seen as an imperative rather than an option. Some of these pedagogical approaches are being put into practice; for example the development of resources to support teaching for sustainability, the establishing of eco-schools as models for sustainability practice and some very good guidance for development of EfS at national, regional and local level (see introduction). However, understanding of the barriers and drivers to EfS is also needed to counter the barriers and to foster a more systematic integration of EfS within the curriculum to achieve effective action for sustainability.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">285-301 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Serap Çalışkan</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gamze Selçuk</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mustafa Erol</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INSTRUCTION OF PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES: EFFECTS ON PHYSICS ACHIEVEMENT AND SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">achievement</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Problem Solving</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Self-Efficacy Beliefs</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">strategy instruction</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2010</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">March/2010</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404741010.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">9</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study has investigated the effects of problem solving instruction on physics achievement, and physics self-efficacy beliefs in an introductory physics course at university level. In this study, pretest-posttest and quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group was used. Two groups of student teachers (n=77) participated in this study. During the study, one group received problem solving strategy instruction while the control group received traditional problem solving strategies. Data was collected using the Physics Achievement Test and Physics Self-Efficacy Scale. Results indicate that strategy instruction has positive effects on physics achievement, and physics self-efficacy beliefs. On the basis of the findings, it is strongly recommended that physics instructors use explicit problem solving strategy instruction in their lessons to develop students’ problem solving skills and related outcomes such as course achievement.
This study provides some evidence of the positive effects of using problem solving instruction (UQAPAC+SE) on student teachers’ physics achievement. Explicit problem solving strategy instruction was more effective than traditional instruction in improving physics achievement and self efficacy of the participating students. 
In addition to assuring students’ active (curiosity and interest) participation in the problem solving activities, explicit problem-solving instruction has helped students by leading them to apply good problem solvers’ strategies on the step model while solving physics problems, and thereby helping them to improve their cognitive and metacognitive awareness, features displayed by strategic learners. Moreover, the instruction program provided students with learning activities by which students could feel successful and help their self-efficacy develop. In this context, it can be said that strategy teaching in physics may play a significant role in training strategic, successful, and high self-efficious problem solvers. 
In light of the results of the present study, teachers and/or educators who do not include strategy applications in their programs because of time constraints but want to improve the effectiveness of their instructions, may review the potential benefits of strategy instruction.
The fact that the study was carried out within a regular teaching program has limitations on this study. Firstly, prompt feedback related to the problem solving sheets and self evaluation forms collected from the students after the application could not be given. In this context, the feedback related to what the students did could only be given in the following weeks lecture. The provision of prompter feedback would have meant that the students could have understood their mistakes and deficiencies immediately. Secondly, the study has been conducted within a six weeks period. It is thought that long term future studies on the same theme may prove to be useful in producing more positive effects on the results.
On the basis of the findings, it is recommended that physics instructors should use explicit problem solving strategy instruction in their lessons to develop students’ problem solving skills and the related outcomes such as course achievement. Research where the effects of instruction of different problem solving strategies in different grade levels on a physics course and different effective characteristics (e.g. learning satisfaction and motivation to learning) are investigated should be done. Problem solving strategies and courses intended to instruct these strategies should be added to the curriculums of the institutions which are educating teachers. In addition to this, many different kinds of research comparing a group where problem solving strategies instruction was implicit with the groups where it was explicit; or comparing the effects of instruction of problem solving strategies and learning strategies; or investigating the effects of instruction of problem solving strategies in computer-aided or cooperative learning groups can be done. Moreover, in further research, by supporting a strategy instruction program combined with a self-efficacy development program which can be applied in addition to a normal instruction program, more effective results could be obtained. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">20-34 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yasemin Özdem</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pınar Çavaş</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Bülent Çavaş</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jale Çakıroğlu</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hamide Ertepınar</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">AN INVESTIGATION OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS’ SCIENTIFIC LITERACY LEVELS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">elementary</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific literacy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2010</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">March/2010</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404740965.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">9</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Scientific literacy has become the major goal of science education in many countries as well as Turkey. In line with this goal, the purpose of this study is to investigate the scientific literacy level of elementary students in Turkey. In this study, the scientific literacy level of students is investigated through “Scientific Literacy Test” adapted by the researchers. The test was administered to 946 elementary students enrolled in 6th, 7th and 8th grades in nine cities during the academic year of 2008-2009. The results of the study showed that 8th grade students significantly differ in their scientific literacy level compared to 6th and 7th grade students. However, eight graders have also some difficulties on some items related to the nature of science.
Scientific literacy has been recognized as an important characteristic that every citizen in a modern society should possess. In this respect science education is critical for developing students’ scientific literacy, which is turn in future scientifically literate citizens. Therefore, this study was aimed at exploring the scientific literacy levels of elementary students enrolled in 6th, 7th and 8th grades, and the results of this study showed that elementary students have a moderate level of scientific literacy. This result is promising when the results of PISA 2006 assessment, which indicated that only a few number of these students were found to be able to identify the scientific components of many complex life situations, is considered.
However, it is clear that science educators should put in more efforts to increase the students’ moderate level scientific literacy. After realizing the importance of scientific literacy as a major goal of science education in the world, science educators in Turkey made some efforts to improve science curricula. It is stated in the Science and Technology curriculum in Turkey that regardless of the individual differences, the main goal of science education is to educate all students as scientifically literate. Obviously, this effort would be useful in this regard because the new Turkish science curriculum might help students develop a moderate level of scientific literacy.
When the grade levels were examined in terms of scientific literacy levels, the results of this study revealed that students already have an average level of scientific literacy as they started upper elementary (e.g. 6th grade). Although the level of scientific literacy is seen to be increasing at 7th grade, there is no statistically significant difference between 6th and 7th grades in terms of scientific literacy level. A significant difference in increasing scientific literacy is only seen at 8th grade. In the light of these results, it can be concluded that although new Science and Technology curriculum makes a difference in scientific literacy for upper elementary students, it is not effective to raise the levels to more satisfactory. For that reason, it is necessary to explore ways to improve scientific literacy levels of students at each grade level. According to BouJaoude (2002) teaching, assessment, the quality of textbooks used, participating in extra-curricular scientific activities, and experiencing science in out-of-school contexts are important factors influencing the students’ scientific literacy level.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6-19</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vera Čižkova</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hana Čtrnactova</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Tereza Nečesana</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION THROUGH INTERACTIVE TASKS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">ecological education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">interactive tasks</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">sustainable development</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2009</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2009</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404739843.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">8</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ecology, environmental protection, and education leading to sustainable development are at present one of the dominant educational topics at primary and secondary schools. Though a great deal of attention is paid to teaching of these topics in educational systems of most countries, it is mostly only in terms of theory with a little emphasis on comprehension. One of the ways of how to change this situation is the use of appropriate learning tasks that would make the lessons more interesting, would show a link between these lessons and the practice and would lead to the acquisition of skills, competences and approaches of sustainable character. Therefore our focus was to develop a method of how to create interesting interactive learning tasks and the ways of their application in educational practice. Our research has designed a set of such tasks and verified their effectiveness in practice.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">110-119 </style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mehmet Erdogan</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Muhammet Usak</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Halil Aydin</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INVESTIGATING PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS’ SATISFACTION WITH SOCIAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN TURKISH UNIVERSITIES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">prospective chemistry teacher</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">satisfaction</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">social services and facilities</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2008</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">March/2008</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404288927.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">7</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The purpose the study was to investigate the satisfaction level of prospective chemistry teachers with social services and facilities offered by their department and faculty, and also explore the effects of gender and university on the student satisfaction. 101 last year students in the chemistry teaching major in four different universities in Turkey participated in the study. The instrument, Prospective Science Teacher Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSTSQ) was used for data collection. PSTSQ consists of seven sub-themes on a five point Likert type scale. Pilot testing of the instrument indicated that Cronbach alpha (α) was 0.887. The findings revealed that prospective chemistry teachers expressed average level of satisfaction with social services and facilities provided by their faculties and departments. Furthermore, statistical analysis showed that there was no effect of gender on the satisfaction with social services and facilities, but the university enrolled strongly contributed to students’ satisfaction.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">17-26</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Fatma Aggul</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mehmet Yalcin</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Metin Acikyildiz</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Erdal Sonmez</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INVESTIGATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF DEMONSTRATION-SIMULATION BASED INSTRUCTION IN TEACHING ENERGY CONSERVATION AT 7 TH GRADE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">educational simulation</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">lecture demonstration</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teaching conservation of energy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2008</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2008</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404719549.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">7</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study aimed to explore the effect of teaching through demonstration-simulation on students’ achievement of energy conservation in comparison with traditional teaching. The sample consisted of fifty nine 7th grade students from a state primary school in Turkey. In the study, non-equivalent groups pretest-posttest design was used and the data was collected through an achievement test developed by the researchers, Energy Conservation Test. The conservation of energy concept was taught using a demonstration and a simulation in the experimental group and traditional instruction method in the control group. Data collected by the test was statistically assessed applying the analysis of covariance. To explore obviously the class atmosphere in experimental group, it was utilized from the teacher’s observation notes and student interviews. The statistical comparison showed that there was a significant difference between groups with respect to students’ scores of the test. Moreover, the analysis of the qualitative data indicated that such a class atmosphere supported the constructive and meaningful learning.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">64-77</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Lutfullah Turkmen</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INFLUENCES OF ELEMENTARY SCIENCE TEACHING METHOD COURSES ON A TURKISH TEACHERS COLLEGE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJOR STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCIENCE AND SCIENCE TEACHING</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">attitudes toward science</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">elementary science teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2007</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">March/2007</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404287084.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The main purpose of this study was to find the influences of elementary science teaching method courses on Turkish elementary education major students’ attitudes toward science and science teaching in a Turkish Teachers College. The results of both pre and post-test scores showed that elementary education major students have positive attitudes toward science and science teaching. Statistically, only one significant positive change (pair-wise t-tests) was found between the pre and post-test scores; that is, students significantly gained more positive attitudes toward science teaching. On the other hand, the mean difference after taking elementary science teaching method courses did not show a significant result on the attitudes toward science. As a result of this study, it can be concluded that Elementary science teaching method courses have a positive influence on attitudes toward science teaching but this conclusion is not the same for the attitudes toward science. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">66-77</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vincentas Lamanauskas</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Rytis Vilkonis</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION: SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS AND PROSPECTS IN BALTIC COUNTRIES</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">expert inquiry</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">modern ICT</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">natural science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2007</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2007</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404288087.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Information technologies play a crucial role in building a knowledge-based society. However, even the most advanced technologies will not produce a required effect if their use (application) in the educational system is not adequate to the current development of technologies and increased educational needs. The initial information literacy abilities are formed in comprehensive school as presently, these educational establishments have the possibility of employing different information technologies. It is probably often related to appropriate computer technologies and the Internet.
        During the last five years, a number of investigations into the field of natural science education have been carried out. On the other hand, to more accurately identify the situation in different regions of Europe, lack of in-depth expert research can be noticed. Therefore, the latter survey (expert inquiry) is aimed at examining the situation on using ICT in natural science education in Baltic countries. A precondition that the obtained findings will be useful for improving the process of natural science education in terms of ICT applicability and efficient use can be made. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">35-49</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Frackson Mumba</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vivien Mweene Chabalengula</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">William Hunter</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INQUIRY LEVELS AND SKILLS IN ZAMBIAN HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS, TEXTBOOKS AND PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">chemistry</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">examinations</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">inquiry</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">syllabus</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">textbooks</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2007</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2007</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404288148.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">This study analyzed the Zambian high school chemistry syllabus, textbooks, and practical examinations for inquiry levels and skills. The chemistry syllabus was explicit on inquiry skills and levels. Experiments in the chemistry textbooks and practical examinations were mostly at confirmation and structured inquiry levels respectively. Very few experiments were at guided inquiry level and none at open inquiry level in the textbooks and practical examinations. However, the course materials emphasized the same inquiry skills. There were no guidelines on inquiry-based teaching in the course materials. As such, this is a potential obstacle to the implementation of inquiry science teaching. Implications for science teaching, learning, and curriculum design have been discussed.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">50-57</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Janis Gedrovics</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTEREST IN SCIENCE AS THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL SCIENCE STUDIES OR - AWAKEN THE INTEREST, DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN IT!</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2007</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">August/2007</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404287861.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Dear readers!

When, ten years ago, together with colleagues from Linköping University we, as part of the Visby project in Sweden, analysed the reasons behind students’ motivation to become science teachers, we took it as almost a surprise that for 75% of those students the reason was that they had always been interested in science. The second most popular answer was - I like working with people/ children. Certainly, evaluating those answers from a time distance, it seems – there was nothing to be so surprised about. Interest is and always has been a driving force for human mind and activities. And, from our personal experience, we know how difficult it is to do a boring job. Though, for adults, their sense of duty also plays a certain role.
But let us bear in mind also how often pupils and adults say – this or that is interesting but is not for me. It seems that today this sentence very often refers to science sphere – there are so many pupils finding this field of great interest but never considering it as their future career. Certainly, not everyone should become a scientist or an engineer, however, a scientifically well-grounded approach to problems, including those of social character, is a quality one can acquire through understanding of the scientific regularities.
This summer several significant scientific events took place in Europe, such as: the 6th IOSTE Symposium for Central and Eastern Europe (Šiauliai, Lithuania), ESERA (European Science Education Research Association) conference in Malmö (Sweden) and others. Pupils’ interest in science, promoting and developing it, even not being the guideline of science didactics right now, is and will always be one of the basic issues for scientists and researchers to focus on. This same issue was discussed also at the above mentioned conferences. The latest research of the ROSE project shows that those pupils who take interest in science themselves and believe that it should be studied by everyone very well understand how school science can form their future careers. They also more often see their future connected with environment protection, which is evidently due to them having more successfully acquired science at school and having better understood the modern environmental problems.
However, raising interest in science is not an easy task in the globalized world of today. There are many things around us so much easier to acquire than good knowledge and solid skills in science subjects! And sometimes we: science teachers and university professors, take an approach that is too academic as, during our school years, profound academic knowledge or even science for science seemed the very peak of the teaching/learning process. And we found that interesting – it was our future!
This is why today, when the latest issue of Journal of Baltic Science Education is published, this event, in our region, coinciding symbolically with the beginning of a new academic year in universities and schools of all levels, I would like to wish every science teacher and natural science researcher – do not lose the enthusiasm about science you possessed as pupils, develop it, and, creatively changed, pass it on to your students and pupils!
Science for science, but, first of all – science for human!</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Editorial</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Violeta Šlekienė</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Loreta Ragulienė</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPACT OF PHYSICS-ORIENTED TASKS ON UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPTS OF ELECTRICAL PHENOMENA</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">concept development</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">electrical phenomena</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">oriented tasks</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pedagogical experiment</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teaching physics</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2006</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">March/2006</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404214394.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Research on framing the schoolchildren’s concepts is supposed to be a scientifically and practically important issue of modern educology. In order the learners should conscientiously grasp the scientific concepts; the process of concept development must be properly organized and carefully controlled. To formulate the concepts of physics, the authors of the article followed the oriented tasks embracing definite didactic operation references. Research suggests that the oriented tasks in the educational process are performed as a guide determining the steady movement toward a positive result. A pedagogical experiment monitors the impact of physics-oriented tasks on understanding the concepts of electrical phenomena. A survey involved 230 ninth-formers presenting different schools of Lithuania. The experiment and its statistical assessment indicate that the oriented tasks help with perceiving the scientific concepts, highlight the schoolchildren’s typical mistakes and impose requirements for their correction and improvement. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">61-73</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Eleonora Melnik</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING A CHILD’S ORIENTATION IN THE ENVIRONMENT: SOME REMARKS FROM RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">interaction with nature</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">interdisciplinary approach</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2006</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2006</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404234825.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The article highlights the research of a man’s interaction with the environment. The research is based on literature sources in natural science and humanities. From the pedagogical point of view we prefer considering the orientation of a child, residing in an environment as research of his relations with the entire environment: with the natural, social and modified components. A tool to understanding this kind of a child’s relationship with the environment is an interdisciplinary approach which helps to thoroughly characterize the main tendencies of a person’s interaction with the environment from the different sciences perspective.
Thereby, our vision of the problem of the child’s orientation in the environment does not contradict the main trend of the development of different sciences knowledge about environment, which expect the study of the person’s environment and clarification of his place in this environment. However, the orientation process will be more successful if:

	 as early as in the primary school the child will understand the term &quot;environment”, as a multi-component system, being an integrity of natural, changed (to different extent) environment and the social one, being in dynamic balance, when past, present and future are determined by conditions, which mankind (the society) is capable or not capable to create in the purpose of saving the civilization, on basis of time-appropriate relations, moral-ethical values, accepted and being used in the society;
	 the child is to be considered as the subject of the activity and interaction with the environment, being inside the system, possessing psyche and capable to form up his life space, according to his wish;
	 the child’s orientation is to be viewed as a process, which is directed to transformation of a  child’s particular situation relationships with the surrounding reality into a stable value-oriented system;
	 the result, which determines a general person’s life-line (activity, actions) in his present and future relationships with the environment, is to be directed by viewing the environment as the main value.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">51-60</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Janis Dzerviniks</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPROVING METHODOLOGY OF DEMONSTRATION EXPERIMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PUPILS’ KNOWLEDGE, COMPREHENSION AND SKILLS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">chemistry syllabus</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">chemistry teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">natural science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2005</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2005</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2016/987-1481284833.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The article offers a model including ideas from psychological-pedagogical theories, which explain how pupils acquire knowledge and which allow a teacher to see the possibilities of applying demonstration experiments within the framework of these theories. There is described the procedure of the carried out pedagogical experiment, put forward the criteria for acquisition of physics and development of learning skills as well as evaluated the effectiveness of the created demonstration experiments model. The model mentioned above envisages more effective acquisition of physical knowledge and skills, deeper understanding of mechanics content and development of learning skills, which is expressed in the quality of knowledge.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">15-25</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Anne Laius</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Miia Rannikmäe</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INFLUENCE OF STL TEACHING AND SCIENCE TEACHERS’ TEAMWORK ON CHANGE OF STUDENTS’ CREATIVITY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">collaboration of teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">creativity</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STL teaching</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2004</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">March/2003</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2016/987-1482420852.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">For any paradigm change, and certainly for reflecting on STL (scientific and technological literacy) ideas, it is essential for teachers to be involved in professional development. One form of professional development that was used to promote STL teaching was to guide teachers, through workshops, to create their own teaching materials, based on the STL philosophy. The current research was carried out during the 2002 school year with teachers of science subjects and their 9th grade students in different Estonian schools. The experimental schools were divided into three groups (3 schools per each): in Group 1, one teacher participated, in Group 2 two teachers participated and in Group 3 three teachers participated in the courses and taught the same students, at the same time, in different science classes. 
The experimental teachers enrolled in the 8-month STL teaching intervention study and in the course of that their students were exposed to an 8-week STL teaching module. The results of creativity tests, undertaken before and after the intervention study, showed, that the students’ creativity mean changes during the 8-week STL teaching module, depended upon the number of teachers. Of importance is that the collaboration of two or three teachers can significantly more increase the creativity f students – a further aim of the STL teaching approach.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">69-75</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Moonika Teppo</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Miia Rannikmäe</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">INCREASING THE RELEVANCE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION – STUDENT PREFERENCES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF TEACHING SCENARIOS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">issue-based teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">relevance</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STL teaching scenarios</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2003</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">March/2003</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1503928836.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The goal of this study was to determine which issues were relevant to students and the reasons for this. Issues were presented in the form of scenarios – as a story that leads students into learning science by considering the wider goals of education. Three different categories of scenarios were defined: subject oriented, social issue-based focused on student personal experience and social issue-based, focused on global societal problems. All scenarios were developed by science teachers during a STL training course.

Two hundred and seventy two grade seven to nine students from two schools (suburban town and city) were asked to choose and evaluate the three most interesting scenarios from nine. The results of the study showed gender based differences. Girls were interested in issues that were connected with their health and outlook. Boys liked to study more about the things, which happen in society.

If we use the scenario as a “model” for relevance of science education for students, the following conclusions can be highlighted: 

·        Boys and girls see the relevance of science education differently and this depends also on age group. It is important to consider gender differences and students age group in designing teaching scenarios for the classroom. For making teaching more relevant for students, teachers should create various types of scenarios. Girls like to study more about things, which are connected with them (with their health and how they look). Boys are more eager to learn about problems that happen in the society (economical and environmental problems);

·        Students’ and teacher’s opinions on relevance differ. 1/3 of teacher created scenarios, were irrelevant in the eyes of students.  The outcomes show that the most uninteresting scenarios belong to the subject-oriented category (54% of students who answered this question didn’t like the subject oriented scenarios);

·        Students free reasoning helps to develop frames for creating relevant scenarios for teaching.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">49 - 61</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Eve Kikas</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Triin Hannust</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hele Kanter</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE INFLUENCE OF EXPERIMENTAL TEACHING ON 5 - AND 7- YEAR OLD CHILDREN’S CONCEPTS OF THE EARTH AND GRAVITY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">earth</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">experimental teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">gravity</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2002</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2002</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2017/987-1504180627.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The investigation was aimed to study the influence of age and experimental teaching conditions on the learning of the concepts of the earth and gravity. 47 kindergarteners (age 60-69 months) and 56 first graders (age 85-95 months) were assigned into three groups: model-based, verbal-individual teaching and control groups. Three topics, aimed to treat children’s preliminary notions and to change children’s entrenched beliefs, were covered in teaching: the spherical shape of the earth; gravity; the relativity of up-down direction. The results showed that both 5- and 7-years-old children’s astronomy knowledge was improved due to teaching, regarding of which teaching method was used; however, the condition x age interaction was not significant. Difficulties that occurred during learning and their sources are discussed and conclusions for education are drawn.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19 - 30</style></section></record></records></xml>